SVARTLING

CrossInk - This CrossPoint Fork is like having KOReader on XTEINK X4!

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 14:03:00 +0200

In this video I do a review of the excellent CrossPoint Reader fork called CrossInk. It’s the best firmware fork for XTEINI X4 I’ve used so far. And its the one I will use for now. It’s like having KOReader installed on the XTEINK X4. It’s that good. Excellent typography options and excellent KOReader sync.

Welcome back! In today’s video, we’re diving deep into CrossInk, a sophisticated personal fork of the CrossPoint Reader firmware. If you’re a fan of e-ink devices and high-quality typography, this project is a game-changer for minimalist reading hardware.
Developed by uxjulia, CrossInk is specifically optimized for the ESP32-C3 microcontroller—specifically targeting the Xteink X4 hardware—offering a streamlined, open-source alternative to stock firmware.
🔍 What is CrossInk?
CrossInk is a specialized firmware designed for handling EPUB content on constrained hardware. While it maintains the robust core of the original CrossPoint firmware, its primary objective is to elevate the visual reading experience through superior font rendering and essential reading metrics.
✨ Key Features & Enhancements:

Premium Typography: Native support for high-legibility fonts including ChareInk, Lexend Deca, and Bitter.
Dynamic Font Controls: A new in-book menu allows for real-time adjustments to font size (from Tiny 10pt to Extra Large 18pt) and layout without exiting your book.
Advanced Reading Stats: Track your progress with precision. The firmware logs total reading time, session counts, pages turned, and average session duration.
Full Unicode Support: Comprehensive support for Unicode emojis, miscellaneous symbols, and strikethrough formatting.
Bookmarking System: A dedicated bookmarks home screen and in-reader management system to keep track of your favorite passages.
Auto Page Turns: Fully customizable intervals (now in seconds) for a hands-free reading experience.

🛠️ Technical Deep Dive
For the developers and hobbyists watching, CrossInk is built using PlatformIO. It leverages the efficiency of the ESP32-C3 to provide a smooth UI on e-ink displays.

Simulator Support: The project includes a macOS-compatible simulator (Apple Silicon) to test firmware changes instantly without flashing the hardware.
Efficient Caching: Utilizes a section-indexing system to speed up the rendering of large EPUB files.
Hardware Target: Optimized for the Xteink X4 hardware platform.

🔗 Links & Resources

GitHub Repository: https://github.com/uxjulia/CrossInk
Original Project (CrossPoint): Support the community that made this possible!
Support the Creator: Check out uxjulia’s GitHub for more e-ink and UX-focused projects.

If you enjoyed this technical walkthrough, don't forget to:
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💬 Comment below: What is your favorite e-ink font?

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My BigMe B7 is back from the dead again so now I can sync it with my XTEINK X4

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 17:24:00 +0200

My Bigme B7 went into a bootloop with no return I thought so I decided to pack it away because it was faulty. Apparently I was wrong. After being without charge for a couple of months I decided to check it again and when I charged it and it started then a Firmware/software update popup showed up and I click update and now it works again! So I immediately set it up to sync with my beloved XTEINK X4 and my iPhone Air, using KOReader sync in the excellent Crosspoint Reader ++ Fork and Readest.

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How to install a CrossPoint fork on your XTEINK X4 e-Reader - Crosspoint Reader with Bookfusion Sync!

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:24:00 +0200

In this tutorial I show you how to install a CrossPoint Reader Fork firmware on your XTEINK X4 e-Reader. With this fork you can sync your reading progress with Bookkfusion KOReader Sync Plugin.

It's very easy to do, so hopefully you can do it too after watching this tutorial. CrossPoint and Bookfusion is awesome.

Sync Your Library: The BookFusion Fork for Crosspoint Reader

The Crosspoint community just got a major power-up. If you’ve been tinkering with your e-ink setup and wishing for a more seamless way to manage your reading across different devices, the new unofficial v1.1.1-bookfusion fork by vbbot is the game-changer you’ve been waiting for. Based on the rock-solid CrossPoint v1.1.1 stable release, this build integrates BookFusion directly into the hardware, allowing you to browse your cloud library and sync your progress without ever touching a USB cable.

