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The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader

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Re: The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader

#111

Post by mrexroad »

emme wrote: post #81
senorcrab wrote: post #23

I've been using it for about 6 months. Very, very good - especially paired with anna's archive. IT IS VERY FRAGILE! The eink screen on my first broke while in my backpack. The company is generous, I bought a new one and they gave 35% off and included all accessories (reading light, case, extra protectors). Highly recommend.

I've bought a X3 and I loved it (with crosspoint). However, the screen broke after just a week, even if I used the official cover all the time. It's a cute gadget but it's too fragile for the intended use: its strength is the form factor, you want to bring it with yourself to read a page in any mobility setting, but its fragility is a critical issue.

[dead]

Re: The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader

#112

Post by NikolaNovak »

sieve wrote: post #8

Got the X4. Put CrossPoint on it. Works like a charm. The http server accessible over wifi makes transferring books extremely simple. (Shame on the Kindle for locking everything down.) This is proof-of-concept that a microcontroller is more than enough for something like an e-reader. I have a Kindle and a Kobo. They are sturdy devices. But the X4 is the one that is a genuine e-reader. Would not get it as my one and o…

Question to X4 owners - what is the benefit over a smartphone?

I have a kindle for beach and travel as a good compromise size; I use my 10" tablet when I really settle in for reading, or when I read technical books with graphs or books with photographs etc. For my adhoc reader I use kindle app on my phone. What is the unique selling point of something like X4? I notice it attaches to the phone which seems bizarre, phone feels like a functional superset, so I must be missing something - is it battery life or less distractions or something else?

Thx! :)

Re: The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader

#113

Post by [deleted] »

criddell wrote: post #32
kstrauser wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm with you on every bit. I love my Kobo Libra 2 and it lives on my nightstand table. It's an excellent reader. The X4 with CrossPoint is an alright reader, but I've been chewing through books on my morning commute because it fits in my jacket pocket and I can have it out on the train without bumping into other people. It's not the best reader I own, but it's the best reader I have on me at any given moment when I'm…

Does your reading position sync up between the two devices?

[deleted]

Re: The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader

#115

Post by avtar »

NikolaNovak wrote: post #112
sieve wrote: post #8

Got the X4. Put CrossPoint on it. Works like a charm. The http server accessible over wifi makes transferring books extremely simple. (Shame on the Kindle for locking everything down.) This is proof-of-concept that a microcontroller is more than enough for something like an e-reader. I have a Kindle and a Kobo. They are sturdy devices. But the X4 is the one that is a genuine e-reader. Would not get it as my one and o…

Question to X4 owners - what is the benefit over a smartphone? I have a kindle for beach and travel as a good compromise size; I use my 10" tablet when I really settle in for reading, or when I read technical books with graphs or books with photographs etc. For my adhoc reader I use kindle app on my phone. What is the unique selling point of something like X4? I notice it attaches to the phone which seems bizarre, ph…

Less distractions, yes, but mainly it's the size and e-ink display.

Re: The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader

#116

Post by hyraki »

NikolaNovak wrote: post #112
sieve wrote: post #8

Got the X4. Put CrossPoint on it. Works like a charm. The http server accessible over wifi makes transferring books extremely simple. (Shame on the Kindle for locking everything down.) This is proof-of-concept that a microcontroller is more than enough for something like an e-reader. I have a Kindle and a Kobo. They are sturdy devices. But the X4 is the one that is a genuine e-reader. Would not get it as my one and o…

Question to X4 owners - what is the benefit over a smartphone? I have a kindle for beach and travel as a good compromise size; I use my 10" tablet when I really settle in for reading, or when I read technical books with graphs or books with photographs etc. For my adhoc reader I use kindle app on my phone. What is the unique selling point of something like X4? I notice it attaches to the phone which seems bizarre, ph…

I thought the same thing until I got a kindle. It just feels different. The eink display is really nice to look at.

Re: The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader

#117

Post by __float »

functionmouse wrote: post #98
harrisonjackson wrote: post #72

I have the X4 and the X3 (newer smaller one). I will get whatever the next version is if it has a backlight or more DPI / support for smaller font. X4 is great - has usb-c charger and with the cover feels like an easy to pocket and bring everywhere reader. Does not fit on the back of an iphone. I assume the magnet layout works with popular android phones though. X3 is also great, actually fits on the back of the phon…

the next version will unfortunately be a generic Android reader. This device is good because, by chance, out of a thousand devices, one of them has to be better than all the rest. This product is not good by design or merit, but by chance. Same goes for lots of popular cheap Chinese tech, like the Miyoo Mini+ for example. Better than it has any right to be, and the people making it don't have a clue; every change to…

There will be an Android (11, unfortunately) reader, the S4. (This is already visible on xteink.cn and they've teased it in social media.)

There's also going to be an X4 Pro, which is an ESP32 reader too, and this seems to be an X4 with backlight and touch screen.

Re: The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader

#118

Post by __float »

criddell wrote: post #100
mapontosevenths wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Flash Crosspoint. I reflows much better than stock. It also fixes the lack of space between paragraphs.

Sounds like it’s still pretty early days then. I’ll probably hold off for a year or two and check again.

Even a year from now you're still likely to need a custom firmware.

The custom firmware today is more than good enough, and the devices often sell for under $70.

Re: The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader

#119

Post by sieve »

0cf8612b2e1e wrote: post #53
criddell wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does your reading position sync up between the two devices?

As someone who also juggles multiple readers, I find it easier to have a different book per device. Otherwise I would waste too much time trying to sync between the two.

Yes. I read multiple books in parallel. Each on a different reader. So syncing is not something I usually need though I did build myself a local sync server for fun.

Re: The Xteink X4 E-Ink Reader

#120

Post by sieve »

tmottabr wrote: post #56
sieve wrote: post #8

Got the X4. Put CrossPoint on it. Works like a charm. The http server accessible over wifi makes transferring books extremely simple. (Shame on the Kindle for locking everything down.) This is proof-of-concept that a microcontroller is more than enough for something like an e-reader. I have a Kindle and a Kobo. They are sturdy devices. But the X4 is the one that is a genuine e-reader. Would not get it as my one and o…

There are rumors they will release a V2 Pro version with touch and backlight in the second half of this year. They also have already announced the S4 that is basically the same device, a bit ticker with touch and backlight and running android.

Every item you add to the device adds a failure mode. Light is fine. Touch ... I don't know. I like the tactile feel of buttons.

And Android means the device no longer runs on a microcontroller which has consequences for battery life etc. As long as they keep the original, minimal model active with minor QoL improvements, I guess it is fine.

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