Open Book Touch is Crowdfunding: A Buttonless, Open Hardware Answer to Kindle
itsfoss.com
It's $149, runs on an ESP32-S3, and skips DRM entirely and lets you skip the Kindle ecosystem.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/49429587

URL for the crowdfunding: https://www.crowdsupply.com/oddly-specific-objects/open-book-touch

Specs:

  • Display: 4.26" e-paper touchscreen, 480 × 800 px, warm + cool frontlight
  • Processor: ESP32-S3 dual-core, Wi-Fi + Bluetooth LE
  • Memory: 16 MB flash, 8 MB PSRAM
  • Formats: EPUB and plain text, no DRM
  • Storage: microSD card slot
  • Interface: USB-C with integrated LiPo charging
  • Dimension: 78 × 120 × 10 mm, about 85 g
  • Open source: MIT-licensed firmware, open hardware (to be released at shipping)

It also has a replaceable 800 mAh battery, I found it cool :)

  • Allero@lemmy.todayEnglish
    6·
    2 hours ago

    Because buttons take space, reducing space available for the screen that has, well, the book.

    The good sensor is the answer, IMO. I only wonder how should it turn on and off, then.

      • Allero@lemmy.todayEnglish
        1·
        1 hour ago

        Sure. But would that be convenient?

        I hold nothing against buttons if people really want them, but many others would just prefer a larger touchscreen, and this seems to be the target audience here.

        • Nate Cox@programming.devEnglish
          1·
          1 hour ago

          Yes. Buttons on the sides are awesome. The Kobo libre ergonomics are fantastic even for troll-handed people like myself.

    • zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      2·
      2 hours ago

      I think it is definitely a matter of preference. I dislike touchscreens in general for user interfaces. I previous ereader used a touchscreen and swiping to turn pages and I absolutely hated it. I was glad to get back to having buttons to control pages as well as settings.