Core Feature Overview

This release isn't just a minor patch; it’s a significant workflow improvement for e-ink enthusiasts who live in the cloud. Here’s what makes this fork a must-have:

OAuth 2.0 Authentication: Securely link your account using the "Device Code" flow. This is a massive win for e-ink users because it lets you authenticate via a phone or PC, sparing you the frustration of typing complex passwords on a slow-refreshing e-ink keyboard.
Reading Progress Sync: Full bi-directional syncing. Whether you’re moving from your phone to your Reader or vice versa, your spot is always preserved.
Cloud Library Browser: A native interface to navigate your BookFusion collection and download EPUBs directly to your device.
Automatic Sidecar Creation: This fork handles the technical heavy lifting by generating necessary sidecar files automatically upon download. These files are what allow the local reader software to talk to the BookFusion cloud, and having them created in the background eliminates the need for manual file management.

Step-by-Step: Linking Your BookFusion Account

Setting up the integration is straightforward. The fork adds a dedicated BookFusion settings submenu under your System Settings. Follow these steps to get linked:

From the home screen, navigate to Settings → BookFusion Sync → Link Account.
The device will generate a unique short code and display an activation URL (bookfusion.com/activate).
Open that URL on your computer or smartphone and enter the code displayed on your Reader.
Once authorized, the device will confirm the link and securely store your credentials.

Your account stays linked even after a device reboot. If you ever need to switch accounts or de-authorize the device, simply go to Settings → BookFusion Sync → Unlink Account.

Managing Your Library and Downloads

Browsing and Downloading EPUBs The built-in library browser means you can expand your reading list on the fly. To access it, head to Settings → BookFusion Sync → Browse Library.

To keep the interface snappy on e-ink hardware, the browser displays your collection 8 books at a time. You can navigate through your pages using the physical or on-screen up/down buttons. When you find a title you want, select it and confirm the download.

Note on Storage: All downloads are saved directly to the root of the SD card. Ensure you have a formatted SD card inserted in your Crosspoint Reader before starting a download. A progress bar will track the transfer, and once it's finished, the book is immediately ready for reading and syncing.

Mastering the Sync Workflow

The magic happens once you open an EPUB downloaded via the BookFusion browser. While you are actively reading, you can press the sync button to trigger a manual check-in with the cloud.

The device will fetch your remote reading position and present a side-by-side comparison screen. This screen shows your Chapter and Percentage for both your local device and the remote cloud. You then have two choices:

Apply Remote Position: Jump ahead (or back) to the exact spot you reached on another device.
Upload Local Position: Push your current Crosspoint progress to the BookFusion cloud so your other devices stay updated.

If you are opening a book for the first time and no remote progress is found, the system will intelligently prompt you to upload your current position to establish a baseline.

Technical Update Instructions

Ready to upgrade? You’ll need to flash the firmware.bin file included in the release assets. This is the standard procedure for anyone familiar with the Crosspoint ecosystem, but if you need a refresher, be sure to check the detailed, step-by-step update instructions on the project wiki to avoid any issues during the flash process.

Conclusion and Version Disclaimer

Having a unified cloud reading experience on dedicated e-ink hardware is the "holy grail" for many digital readers. By bringing the BookFusion library and sync engine directly into the Crosspoint interface, vbbot has created a much more cohesive environment for hobbyists. No more manual side-loading—just pick up your device and read.

Disclaimer: This is an unofficial build released by vbbot. While it is based on the official CrossPoint v1.1.1, the BookFusion integration is a custom feature set and is not maintained by the original Crosspoint development team.

You find the Crosspoint Reader Fork with Bookfusion Sync here:

https://github.com/vbbot/crosspoint-reader/releases/tag/v1.1.1-bookfusion

Flash it here:

https://xteink.dve.al/

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Master Your Library: The Ultimate Guide to Collections and Series in KOReader

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:55:00 +0200

KOReader is far more than a simple file viewer; it is a world-class digital library engine. While many users begin by navigating their devices through a basic folder structure, relying on folders often hides the best part of your library: the book covers. Because KOReader works identically across Kindle, Kobo, Android, and Pocketbook, you can master these tools once and enjoy a metadata-rich, "cover-first" experience on any device.

By moving beyond a file-based view and utilizing Collections and Series, you transform your e-reader from a storage drive into a curated gallery.

The Foundation: Using the "Favorites" Collection

The "Favorites" collection is a built-in feature available to every user by default. It is the quickest way to prioritize your current "TBR" (To Be Read) pile. You can identify Favorites by the Heart icon in the interface.

