Huh, this would be a fantastic option for my Kobo Touch. It freely flashes whatever firmware you give it, and it'll boot from an SD Card besides.
Mr_Eri_Atlov•Jul 21, 2026
Interesting to see XTEINK here; hopefully it means they will be more open to community software initiatives.
jagged-chisel•Jul 21, 2026
What are the limitations with
XTEINK currently? I have an X3 and an X4 and both simply use whatever firmware you give them.
lachiflippi•Jul 21, 2026
They disabled the ability to USB flash on every device not bought from their official store.
slekker•Jul 21, 2026
Is that true? I heard for the X3 the pogo pin cable they ship has 2 pins not 4 but you can buy one and it will transfer data and let you flash custom firmware.
lachiflippi•Jul 21, 2026
I own both an "old" X4 as well as a "new"/"domestic"/locked X3. The pogo cable transfers data, and the device shows up in dmesg when connected, but disappears shortly after. The cable itself works fine for transferring data, tested with a different device with the same connector.
imzadi•Jul 21, 2026
I got an Xteink X4 a few weeks ago and love it. I've tried out a few different firmwares but haven't settled on one yet. I love the screen and how simple the interface is. It's kind of a pain in the butt getting my Kindle books on there, but worth the effort. It's also encouraging me to buy books outside of the Amazon ecosystem. I've been getting more stuff from Humble lately.
mootdentures•Jul 21, 2026
I also got one a few weeks ago! I love how pocketable it is.
I tried different firmwares too and ended up settling on CrossPoint. So far it's been the most stable and the UI feels more intuitive than the others (for me at least)
fastball•Jul 21, 2026
Did you try FreeInk? I was debating which (between CrossPoint and this) to flash my new X3 with.
mirrir•Jul 21, 2026
from what i understand this is CrossPoint.
timw4mail•Jul 21, 2026
My favorite at this point is Witch reader (https://github.com/jpirnay/witchhunt-reader). All the features of Cross-point, with better book rendering, and more features. I've tried a lot of the various alternatives, and keep coming back.
Or Kobo, given how shit the stock firmware is and how little the hardware has changed over a considerable period of time. Should be easy-peasy.
themadturk•Jul 21, 2026
Nickel, the stock firmware on Kobo, is pretty decent. KOReader is better, though. The Kobo is a pretty hackable device. I pair my Kobo Clara BW with BookFusion, which gives me portability between any KOReader device, Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android.
Larrikin•Jul 21, 2026
You can already easily install koreader on the Kobo. You can even combine it with Tailscale to get your local opds server
fudged71•Jul 21, 2026
I've used CrossPoint on X4. I'm not sure how this is related (CrossPoint is linked in the footer)
VonGallifrey•Jul 21, 2026
It reads to me like FreeInk is the e-book reader and e-Paper SDK, and CrossPoint is the firmware that uses FreeInk.
I currently use CrossPoint, so I wanted to install this, but when I clicked the GitHub button, it just linked to the CrossPoint Firmware.
foopod•Jul 21, 2026
From my understanding this is the next iteration of OpenX4 E-Paper Community SDK - an sdk made by some of the core contributors of CrossPoint that abstracts the hardware of eink devices.
Huge props to the devs, that haven't just embraced people forking their repo - but have actually put in a lot effort to make it easier for anyone that wants to develop on these platforms.
idle_zealot•Jul 21, 2026
I got an Xteink X 4 a few weeks ago and it's a very cute device. While I'm a fan of the hardware what's been really fun is noodling around with building some custom firmware and sync architecture to optimize content for the device's extremely limited CPU and Memory. That's meant a custom format for images and metadata that match the device's hardware and interface needs and an automatic ingest pipeline for building these files from common book/comic formats. Maybe some day I'll even read a book on the thing!
BeetleB•Jul 21, 2026
It saddens me that most of the ebook world is leaning towards smaller screen sizes.
My reader is 8", and I think that's just the right size. I like a decent sized font, and I don't like continually scrolling.
Surprisingly, the original promise of "low battery use" isn't panning out. My ereader's battery doesn't last that long, although I can live with it. Once you switch to large size color eink screens, the battery life is poorer than tablets!
embedding-shape•Jul 21, 2026
> most of the ebook world is leaning towards smaller screen sizes
Meanwhile, the smartphone world suffer from a lack of smaller screen sizes. Maybe we should just mandate the executives to switch industries with each other for a decade or so?
