The Next Chapter in E-Reader Design
The Diptyx E-Reader adds a second E Ink screen for book-like reading, and has an open-source design based on the ESP32-S3 for hackability.
Could one little change make an e-reader twice as nice? Martijn den Hoed thinks so; that is why he has added a second E Ink display to his custom device called the Diptyx E-Reader. It folds open just like a paper book, which allows it to display more content at one time. This comes in especially handy for things like technical content, where one often needs to jump back to revisit something one just read. And since the device can also fold closed, it comes with a built-in case that prevents the screen from getting scratched in a backpack.
The Diptyx E-Reader is powered by an ESP32-S3-N16R8 microcontroller and is equipped with dual 5.83-inch 648x480 E Ink black-and-white displays. A pair of 1500 mAh Li-Po batteries keep the device running for weeks between recharges, and a 2GB SD card allows for the storage of thousands of e-books. Everything from the hardware to the software and case is fully open source, so you can repair or hack the Diptyx E-Reader to your heart’s content.
While the connection has not been officially confirmed, this device looks suspiciously like the dual-screen e-reader we covered a few months back. So if you were drooling over that prototype, but did not want to go to the trouble of building your own, then the crowdfunding campaign you have been waiting for is finally here. Well, almost anyway. The project is launching soon on Crowd Supply, so be sure to sign up to receive updates if you want to be one of the first to snag a Diptyx E-Reader.