To add a book to your Favorites, use the "Long-press" method within the File Browser:

Navigate to a book title.
Long-press the title to open the context menu.
Select Add to favorites.

You can access this curated list instantly through the Top Menu > Favorites (Heart icon) or by selecting the Collections view from the main menu.

Creating Custom Collections

Custom collections empower you to group books by genre, project, or mood. KOReader offers two primary workflows to build these groupings:

Manual Creation: Navigate to the Collections menu and select New collection. Type a name, and you have a fresh container ready for books.
Selection-Based Creation: While browsing, long-press a book, choose Add to collection, and then select New collection. This is perfect for creating a grouping on the fly the moment you discover a new category of interest.

Pro Tip: Removing or deleting a collection only removes the organizational grouping. It never deletes the actual book files from your device’s storage.

Power User Tip: Search-Driven Collections

Manual organization can be tedious if you have thousands of books. As an evangelist for efficiency, I highly recommend the "Search and Select" workflow. This allows you to generate dynamic collections based on specific metadata in seconds.

Open the File search or Collection search function.
Perform a search based on Metadata or Keywords.
- Note: Searching "Content" is incredibly thorough but is significantly slower than title/author searches. Manage your expectations on older e-ink hardware!
The Critical Step: Once your results (e.g., all books by "Lars Kepler") appear, use the menu to Select all, then—crucially—select Select in file browser. This "pins" the search results to the browser for batch actions.
Go to the menu and select Add to collection > New collection.

Example: Search for the Swedish word "mord" (murder) or keywords like "Svensk," "Crime," or "Thriller" to instantly generate a genre-specific collection from your existing metadata.

Organizing Series for the Perfect Reading Order

A "Series" is distinct from a general collection because order matters. KOReader identifies Series Name and Series Index metadata, which is typically imported automatically if you manage your library with Calibre.

If your metadata is messy or missing, you can fix it directly on your device:

Long-press a book and select Book information.
Long-press the Series title or Series index fields to select Set custom.
While you are in the Book Information screen, you can also edit Ratings and Keywords to further enrich your library’s searchability.

Once your metadata is corrected, enter the collection and use the Arrange menu to sort by Series. This ensures your books appear in their proper chronological or numerical order rather than a random alphabetical list.

Managing and Sorting Your Collections

You can manage your organizational structure by long-pressing any collection name within the Collections view.

Collection Management Actions

Action	Result
Rename collection	Change the display name for better organization.
Remove collection	Deletes the group tag; files remain safe on the device.
Connect other folders	Ideal for adding an "Archive folder" stored on an SD card or outside the main home directory.

To change how books are displayed within a specific collection, use the Arrange (sorting) menu. You can sort by Author, Title, Series, Last read, or Size.

Pro Tips for Navigation

True power users customize the interface to stay in the flow of reading.

Custom Startup: Don't waste time in folders. Set KOReader to start on your Favorites or History screen. Navigate to Top Menu > Settings (Gear icon) > File browser > Start with.
Gestures: Use the Gesture Manager to assign a specific motion to open your Favorites or Collections view. For example, a "Multi-swipe" (like drawing a 'U' shape on the screen: Down-Right-Up) can be set to toggle your Favorites list instantly without leaving your current book.

Conclusion

Mastering Collections and Series transforms KOReader from a simple file explorer into a sophisticated, professional-grade library. By utilizing search-driven workflows and refining your metadata, you can maintain a perfectly curated library of ten books or ten thousand.

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How to install CrossPoint Firmware on your XTEINK X4 e-Reader

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:43:00 +0200

In this tutorial I show you how to install the CrossPoint Reader firmware on your XTEINK X4.

It's very easy to do, so hopefully you can do it too after watching this tutorial. CrossPoint is awesome.

Browser-Based Magic: Why Installing CrossPoint Firmware on Your XTEINK X4 is a Game Changer

Introduction: The E-Reader Revolution in Your Browser

In the niche world of E-Ink enthusiasts, the hardware is often only half the story. The XTEINK X4 is a fascinating specimen in this regard—a device with a physical profile so sleek and unapologetic that it sits perfectly fine on the back of an "iPhone air" without the need for extra justifications. But while the hardware is compelling, the real magic lies in the software. Historically, flashing custom firmware meant navigating a minefield of ADB commands, Fastboot drivers, and precarious technical hurdles. Today, the barrier to entry for E-Ink modding has collapsed. We have entered an era where "supercharging" your device is a frictionless, browser-based experience that feels less like a coding exercise and more like visiting a favorite bookmark.