WillAdams•Jul 21, 2026
I rather liked my Sony PRS-505 and 600 for their 6.1" screen and that it would fit in a (large) shirtpocket.
My Kindle Paperwhite and Scribe Coloursoft go weeks between charges.
BeetleB•Jul 21, 2026
Yes, I too had a Sony ereader for years, and it was nice fitting it in my jacket pocket.
But the reality is that most book pages are larger than 6", and if I found myself preferring the book because of the size, what's the point of an ereader? I first switched to 7", which was better, but not good enough. 8" is great, though.
> Scribe Coloursoft go weeks between charges
How many hours will the battery last while on? And how does that compare to a similar sized tablet?
smith7018•Jul 21, 2026
> most of the ebook world is leaning towards smaller screen sizes
These are seriously niche devices. They're currently trendy but the Kindles of the world probably have something like 98% of the market.
BeetleB•Jul 21, 2026
Yes, but except for the Scribe, even the Kindle readers are too small!
Kobo had an 8" ereader. People loved it (except for the battery life). But there's no sign they'll make more of them.
smeej•Jul 21, 2026
Which reader do you have? I've been looking everywhere I can think of for a good 8-inch device, but I need it to run Android. Heck, I even tried looking into tablets with traditional screens and am having trouble turning up anything serviceable.
I have a 6" screen and it's too small. I got a 10.3" one and it was too large. But I'm starting to suspect those of us who primarily want to read are the only ones who want 8 inches, and we're a rare bread.
IshKebab•Jul 21, 2026
The Remarkable tablets are pretty big and have a large community.
dominotw•Jul 21, 2026
xteink seems to be everywhere these days. Did it really "kill doomscrolling" for anyone?
loremm•Jul 21, 2026
it is pretty fun I was surprised. It's just nice it's so pocketable. I thought it'd be too small but I turn the font up so I am constantly flipping and I don't seem to notice. The page flips are fast
But also, I didn't understand how much the lightness is amazing. A kindle is light and one handable but it's noticable, this is so light I just can hold it up. I've heard in the ultralight mouse (for gaming), there's a point you just feel like you're moving your hand and don't notice the mouse. This is how I feel for this and it's worth something
jjice•Jul 21, 2026
Maybe, but I feel like those are all just overwhelming trend/clickbait nonsense videos/articles. E-readers are awesome, but I bet the amount of people that have truly replaced their social media habits with ebooks out of nowhere is near zero.
Also, for anyone that wants to cut doom scrolling, just delete your accounts and delete the apps for the services you're not using in a way you like. In many cases, it's that simple.
Love e-readers though. I've carried one with me (when I had a reason to expect at least 30 minutes of downtime) for a few years now and it's a lot more convenient than the paperbacks I used to lug around.
tapvt•Jul 21, 2026
It has certainly made it easier for me to put down my phone in bed and read something else. So, doomscrolling is gone for that part of my day.
The biggest win is not caring if I get the reader back on the charger before I drift off, which is a thing I need to do with my phone.
mahimai•Jul 21, 2026
Does this can be installed kindle, like for very old versions?
t1234s•Jul 21, 2026
Are there any instances from the closed e-book system (kindle, nook, etc..) where you paid for a book and the book was either updated to a revised version or just removed from the device because of the content in the book?
jjice•Jul 21, 2026
Yep. The infamous case in my mind were the Roald Dahl updates. I believe there were a few more cases that got news coverage a few years back, but I don't recall, so don't quote me.
There was that famous 2009 case of Amazon remote deleting George Orwell's 1984 and Animal Farm from Kindles.
simcop2387•Jul 21, 2026
Yep, first instance I know of was from back in 2009, https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/jul/17/amazon-ki... and the kind of thing keeps happening over the years. It'll continue to happen since you aren't paying for a book. You're paying for a license to read the book for as long as the publisher/owner allows you to do so and they can revoke the permission at any time.
I still find it hilariously ironic that the first instance that was widely reported (as far as I know) was it happening to 1984.
criddell•Jul 21, 2026
[delayed]
monocularvision•Jul 21, 2026
I searched for each of the supported eInk devices and they were all tiny. Anyone know if there is a larger reader (maybe Paperwhite size-ish) that might run this?
chb•Jul 21, 2026
The "Hardware" link indicates that the BoM specifies a "24-pin SPI e-paper for GoodDisplay panels (3.97″, 4.26″, 7.5″ and up)." A search turns up this: https://www.good-display.com/product/516.html
mikepurvis•Jul 21, 2026
I've never heard of any of them; I guess it's geared toward build-it-yourself or kit-type devices? I can't imagine a serious aftermarket FW not supporting a single Kindle or Kobo device.
