Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Show HN: E-Ink Day Schedule

github.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 134 posts

Re: Show HN: E-Ink Day Schedule

#41

Post by konschubert »

plugin-baby wrote: post #38
konschubert wrote: post #28

Hi OP! You're writing > I use FBInk on the kindle to display the images after curling them from a API Gateway. I am the founder of this smart screen product: https://shop.invisible-computers.com/products/invisible-cale... Curling an image is the same approach that I use for my e-paper smart screen as well. It should be quite easy to bring your dashboard to my device... maybe we can work together on something? My emai…

This looks really neat! Does it have an ethernet port? And maybe PoE?

It's powered by a USB plug... is there a way to convert PoE to USB power?

And the connectivity is through Wifi. (And Bluetooth during Setup)

Re: Show HN: E-Ink Day Schedule

#42

Post by EvanAnderson »

konschubert wrote: post #22
Arubis wrote: post #14

If you’re not up for DIY, I’ve been using a unit from https://www.invisible-computers.com/ for years and I love it. Not affiliated; just a happy customer.

My heart made a little jump when I saw this, I've been working on this project for years and I do not take it for granted that my users are starting to recommend the product. I am here to answer any questions anyone might have. There are some more pictures on the shop page here: https://shop.invisible-computers.com/products/invisible-cale...

This thing looks like a lot of fun, however it looks like the device is "tethered" to some kind of back-end service you provide, rather than just being a standalone device on the network. Can you explain how communication with the device works?

Re: Show HN: E-Ink Day Schedule

#43

Post by konschubert »

EvanAnderson wrote: post #42
konschubert wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My heart made a little jump when I saw this, I've been working on this project for years and I do not take it for granted that my users are starting to recommend the product. I am here to answer any questions anyone might have. There are some more pictures on the shop page here: https://shop.invisible-computers.com/products/invisible-cale...

This thing looks like a lot of fun, however it looks like the device is "tethered" to some kind of back-end service you provide, rather than just being a standalone device on the network. Can you explain how communication with the device works?

Yes, it needs a backend service. It is just a dumb screen that pools from a backend URL.

The upside of this is that you can easily configure it remotely, because all settings after the initial setup are stored server-side...

... and it makes the whole development flow easier when you can build, iterate and deploy on a server.

Re: Show HN: E-Ink Day Schedule

#44

Post by Arubis »

konschubert wrote: post #22
Arubis wrote: post #14

If you’re not up for DIY, I’ve been using a unit from https://www.invisible-computers.com/ for years and I love it. Not affiliated; just a happy customer.

My heart made a little jump when I saw this, I've been working on this project for years and I do not take it for granted that my users are starting to recommend the product. I am here to answer any questions anyone might have. There are some more pictures on the shop page here: https://shop.invisible-computers.com/products/invisible-cale...

It's frequently visible in the background on Zoom calls, and I get both compliments and inquiries; hopefully a few folks followed through!

Re: Show HN: E-Ink Day Schedule

#45

Post by afavour »

alexb_ wrote: post #11
afavour wrote: post #10

An aside but I’ve long thought that if Apple was truly committed to the environment and equipment reuse they’d let us use old iPads for stuff like this. I’d love to make a digital photo frame/day planner from an old iPad mini I have kicking around. They could even integrate Siri etc. (I know you can get some way toward this with various apps but it’s definitely not the same as something OS-level)

Why would Apple ever be "truly committed" to something which gives them less money? They have no reason to encourage people to use old technology.

> Why would Apple ever be "truly committed" to something which gives them less money?

Because they claim to be!

Re: Show HN: E-Ink Day Schedule

#46

Post by carimura »

konschubert wrote: post #22
Arubis wrote: post #14

If you’re not up for DIY, I’ve been using a unit from https://www.invisible-computers.com/ for years and I love it. Not affiliated; just a happy customer.

My heart made a little jump when I saw this, I've been working on this project for years and I do not take it for granted that my users are starting to recommend the product. I am here to answer any questions anyone might have. There are some more pictures on the shop page here: https://shop.invisible-computers.com/products/invisible-cale...

Second sentence mentions an API, but then, no API docs anywhere...?

Re: Show HN: E-Ink Day Schedule

#47

Post by Semaphor »

Neil44 wrote: post #3

That's cool. I regret throwing my ancient kindle away now. The expensive corporate version of this is called a Joan - https://getjoan.com/digital-signage/

> I regret throwing my ancient kindle away now.

Amazon also gives you a 20% discount for buying a new one, if you send the old one in, even if it doesn’t work at all anymore.

Re: Show HN: E-Ink Day Schedule

#48

Post by EvanAnderson »

konschubert wrote: post #43
EvanAnderson wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This thing looks like a lot of fun, however it looks like the device is "tethered" to some kind of back-end service you provide, rather than just being a standalone device on the network. Can you explain how communication with the device works?

Yes, it needs a backend service. It is just a dumb screen that pools from a backend URL. The upside of this is that you can easily configure it remotely, because all settings after the initial setup are stored server-side... ... and it makes the whole development flow easier when you can build, iterate and deploy on a server.

Is there any option to self-host that backend service? I'm not comfortable, from a mental health perspective, with integrating a device into my life routines that could suddenly stop working through loss of a hosted service.

What's the actual communication technology? Is it Wi-Fi? Cellular?

Edit: I see elsewhere you state it's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. From a Wi-Fi perspective and workplace deployment does it support 802.1x?

Re: Show HN: E-Ink Day Schedule

#49

Post by konschubert »

carimura wrote: post #46
konschubert wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My heart made a little jump when I saw this, I've been working on this project for years and I do not take it for granted that my users are starting to recommend the product. I am here to answer any questions anyone might have. There are some more pictures on the shop page here: https://shop.invisible-computers.com/products/invisible-cale...

Second sentence mentions an API, but then, no API docs anywhere...?

The docs are here:

https://github.com/Invisible-Computers/image-gallery/blob/ma...

I admit that this is still a bit rough around the edges...

As a simpler alternative, if you just want to build some layout for yourself and you do not need user management, you can simply render it as an image on the internet and point the device to it:

https://www.invisible-computers.com/invisible-calendar/image...

Re: Show HN: E-Ink Day Schedule

#50

Post by konschubert »

Arubis wrote: post #44
konschubert wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My heart made a little jump when I saw this, I've been working on this project for years and I do not take it for granted that my users are starting to recommend the product. I am here to answer any questions anyone might have. There are some more pictures on the shop page here: https://shop.invisible-computers.com/products/invisible-cale...

It's frequently visible in the background on Zoom calls, and I get both compliments and inquiries; hopefully a few folks followed through!

:)
Post reply on HN