The "No-App" Advantage: Installation via Chrome

The most radical aspect of the XTEINK X4’s ecosystem is the lack of specialized software. There is no proprietary "updater tool" to download or obscure drivers to configure. Instead, the entire deployment happens within a standard web browser like Chrome. This "no-app" approach is a total shift in how we handle hardware maintenance. To prepare for the flash, ensure the device is awake; it cannot be in sleep mode during the process or the connection will fail. Once active, connect the unit via a USB-C cable to your computer and navigate to the URL provided in the device’s Quick Start Guide.

"That is how easy it is to install a firmware specifically cross point firmware on this it's very easy."

The Essential Safety Net: Backing Up is Non-Negotiable

Any seasoned specialist will tell you that the most critical phase of flashing is the one that happens before the first bit of new data is written. The browser-based utility prioritizes this by offering a robust "Backup" feature. Before you even think about selecting the CrossPoint version 1.2.0 firmware, you must secure your original firmware. The web interface simplifies this technical heavy lifting: it performs a full "readout" of your existing partitions. Only after the original system is safely stored should you select the latest CrossPoint build. The tool then automatically validates the partition table, ensuring the hardware is ready for the transition.

Speed and Seamlessness: The Five-Minute Transformation

If you are used to the agonizingly slow progress bars of legacy flashing tools, the XTEINK X4 will come as a shock. Once you click "connect" and authorize the browser to access your device, the "readout" and "writing" phases proceed with remarkable efficiency. While the process can take up to five minutes depending on your internet connection and local hardware, it often completes in a brisk 120 seconds. This rapid, automated sequence makes third-party firmware deployment feel less like a "hack" and more like a standard system update.

The Secret Handshake: The Hardware Reset Sequence

While the software portion of the installation is handled entirely by the browser, the final initialization requires a specific, manual hardware sequence—a "secret handshake" to wake the new OS. Once the browser confirms the write is complete, disconnect the USB-C cable. Now, locate the small reset button. The sequence is precise: click the reset button and immediately after, click the power button and then hold this. This physical trigger is the key to successfully rebooting the hardware and initializing the CrossPoint version 1.2.0 environment for the first time.

The Perfect Fit: A Note on Hardware Synergy

The appeal of the XTEINK X4 isn't just in its frictionless software, but in its physical versatility. There is a surprising synergy in how its dimensions allow it to pair with existing mobile setups. It is a device designed for portability, fitting into a modern tech stack with a level of native ease that is rare in the e-reader market.

"it fits perfectly fine on the iPhone air i love that."

Conclusion: The Future of Frictionless Customization

The jump to CrossPoint firmware (v1.2.0) via a simple URL marks a turning point for user-accessible hardware. We are moving away from the era of "technical justifications" and toward a future where "awesome" third-party firmware is available to everyone, regardless of their technical background. By removing the friction of complex installations, the XTEINK X4 proves that the best way to empower a user is to stay out of their way.

If updating your hardware becomes as simple as visiting a website, what else could your favorite devices be capable of?

Flash it here:

https://xteink.dve.al/

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My review of thte XTEINK X4 with CrossPoint Reader ++ Firmware Fork with working KOReader sync!

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 13:50:00 +0200

First I tested the original firmware that the Xteink X4 comes with and after that I have been using the CrossPoint Reader v1.2.0 firmware and now I am using the CrossPoint Reader ++ Firmware fork, and now the KOReader SYnc works much better!

CrossPoint Reader ++: Enhancing the Xteink X4

E-Paper Experience

Introduction to CrossPoint Reader ++

CrossPoint Reader ++ is a specialized firmware fork optimized for the Xteink X4 e-paper display reader. Built upon the foundational work of Dave Allie and the broader community, this project addresses the specific technical limitations of the original repository. As a "feature-forward" fork, it prioritizes the rapid integration of community-driven enhancements and low-level stability fixes that have otherwise stalled in the upstream development pipeline.

