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.
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...
Is it something that you plan on doing and document? Or is there an easy way I can ssh into the device and figure out on my own?
TIA!
EDIT : well, 1 minute later you answered part of my question here : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37645339. How about ssh-ing?
Actually, from another comment
> Privacy Information: Plese note that the data is proxied through the Invisible Computers API backend and a non-reversible hash of most recent image is stored for up to 48 hours.
So there's some mechanism to make API calls to your own cloud infrastructure, but customers can't use it to skip the middleman and send things directly to the device? I hope I'm reading this wrong, because that's awful.
When it comes to the layout, there is definitely a lot that could be done, that hasn't been implemented yet. I am always working to add features but of course there are always more ideas than time. :D
(For example, I recently, I added the option to display the calendar vertically:
https://shop.invisible-computers.com/cdn/shop/files/IMG_0304...
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.
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?
Not yet, I want to support that in future but it's not possible yet. I have personally decided that I will keep the backend running even if I decide the project isn't worth it for me any more... but of course, I understand the this is no 100% guarantee.
> From a Wi-Fi perspective and workplace deployment does it support 802.1x? Uhhh, I don't know.. how would I check that?
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...
Wait? It's always proxied through your service? So there is no way to show something on the screen without you also being able to see it? That's a big nope for me.
For scrolling, I am not quite sure what you mean - are you referring to a button that would allow to move the time forward on the calendar? (That doesn't exist yet)
A touch screen might be cool, maybe for a future version... but it would drive up the price.
From a product perspective, I wonder if people wouldn't rather pick up their smart phone if they want to look at their calendar more deeply. I don't think the device should try to compete with the smart phone, it can only lose.
Everybody will have their opinion, 100% :)
FWIW: In family scenario, being able to quickly check next week (a simple scroll), can be very beneficial as we plan our kids activities etc (but I understand you don't want to overcomplicate it, and everybody has "just one more thing it needs":). I'll have a chat with my wife on whether it's something she would use as currently is; I'll be happy to share feedback either way if it's helpful :).