A Tiny E Reader | Hacker News Reader

A Tiny E Reader

nthp.me

65 pointslouismerlin27 comments

The X3/X4 are such neat devices with a great community behind them, shame the manufacturer decided to lock down devices sold on AliExpress in an attempt to funnel potential customers into their own store instead of embracing the open source firmware like Chinese handheld gaming vendors usually do. I hope these devices being as successful as they are inspire other manufacturers to build a better device that doesn't try to force customers to choose between running the dysfunctional stock firmware, or having to purchase from the equally dysfunctional manufacturer store.

I have one, it's great

Crosspoint just released a new version

https://github.com/crosspoint-reader/crosspoint-reader/relea...

With:

- custom fonts

- better syncing

- quick-press refresh

Etc etc

Thanks, do you know if this comment is true still?:

> As of the latest models, XTEINK has started to lock down the firmware to prevent users from installing Crosspoint. So, if you're reading these reviews, beware: the thing that a lot of people bought this for is going away soon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R68BIFNIVY07Z/

Kind of. There's an "unlocker" that just spoofs their OTA endpoint to flash custom firmware because xteink decided to not implement TLS validation, though they could theoretically change that at any point.

Xteink also claims that non-domestic versions of their devices sold by their "official" store are unlocked, but there's been a bunch of reports that that's not always the case (...along with devices arriving with broken screens, not arriving at all, or the wrong device showing up).

> Some Xteink units purchased from third-party stores (e.g. AliExpress) ship with USB flashing locked from the factory. If your device is locked, you will need to use the Xteink Unlocker tool available at https://crosspointreader.com/#unlock-tool before you can flash CrossPoint.

Source: https://github.com/crosspoint-reader/crosspoint-reader

Thanks, wanted to report back that I bought an X4 today from Amazon and had no problem flashing Crosspoint

I stumbled upon the Biscuit fork of Crosspoint, which basically make it a tiny covert pentest tool while also keeping ereader functionalities. To be seen if it will keep up with the OG Crosspoint.

https://github.com/yattsu/biscuit

Love to see Crosspoint get a callout here, loving it on my X4 - and a tiny bugfix PR of mine made it into latest :)

I bought an X4 back in November, and bought an X3 in March, after realizing the X4 was too big to fit on the back of a regular iPhone.

I absolutely love this thing. It's great because of its limited scope and featureset. It just sticks to the back of my phone, ready for whenever, and the battery is good enough that I don't have to worry too much about the dumb connector. I bought a USB C to pogo adapter that seems to work fine for charging it, and keep that in my travel pack.

I like their approach on going smaller, X4 has the perfect size and I feel like X3 is actually even a bit too small (missing usb c is a bit weird tho).

Compared to kindles going bigger and bigger - now with 11+ I feel like they are too big as a handheld.

> missing usb c is a bit weird tho

Everything I own now except for my Pebble watch uses USB-C. I will not buy another device that doesn't use it. (At least with my new Pebble, they shipped it with a USB-C adapter.)

I dream of an e-reader which could have the qualities of a true e-ink technology (ability to read under any light conditions, especially sunny one), while allowing usage of dictionaries like the android Livio offline apps (English, French, etc. )

Onyx boox go? They run android at least.

Seconding this. I installed a new dictionary to it fairly easily

All the modern mainstream eReaders have offline dictionary support. Some of them you can add custom dictionaries to. Not sure what's special about the "Livio" apps but they do exist.

While I know people understandably dislike Onyx Boox for their disregard for the GPL, their Android-based e-ink readers are exactly this. Their built in reader has offline dictionary support of its own, but as they are Android devices (albeit an older version and with a bit of hassle to get the Play Store on it besides their limited store), it can run standard Android apps -- I use it for both ebooks and for reading magazines from my library with Libby.

I know everyone has pointed you to Boox/Onyx devices, but Supernote is also android based. You have to sideload apps or add a 3rd party App Store. I use it for reading in Kobo and KOReader and note taking at work.

I skimmed through Livio web-site and it seems like it's just a repacked wiktionary?

On my e-book I use KOReader and I uploaded dictionaries of my personal choice on it. When I see a new word, I hold a finger for a bit longer than usual and KOReader opens a modal window with a definition from Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary. It took some time to find a DRM-free version and convert it into StarDict format but I've done it so I can share you only need to use this Python script: https://github.com/ilius/pyglossary. I'm sure there's already a wiktionary stardict on the web and you won't need pyglossary.

KOReader can be installed on many popular e-readers, including jailbroken Kindles (this usually takes 10 minutes to do depending on Amazon mood).

Looks interesting - thank you. I will have to give it a try, as I have a few paperwhites in airplane mode since around 2021 (to avoid updates that may one day break calibre sideloading)

Here are some wiktionary stardict files: https://xxyzz.github.io/wiktionary_stardict/

Thanks for sharing! This page also shows a KOReader UI on the right.

I installed Crosspoint Reader on a M5Stack Paper S3, same price but better features. Its magnets are not aligned right for use as a MagSafe attachment to n iPhone, however.

Just echoing all the other comments here, I've been loving my x4 flashed with crosspoint.

Can’t wait for the upcoming backlit version

Even tinier DIY ereader by Paul Lagier: https://youtu.be/IL05zoHBGwA

this is totally great but... 5 megabytes of useful storage, with micro SD cards being as small as they are? what on earth? lol

what is densest small ereader with high ppi !

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