FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers • Hacker News Board

Re: FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

#101

Post by jerojero » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 1:03 AM UTC

tcoff91 wrote: post #51

I really like my Boox e-reader because I can install any android app on it. I run Storyteller on it and it syncs position to my storyteller server. So i can listen to the audiobook on my iPhone and then pick up reading on my Boox from where I was listening.

I find the battery life on boox tablets to be pretty poor. At least with my usage.

Its kind of annoying to have to be charging every other day.

I think I've only had to charge the xteink x4 a couple times since I got it in March. But that's the case for any non-android ereader.

I'd be happy if the boox lasted a week with 2-3ish hours of use a day.

Re: FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

#102

Post by stevage » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 1:10 AM UTC

Are there any off the shelf e-readers which support this firmware? This site seems to be for people who want to solder together their own e-reader from components.

Also, it does a bit misleading to say "Charging, battery protection, an optional frontlight and a 24-pin e-paper interface, all on one PCB you can build for around $60." According to their own parts lists, if you are build 5 of these, you're in for $63.74 (plus shipping?) So if you want just one (like a normal person), it's going to cost more. And that's still just the circuit board and components: no mention of the outer plastic casing. (I can't find any info on their site about how to get that - presumably 3D print, but haven't found plans.)

Re: FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

#103

Post by wwweston » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 1:12 AM UTC

andrewmutz wrote: post #81

imzadi wrote: post #5

I got an Xteink X4 a few weeks ago and love it. I've tried out a few different firmwares but haven't settled on one yet. I love the screen and how simple the interface is. It's kind of a pain in the butt getting my Kindle books on there, but worth the effort. It's also encouraging me to buy books outside of the Amazon ecosystem. I've been getting more stuff from Humble lately.

Is the only way to use it to break the DRM? I wish there was a path to being able to use all these devices with kindle ebooks legally

If you’re not redistributing ebooks you bought, it’s hard to imagine what legal claim someone could make against you, and even harder to establish the ethics of that claim.

To say nothing of Amazon’s ethics.

Re: FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

#104

Post by frio » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 1:20 AM UTC

BeetleB wrote: post #59

smeej wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which reader do you have? I've been looking everywhere I can think of for a good 8-inch device, but I need it to run Android. Heck, I even tried looking into tablets with traditional screens and am having trouble turning up anything serviceable. I have a 6" screen and it's too small. I got a 10.3" one and it was too large. But I'm starting to suspect those of us who primarily want to read are the only ones who want 8…

Kobo Forma. Probably not easy to run Android on it.

I love my Forma. The only thing about it that makes me sad is the micro-USB port. I skipped the Sage because it was a side-grade (USB-C but worse battery), and now they've discontinued it with no clear future for the format.

I really hope they bring back a similar format ereader in the future, I don't really want to go back to a smaller scale device when this one dies.

Re: FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

#105

Post by andrewmutz » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 1:34 AM UTC

Brian_K_White wrote: post #96

andrewmutz wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is the only way to use it to break the DRM? I wish there was a path to being able to use all these devices with kindle ebooks legally

What are you suggesting exactly? That the maker of this hardware should do whatever it takes so that there is some official Kindle app like on Android? I want to access my books on random devices too, which is why I never bought a frikkn Kindle book. I did buy a bunch of Audible books, starting way back when there was nothing else, and I knew the deal when buying, so I simply went through the grief on my end to strip…

This issue isn't specific to the Kindle, you can go and buy books on Apple or Google or Kobo or Barnes and Noble and its the same story.

Many books can only be bought this way. Publishers don't want to sell books through platforms that don't have DRM, because they are scared of piracy.

It would be great if we could have open ebook reader software that could display these books.

eReaders like the Xteink X4 are beautiful but lots of books are impossible to legally read on it. Yes, I know that I can break the DRM, but I think its sad that this is the only path for legitimate purchases.

Re: FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

#106

Post by meghprkh » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 1:34 AM UTC

I would like such a project in Rust! There a bunch of embassy-based firmwares but none have the UX of the crosspoint forks yet. My favourite is inx (https://github.com/obijuankenobiii/inx) which is the only one that supports annotations afaik. It does crash sometimes though

Re: FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

#107

Post by agnishom » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 1:39 AM UTC

andrewmutz wrote: post #81

imzadi wrote: post #5

I got an Xteink X4 a few weeks ago and love it. I've tried out a few different firmwares but haven't settled on one yet. I love the screen and how simple the interface is. It's kind of a pain in the butt getting my Kindle books on there, but worth the effort. It's also encouraging me to buy books outside of the Amazon ecosystem. I've been getting more stuff from Humble lately.

Is the only way to use it to break the DRM? I wish there was a path to being able to use all these devices with kindle ebooks legally

Some publishers such as Tor will occasionally publish DRM free ebooks.

I have very little respect for DRM, though. Personally, if the author has a patreon, I suggest donating the $20 to the Patreon and pirating the book

Re: FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

#108

Post by Infiniti20 » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 2:02 AM UTC

timw4mail wrote: post #95

Rebelgecko wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there a non-annoying way to get Libby books onto it? It's a step or two with a Kindle, but it would be cool to have them on a more portable device

I have not seen any support on the mini readers.

It’s just ACSM files. You can crack it using calibre to get epub which all these readers support

Re: FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

#109

Post by mkozlows » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 2:07 AM UTC

mikepurvis wrote: post #78

poulpy123 wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ask amazon and Kobo to open their system if it's so important for you. The devs have probably more interesting things to do than playing wack-a-mole with a multi-billion organisation

I'm not knocking the devs for the choice to target open hardware, only remarking that that choice signals the project is for hackers, not regular consumers.

I mean, a) regular consumers are just gonna buy a Kindle, do nothing with its software, and only buy books from Amazon. But also b) the way a lot of these hobby things expand is that if they get some market traction, someone starts making and selling pre-assembled, retail-friendly versions of the thing. Look at wacky keyboards, for instance: Used to be that you had to solder your own weird ergo split, now there are companies like ZSA and Keebio that'll make really nice versions as finished products.

Re: FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

#110

Post by mkozlows » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 2:09 AM UTC

replatformradar wrote: post #97

This is already dangerously cool. The second they add Kindle support, Free Ink is going from niche open-source project to “why is GitHub on fire?” territory.

The point of this seems to be building on open hardware. If you want open source software that builds on proprietary hardware, KOReader is what you want. (I use it, it's great.)