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Feedback Welcome: I am developing an e-paper calendar as a consumer product

invisible-computers.com

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Re: Feedback Welcome: I am developing an e-paper calendar as a consumer product

#141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yea, I'll try to find something with less texture for sure.

Have you been to a shop that does picture framing? I wonder if you are trying to re-invent (or at least DIY) a picture frame -- you can get a high quality custom-sized picture frame made at a very reasonable price. The mitres will be perfect :) (I haven't seen the reverse of your product, so there may be a constraint I'm not aware of.)

There are some constraints on the back, so I can't use an off-the-shelf frame. But you're right, I have to be careful not to DIY a wheel :D

Re: Feedback Welcome: I am developing an e-paper calendar as a consumer product

#142

I have the same issues as everybody else (larger screen, smaller bezel, flush mount to bezel, google calendar only), but I'll talk about the copy on the site: Under "Set and forget", "User your [...]" should be "Use your [...]". If you're anywhere near this price point, you can't have any typos in your copy. "For the home": > Unlike a paper-based family planner, the Invisible Calendar is up-to-date with what's in eve…

Many of the ideas you mentioned are also floating in my head. I have to prioritize, but maybe one day...

And thanks for pointing out the typo :)

Re: Feedback Welcome: I am developing an e-paper calendar as a consumer product

#143

What MCU are you using? Have you run into issues with shortages? I'm asking since I'm also developing an e-paper product, for a different purpose. Are you doing full refreshes each update? Seems like it would be OK in this use, since the content doesn't change often. You mentioned batteries as a complexity-adder: I agree, but ideally, this makes sense as a battery-powered device. It should be capable of running for a…

Hey, let's connect maybe? You can send me an email at mail@konstantinschubert.com

EDIT: I sent you an email.

Re: Feedback Welcome: I am developing an e-paper calendar as a consumer product

#144

Hi HN! I am trying to develop an e-paper smart display as a consumer product. The first available layout will be a calendar. I'd love to have HN's input on this: Do you think it's viable? Does it look okay? What would be a good selling price?

I looked at buying a company that does this, called Visionect. They have a consumer product called getjoan (at getjoan.com) that is some direct competition for what you want to do. Here's my quick summary: * They were using the tech for low power conference room calendars, which was a good use case pre-COVID. * They said consumers really liked Joan, and that it was a popular product internally for employees. * It ren…

Hey, thanks for the feedback.

I agree that the market for this particular product is very small.

Re: Feedback Welcome: I am developing an e-paper calendar as a consumer product

#145
I'd buy it in a heartbeat as long as there's no locking down of the software on it. A lot of these sorts of single-purpose devices go weirdly out of their way to be hostile to people modifying what software runs on them, which makes it all the more difficult to keep them working after, say, the manufacturer discontinues the product (or itself). A piece of hardware without user-serviceable software might as well be disposable - and the last thing the world needs is more disposable electronics :)

It's also worth noting that if you're marketing this for use at work, not all workplaces use Google Calendar; I've worked for quite a few companies that used Microsoft's ecosystem (particularly Outlook) exclusively. For a first go at the software, then perfecting the Google Calendar experience is a reasonable decision, but per above, it'd be nice if those of us with the know-how could mod in whatever data sources we please.

A couple questions:

1. Is this wall-mounted only? Or will it have some kind of stand so I can put it on my desk? Apartment dwellers and open-office-floorplan workers would probably find the latter useful :)

2. Would I be able to sync multiple calendars to it? Or would I need to buy multiple frames (one for work, one for personal) if I want to have both my work and personal schedule on display?

Re: Feedback Welcome: I am developing an e-paper calendar as a consumer product

#146
What size is this? I can't see any indicators or text saying what size it is.

EDIT: Also, if it updates the screen rarely enough, why not put solar panels on it? That bezel is already pretty darn thick, and if the solar panels draw enough power than you could forgo a power supply or external charging entirely.

Re: Feedback Welcome: I am developing an e-paper calendar as a consumer product

#147
post #130

I'd like to see it handle multiple calendars. My work calendar. My spouse's work calendar. Our shared personal calendar. Kid's school calendar. All with toggles for one at a time or all at once or any combination for daily scheduling discussions. Good luck! Neat idea!

It can do that already, even in the current stage of development. (They would have to share their calendars with your google account though. )

Re: Feedback Welcome: I am developing an e-paper calendar as a consumer product

#148

I'd buy it in a heartbeat as long as there's no locking down of the software on it. A lot of these sorts of single-purpose devices go weirdly out of their way to be hostile to people modifying what software runs on them, which makes it all the more difficult to keep them working after, say, the manufacturer discontinues the product (or itself ). A piece of hardware without user-serviceable software might as well be d…

Hi, thanks for the feedback. I am not planning to do anything to lock it down, but if you want something designed from the outset to be hackable, you're maybe happier with an https://inkplate.io/?

Regarding your questions:

1. I am planning to add a stand. The prototype doesn't have one yet.

2. Yes, you can sync multiple calendars. They all have to be shared to the same google account (Need to share your work calendar with your personal account).

Re: Feedback Welcome: I am developing an e-paper calendar as a consumer product

#149
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There’s no accounting for taste. I’d prefer a wood frame to some kind of LED emissive plastic or metal

Except it’s not particularly nice word and the proportions are all off.

Fair.

Re: Feedback Welcome: I am developing an e-paper calendar as a consumer product

#150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know someone who needs this. The price seems high, but it might work as a christmas/birthday present, and probably wouldn't ultimately stop it from being purchased in this case. It would be replacing a paper calendar that shows 3 months ahead. A nice feature would be to be able to move between views of today, this week, 3 months. Much bigger would be nice too. Again not having these would not stop a purchase. The w…

That concept you're linking is what inspired me :) > It would be replacing a paper calendar that shows 3 months ahead. A nice feature would be to be able to move between views of today, this week, 3 months. I agree. > Much bigger would be nice too. Totally.

What's the planned size of the display?

To me, a physical calendar is useful to get an idea of the schedule at a glance - but this seems like it will be too small to get a clear idea at a glance.

I'm guessing 6"-7" ? TBH 13-15" would be ideal to hang up on the wall (with a better contrast ratio as well) - but I'm guessing that would be way too expensive?

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