E-ink is so Retropunk
I’ve lengthy been struggling to explain why e-ink is a lot enjoyable for me, however I
assume I’ve lastly realized what it’s: e-ink is simply so so so retropunk.
An e-ink machine is a hacker’s dream – or no less than, this hacker’s dream. They
are a return to the magical feeling of computer systems of the 80s and 90s. It’s a
world the place Microsoft and Apple by no means existed and we don’t should undergo with
abstractions on high of abstractions. It’s DOS for the 2020s. It’s graphing
calculators for grown-ups.
Options
The e-ink units I favor are low powered ARM units operating linux and not using a
show server or gigabytes of RAM. Let’s break down why that’s so superior:
- Low Powered: They’ll final for weeks on a single cost
- ARM is a straightforward structure with a low instruction depend and even decrease value
- Linux: as a lot as I prefer it, Android is a sophisticated mess
- Apps are easy: they discuss to the kernel to learn enter and draw on to the framebuffer
- Low RAM and gradual CPUs: There’s no room to construct difficult stacks of software program, which suggests no window managers, no browsers and undoubtedly no electron apps
As comparable as they’re to the computer systems of the early 90s, they’re completely different in
some tangible methods:
- The decision is far larger than an outdated laptop – The PPI is between 200 – 300
- All units helps contact occasions, some even assist a pen stylus
- They’re tremendous transportable, weighing between 200 – 400 grams, with shows starting from 6” to 10”
The Software program
Because the units are area of interest, the software program ecosystem is far more
homebrew (as within the Homebrew Computing Membership): folks write and share their
apps and the neighborhood is tight knit. The individuals who use eink units are
fans: they’ve given up the fun of shade shows to work on these
under-powered units which can be devoid of app shops, monitoring pixels, pay to
play options and fixed distractions. There’s no e-mail on these units,
there’s no chat or social networks, there’s solely easy purposes.
Don’t be fooled although: the machine constraints result in attention-grabbing and quirky
software program. Within the reMarkable eco-system, there’s dozens of
purposes, together with:
Since eink is presently area of interest, it additionally means inexperienced fields: there are many
alternatives to put in writing purposes that fills out the ecosystem. Briefly, a
hacker’s playground.
Learn how to get began
Satisfied that it’s best to hack on eink units? Seize a reMarkable or Kobo and
get hacking 😉 Be part of the reMarkable discord
server or browse the Mobile Read Kobo
Forums.
For reMarkable, the toltec repository is an efficient place to get began – one in all
the maintainers, Eeems, has written a great
tutorial.
If you need extra particular recommendation, be happy to straight get in touch
Why write a submit now?
A number of years in the past, I began hacking on e-ink units and had an infinite
quantity of enjoyable writing purposes and seeing what others have constructed.
Sadly, I’ve had a number of false begins with writing about e-ink: whether or not
it was about what I’ve really carried out, or the teachings realized alongside the best way or
even a set of issues to think about when growing e-ink apps, the posts would
lay half completed as a result of they only by no means felt compelling – my enthusiasm for
e-ink simply wasn’t coming by way of.
As a substitute of attempting to push any of these posts to completion, I’ve determined to strive
to articulate what’s so cool about e-ink to me.
Appendix: Hacker unfriendly units
Kindles
The Kindle requires a jailbreak to make use of and is operating a modified model of
Kindle Hearth. The Kindle Scribe continues to be secured, although. For that reason, I don’t
significantly advocate the Kindle units.
Onyx
In each eink thread that comes up, the Onyx is introduced up as not following the
GPL: they use a modified linux kernel and haven’t published the source for it.
Pine
The Pine Notice is cool and open, but it surely’s software program continues to be in growth. Use
solely if you’re prepared to tackle an early product aimed at early adopters and
developers – In different phrases,
perhaps the Pine Notice is simply too hacker pleasant.