Open Book Touch launches as compact open-source e-reader
The Open Book Touch e-reader was originally announced last November, the device is now available for pre-order ahead of its scheduled shipment in 2027. The Open Book Touch is priced just a little lower than the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite ($159 on Amazon).
While the value for money may not seem very attractive at first glance, both the hardware and software of the Open Book Touch are distributed under an open-source license. This means the firmware can be freely customized by the community, and the 800 mAh battery can be replaced by the user.
Measuring 12 x 7.8 x 1 centimeters and weighing 85 grams, the Open Book Touch is smaller than many smartphones – a feat made possible in no small part by its relatively small 4.26-inch E-Ink touchscreen. With a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels, it achieves a pixel density of 220 PPI. A total of ten LEDs enable front lighting with adjustable color temperature, allowing you to read even at night.
As expected, the hardware is simple – the Open Book Touch features an ESP32-S3 dual-core microcontroller, paired with 8 MB of RAM and 16 MB of flash memory. Books can be stored on the included microSD card. Books can be transferred wirelessly to the e-reader via Wi-Fi. The firmware supports TXT and ePub files by default.
Pricing and availability
Open Book Touch is currently being funded on Crowd Supply. The e-reader costs $149 plus import sales tax, customs duties, and $12 worldwide shipping, though shipping to the U.S. is free. A so-called "Author’s Edition" with a special chassis is available for $249. Deliveries are expected to begin in April 2027. As is usually the case, supporting crowdfunding projects involves risks, as delays and quality issues cannot be ruled out.
Source(s)
Add as a preferred source on Google
No comments for this article