The Motivation: Why This Fork Exists

The creation of the CrossPoint Reader ++ branch by developer jpirnay was a response to the stagnation of the main repository. In the world of open-source firmware, upstream projects often fall into a "least common denominator" trap, where niche but vital technical improvements rot in the Pull Request (PR) queue due to a lack of clear governance.

This fork exists to bypass these upstream synchronization bottlenecks and address several critical pain points:

CSS Parsing Regressions: Persistent rendering issues in the official branch often break e-book layouts. This fork implements rigorous fixes to ensure CSS compliance and visual fidelity.
Heap Management & Stability: Users have long faced Out-of-Memory (OOM) errors during secure handshakes. By resolving the HTTPS TLS OOM issues, this branch provides the stability required for modern wireless workflows.
Development Velocity: By operating independently, this branch can integrate "good ideas" and community fixes at a pace the official repository currently cannot match.

Key Improvements and New Features

CrossPoint Reader ++ introduces a suite of "under-the-hood" performance optimizations alongside visible toolsets designed for the serious reader:

Robust KOReader Synchronization: Beyond basic progress syncing, this fork includes a specific HTTPS TLS OOM fix. On the low-power hardware of the Xteink X4, efficient heap management during the TLS handshake is a major stability milestone for wireless syncing.
Typography & Rendering: Extensive fixes for CSS rendering issues ensure consistent text presentation. This includes sophisticated typography adjustments such as differential rounding for consistent inter-glyph spacing, a feature essential for high-quality e-ink legibility.
Advanced Sleep Screen Support: Users can now utilize information overlays and transparent images over the current reading screen, allowing for at-a-glance data without losing place in a book.
Accessibility & Utility:
- Reading Ruler: A dedicated accessibility tool to assist with line tracking and focus.
- Weather and Clock Panels: Integrated system-level panels for environmental awareness.
- Book Information Screen: Deep metadata visibility for the active library item.
Release v1.31 - "Font Darkness": The latest release focuses on the "reading experience" by introducing Font Darkness settings, allowing users to tune the contrast of the e-paper display to their specific lighting conditions and visual needs.

Comparing E-Reader Firmware Flavors

Selecting the right firmware involves balancing feature sets against hardware support. The following table compares the current "flavors" available for the Xteink X4 as of April 2026:

Reader Name	Visual Appeal	Core Functionality	Supported Formats	Pros	Cons
CrossPoint ++ (This Fork)	Okay	Calibre Wireless; KOReader sync; Wi-Fi transfer; Clock/Weather	EPUB, XTC, TXT	Faster integration of fixes and features	Small team; no custom fonts, CJK, or Bluetooth
Stock	Okay	Basic Reader	XTC, EPUB, TXT	Frequent official updates; Supports Custom Fonts/CJK/Bluetooth	Significant CSS rendering regressions
CrossPoint	Okay	Calibre Wireless; Limited KOReader sync	EPUB, XTC, TXT	Largest community support	"Least common denominator" feature set
CrossPet	Excellent	Virtual pet motivator; mini-games	EPUB, TXT	Playful interface; many additional apps	High battery drain; perceived as "bloaty"
Papyrix	Minimalist	Calibre Wireless; exFAT support	EPUB, FB2, MD, TXT	Highly innovative feature ideas	Small development team
Inx / vCodex	Nice	Reading statistics	EPUB, XTC, TXT	Strong visual appeal; detailed stats	Small development team
PlusPoint	Okay	Experimental JS App support	EPUB, TXT, JS	Custom JavaScript app support; improved RTC	Based on legacy codebase; small team

Technical Snapshot and Project Status

Technically, the project is a high-performance implementation grounded in low-level systems programming. The codebase is comprised of approximately 81% C and 16% C++, utilizing smart pointers and a modular ParsedText class architecture to improve memory safety.

Current Activity Level: The project is under active development. Recent commits (as of April 8th, 2026) have addressed critical issues such as OTA (Over-the-Air) update redirects and wild pointer crashes in JPEGDEC handling. The rapid turnaround on these regressions demonstrates the fork's commitment to a stable, "daily-driver" ready firmware.

Conclusion and Availability

For Xteink X4 users who find the official development cycle too conservative or the rendering issues too intrusive, CrossPoint Reader ++ offers a performance-oriented alternative. By focusing on the fundamentals—typography, synchronization stability, and functional utilities—it transforms the X4 into a more capable, professional-grade reading device.