IshKebab•Jul 21, 2026
ESP32-S3 is really too underpowered for larger e-ink devices.
Varelion•Jul 21, 2026
Perfect -- this is exactly the kind of project I was hoping to see gain some traction as of late.
Ritewut•Jul 21, 2026
I want this but for ePaper tablets like Remarkable.
Andrex•Jul 21, 2026
I had a similar thought but thinking it through, would probably lose the near-zero-lag stylus stuff. That's kinda rM's whole thing, not ebook reading.
i think i remember seeing an unlockable bootloader on the remarkable?
wernerb•Jul 21, 2026
A Kobo ereader is as open as I need it with koreader installed. The Kobo Libra 2 black and white is the best ereader I have ever had. (not the color version,,unfortunately a step back in reading quality for normal reading)
mholm•Jul 21, 2026
These are not competing with Kobo. These are micro-ereaders, often much smaller than a phone. They're characterized by extremely weak processors and minimal hardware. 'Apps' are not a concept here yet.
boznz•Jul 21, 2026
Lots of the comments here are about porting to older kindles or eReaders, but the firmware is currently for the ESP32 chipset which none of these use.
shevy-java•Jul 21, 2026
Better than giving my money to Apple for sure.
tcoff91•Jul 21, 2026
I really like my Boox e-reader because I can install any android app on it. I run Storyteller on it and it syncs position to my storyteller server. So i can listen to the audiobook on my iPhone and then pick up reading on my Boox from where I was listening.
17 Comments
I tried different firmwares too and ended up settling on CrossPoint. So far it's been the most stable and the UI feels more intuitive than the others (for me at least)
If you want all your book series displayed together, AALU (https://github.com/dawsonfi/aalu) might be worth a look.
And Crosspoint OS itself is still really nice.
I currently use CrossPoint, so I wanted to install this, but when I clicked the GitHub button, it just linked to the CrossPoint Firmware.
Huge props to the devs, that haven't just embraced people forking their repo - but have actually put in a lot effort to make it easier for anyone that wants to develop on these platforms.
My reader is 8", and I think that's just the right size. I like a decent sized font, and I don't like continually scrolling.
Surprisingly, the original promise of "low battery use" isn't panning out. My ereader's battery doesn't last that long, although I can live with it. Once you switch to large size color eink screens, the battery life is poorer than tablets!
Meanwhile, the smartphone world suffer from a lack of smaller screen sizes. Maybe we should just mandate the executives to switch industries with each other for a decade or so?
My Kindle Paperwhite and Scribe Coloursoft go weeks between charges.
But the reality is that most book pages are larger than 6", and if I found myself preferring the book because of the size, what's the point of an ereader? I first switched to 7", which was better, but not good enough. 8" is great, though.
> Scribe Coloursoft go weeks between charges
How many hours will the battery last while on? And how does that compare to a similar sized tablet?
These are seriously niche devices. They're currently trendy but the Kindles of the world probably have something like 98% of the market.
Kobo had an 8" ereader. People loved it (except for the battery life). But there's no sign they'll make more of them.
I have a 6" screen and it's too small. I got a 10.3" one and it was too large. But I'm starting to suspect those of us who primarily want to read are the only ones who want 8 inches, and we're a rare bread.
But also, I didn't understand how much the lightness is amazing. A kindle is light and one handable but it's noticable, this is so light I just can hold it up. I've heard in the ultralight mouse (for gaming), there's a point you just feel like you're moving your hand and don't notice the mouse. This is how I feel for this and it's worth something
Also, for anyone that wants to cut doom scrolling, just delete your accounts and delete the apps for the services you're not using in a way you like. In many cases, it's that simple.
Love e-readers though. I've carried one with me (when I had a reason to expect at least 30 minutes of downtime) for a few years now and it's a lot more convenient than the paperbacks I used to lug around.
The biggest win is not caring if I get the reader back on the charger before I drift off, which is a thing I need to do with my phone.
https://goodereader.com/blog/electronic-readers/ronald-dahl-...
I still find it hilariously ironic that the first instance that was widely reported (as far as I know) was it happening to 1984.
Remarkable looks like it has a pretty active hacking community: https://github.com/rehackable/awesome-remarkable#launchers