Hacker News Reader

Comment by stevekemp | Hacker News Reader

I'm currently awaiting the delivery of a 400x300 epaper module from aliexpress which I'm hoping to use as a display that updates daily with google calendar entries, the local weather, and similar things.

I don't have a solid use for it, but I'm looking forward to experimenting as I'm surprised how inexpensive these things have become - the item I ordered is ~€25.

I'll be using a Wemos mini D1 to drive it, and I'd also expect a long life-span between charges. (Though waking up and using the WiFi is always the heavy-weight part of these devices.)

View on HN

Do you have a link to the item? Or atleast a name + type number.

Why did you choose that specific display? A quick Google search shows that driving an e-inkt display can be challenging. Have you checked how hard that particular item is to drive?

Thanks! I can think of so many cool things I would love to build for ~€30,- :)

Found a few here: https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=S...

Interfacing them isn’t too bad, your basic atmega328 should be able to do it handily if you’re comfortable with spi/i2c and co. The problem is that they all come as FPC (micro ribbon cables, those orangish-brown display strips) so you need to at the very least get a compatible FPC to DIP breakout board if you’re not comfortable with SMT work.

I'm not sure I want to get involved in that (at my office) since I already deal with enough equipment already, but I think something cool would be to make a small ePaper like display for conference room in front of each door, and display the upcoming meetings that are booked.

Of course people could look directly on the calendar through their phone or computer, but sometimes a quick glance when you're near is all it takes.

In facebook and a whole bunch of other tech companies they use android tablets / iPads for exactly that.

There is even a company that has an app that manages that for you, but I forgot what it was called.

Robin

Yeah. Teem is another one.

I should have thought of including a link:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/400x300-4-2inch-E-Ink-displa...

I've seen libraries for driving this specific one, so I assumed I can hack it to work. The 800x600 size is perhaps more "useful" but slightly more expensive than something I'd buy without a real need.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com