The project is released under the MIT License. For the full source code, installation instructions, and the comprehensive USER_GUIDE.md, please visit the official GitHub repository.

Find the fork here:

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

Flash it here:

https://xteink.dve.al/

Watch video here:

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XTEINK X4 with CrossPoint Firmware 1.2.0 Review

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 19:11:00 +0200

First I tested the original firmware that the Xteink X4 comes with and after that I have been using the CrossPoint Reader v1.2.0 firmware and it has been an awesome user experience. Except for the KOReader sync that hasn’t work so well.

CrossPoint: The Community-Driven Soul of the

XTEINK X4

1. Introduction: Hardware Meets Its Match

The Xteink X4 is a piece of hardware that feels like a glitch in the matrix. Physically, it’s magical: a featherlight, 74g sliver of tech the size of a credit card that snaps to your phone via MagSafe. Under the hood, it’s powered by the ESP32-C3, a low-power microcontroller usually found in the toolkits of DIY smart-home hackers rather than consumer e-readers. It was designed to solve the "neurological friction" of the modern smartphone—that reflexive reach for an infinite feed when you have thirty seconds of downtime.

But as a piece of out-of-the-box tech, the X4 was a disaster. It was the digital equivalent of a "garbage paperback"—those flimsy, 70s sci-fi novels that disintegrated in your pocket. The stock software was barebones, frustrating, and functionally broken for serious readers. It took a community of enthusiasts and the birth of the CrossPoint Reader firmware to transform this device from a flawed curiosity into a truly cyberpunk e-reader that does things a Kindle could never dream of.

2. The "Why" Behind CrossPoint: Solving Stock Software Gaps

The original Xteink firmware was a lesson in technical limitation. It lacked basic bold and italic rendering, struggled with EPUB images, and—insultingly for a typography-focused device—restricted custom fonts to monospaced only. CrossPoint didn't just patch these holes; it re-engineered the experience from the metal up:

Typography and Advanced Rendering: To make a 4.3-inch, 220 PPI screen legible, every pixel counts. CrossPoint implements proper kerning, ligatures, and fixed-point fractional x-advance for sub-pixel character placement accuracy.
Advanced CSS Support: The firmware parses CSS to respect the publisher’s intent for underscores, margins, and complex formatting, turning raw text into a coherent book layout.
Hardware Bug Fixes (The UV Patch): The "Frost White" model has a unique "Achilles' Heel"—its shell is thin enough that UV light penetrates the casing and disrupts the driver, causing the screen to fade in direct sunlight. While hackers often use internal physical stickers to block the rays (a solid pro-tip for anyone with a screwdriver), CrossPoint provides a software solution: it completely powers down the screen between refreshes to lock the e-ink state.

3. Core Features: A Fresh Interface for a Tiny Screen

Navigating a device without a touchscreen requires a radical rethink of UI. CrossPoint’s Lyra Theme ditches cramped text menus for a vertically stacked, cover-heavy interface optimized for the X4’s narrow display.

Control is dictated by the "3-Second Rule." To beat the doomscrolling habit, the transition to reading must be faster than the "wake" delay of a phone. A long press of the main button jumps you into your current book instantly. Beyond navigation, the firmware introduces high-level tools including:

Footnote Anchor Navigation: Select a reference to jump to the note and back seamlessly.
Integrated EPUB Optimizer: Clean up and reprocess books for compatibility directly on-device.
Massive Hyphenation Support: Includes Dutch, Belarusian, Italian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Catalan, Vietnamese, and Kazakh, ensuring a clean "ragged-right" or justified look across languages.

4. The Connectivity Revolution: KOReader and Calibre Sync

For the senior hardware enthusiast, CrossPoint’s real power lies in its ability to join a wider ecosystem. It supports Calibre Wireless Device syncing and OPDS (Calibre Web) browsing, but the KOReader Sync is where the technical sophistication peaks.

Standard percentage-based syncing between different devices is almost always "one page off" because CrossPoint and KOReader use different rendering engines. To solve this, CrossPoint utilizes XPath mapping. When you sync, the firmware reparses the spine XHTML on demand using Expat to build temporary anchors. It finds the exact sentence and element indices (the XPath) to ensure 1:1 page accuracy when you move from your 4.3-inch X4 to a 7-inch Kindle or 10-inch Kobo.

5. Power-User Territory: The cpr-vcodex Fork

For those who want the "richer" experience, the cpr-vcodex fork adds deep analytics and utility. The biggest hurdle here is that the ESP32-C3 lacks a reliable real-time clock (RTC) that survives sleep mode. The community solved this with Sync Day logic: the device fetches a date via NTP over Wi-Fi, and if the clock is lost during sleep, it falls back to the last saved valid date (marked with a "!" in the header to alert the user).

Feature	CrossPoint Standard	cpr-vcodex Addition
Reading Analytics	Basic progress	Heatmaps, daily totals, and 62 Achievements
Visual Tools	Standard Dark Mode	Text Darkness levels & Lexend font support
On-Device Guides	USER_GUIDE.md	"ReadMe" app & "If found, please return me" screen
Time Management	System clock	Sync Day logic with fallback-day tracking
Sleep Tools	Static image	Folder selection, preview, and shuffle/sequence

6. Installation Guide: Taking the Plunge

Before you begin, ensure your X4 is set to your preferred language in the stock settings; this carries over into the firmware environment. You will need a Chrome-based browser and a stable USB-C cable.

Backup: Navigate to xteink.dve.al. Under "Full flash controls," select Save full flash. This will create a flash.bin file. Do not skip this. It takes approximately 25 minutes, but it is your only safety net for a full recovery.
Connection: Connect the X4 to your computer and ensure it is awake and unlocked.
Flashing: Scroll to "OTA fast flash controls" on the same site and click Flash CrossPoint firmware.
Reboot: Once the browser indicates the flash is complete, press the Reset button (bottom-right of the device), then press and hold the Sleep/Wake button to power on.

7. Conclusion: The Future of Focused Devices

The Xteink X4, augmented by CrossPoint, isn't just a gadget; it’s a manifesto for "intentional technology." It represents a shift back to single-purpose, distraction-free tools that respect the user’s attention.

The project remains community-driven from day one, with the de-link hardware roadmap already charting a path for open-source e-readers utilizing 3.97", 4.26", and 7.5" panels. In an age of maximalist distractions and infinite feeds, the most powerful feature a device can offer is the choice to do less.

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Readest now has a working KOReader Annotations Sync!

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Tue, 7 Apr 2026 18:50:00 +0200

In this tutorial I show how to update your Readest KOReader Sync plugin on your KOReader devices and how to use the new Annotations and Highlights sync feature! I do this “live” for the first time in this video. So if you have jailbroken Kindle or a Kobe e-Reader that you have installed KOReader on you can now sync both reading progress and annotations between your KOReader e-Readers and a smartphone or computer that runs the excellent Readest app.

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My XTEINK X4 Review - It's Magic really!

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 12:31:00 +0200

In this video I review the minimalistic e-ink e-Reader, the XTEINK X4!

This little e-Reader is magic because it makes people read more. It’s true really. Even me.

It fits perfectly fine on the backside of my iPhone Air and it feels so great that you know that you always have it with you in your pocket or bag. Together with your phone. You are just three seconds away to read a paragraph or two instead of doomscrolling on your phone. I love that it doesnt have a touch display because then it’s easier to carry it with you and use it.

Is This the Ultimate Doomscrolling Cure?

5 Takeaways from the "Magical" XTEINK X4

We have all felt the neurological friction of the "infinite feed." It is the modern struggle: a spare moment in a checkout line or a quiet minute on a commute quickly devolves into twenty minutes of mindless doomscrolling, trapped by the dopamine loops of our smartphones. The XTEINK X4, however, offers a sophisticated exit strategy. It is a "magical" alternative—a pocket-sized e-ink reader that attaches directly to the back of your phone, turning the digital traps of social media into a curated space for literature.

This isn't merely another gadget; it is a tool for intentionality. By placing a dedicated reading screen in your physical path, it creates a frictionless transition from distraction to focus. Here are five key takeaways from this unique device.

The MagSafe Connection: An E-Reader That Never Leaves Your Side

The primary hurdle to digital wellness is often the friction of carrying a second device. The XTEINK X4 solves this through an elegant MagSafe connection, allowing it to snap securely onto the back of an "iPhone Air" or any compatible smartphone. Because it is incredibly thin and light, it bypasses the "should I bring it?" debate—if you have your phone, you have your library.

The true genius of the form factor lies in its "pop-on, pop-off" workflow. While sitting in a chair, it feels natural to leave it attached to the phone for a quick browse. However, for dedicated reading sessions, the X4 is best detached; it is a feather-light sliver of technology that disappears in the hand, making the act of reading feel unencumbered and spontaneous.

"I just do this now—I can have this little magical [e-reader] with me wherever I go in my jeans pocket, my [jacket] pocket, my bag or whatever, so I always have this with me."

The 3-Second Rule: Replacing Social Media with Stories

In the battle against social media apps, speed is everything. Most modern e-readers, even premium Kindles, suffer from a slight lag—a "wake up" delay or a Wi-Fi handshake that creates enough friction to send a user back to Instagram. The X4 eliminates this with a "3-second rule": a long press of the main button opens your current book instantly.

This immediacy, achieved without the need for Wi-Fi or complex syncing protocols, facilitates a habit of "micro-reading." Instead of scrolling through a newsfeed when you have only a minute to spare, you can finish a paragraph or two. By removing the technical barriers to entry, the device transforms every brief wait into a meaningful literary session.

Why Buttons Beat Touchscreens for Small-Scale Reading

In an era where we are conditioned to tap every glass surface, the XTEINK X4 makes a defiant case for tactile minimalism. The author’s stance is firm: this device should never have a touch display. On a frame this small, which naturally sits on the back of a phone, your fingers wrap around the edges. A touchscreen would result in a nightmare of accidental page turns and smudge-filled displays.

Physical buttons provide the reliable, tactile feedback required for "blind" navigation. Whether you are flipping pages or navigating folders, the tactile interface ensures the experience remains focused. It is a rare instance where the absence of a modern feature is actually the device’s greatest strength.

"This device should not have a touch display ever in the future... it has physical buttons to navigate and that is perfect for this device because you don't want to touch the display by mistake on this one because it's so small and sits on the back side on the phone."

The Endurance Beast: Two Weeks of Power in Your Pocket

One of the hallmarks of intentional technology is its ability to stay out of the way, and that includes the charging cable. While the smartphone it attaches to likely requires a daily tether to the wall, the X4 is an endurance beast. Even with a rigorous reading schedule of two hours per day, the battery easily survives 14 days on a single charge.

For the tech-savvy minimalist, the battery becomes an afterthought. The reviewer notes that while he often plugs it in to his computer to experiment with "hacks" or firmware settings, the device rarely actually needs the power. This "set it and forget it" longevity ensures the reader is ready to perform long after your smartphone has hit its low-power warning.

The "UV Achilles' Heel": A Surprising Technical Flaw

Even a "magical" device has its limitations. The "Frost White" version of the X4 suffers from a peculiar technical drawback: the casing material is so thin that UV light penetrates the shell, causing the e-ink text to fade in direct sunlight. It is a striking irony for a technology traditionally celebrated for its outdoor readability.

However, for the digital curator, this flaw is simply a challenge for the community to solve. Enthusiasts have already discovered that stickers applied inside the case can block the UV rays, while custom firmware like "CrossPoint" utilizes high-speed refresh rates to keep text visible. Interestingly, early reports from the community suggest the Black version may not suffer from this "transparency" issue. While the text returns instantly once you step indoors, it’s a design quirk that underscores the experimental nature of this open-architecture device.

Conclusion: The Future of Focused Devices

The XTEINK X4 is a compelling look at the future of "intentional technology." It is more than a standalone reader; it is a platform for the future. As a beta tester for the upcoming BookFusion and KOReader plugins, the reviewer notes that the X4 will soon allow users to sync reading progress seamlessly across devices—whether you’re moving from a Kindle, a Kobo, or your iPad. It is a device that chooses to do one thing perfectly, proving that in an age of maximalist distractions, perhaps the most powerful feature a device can offer is the choice to do less.

In a world screaming for our attention, should our devices do less so that we can enjoy more?

Go check it out here and buy it you too, It’s Magic!:

https://www.xteink.com/

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Sync your Books, Highlights, Bookmarks and Reading Position with the Bookfusion KOReader Plugin

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Sun, 5 Apr 2026 15:51:00 +0200

In this video I show you the incredibly good KOReader Sync Plugin from Bookfusion! It syncs your books, highlights, bookmarks and reading position to all your KOReader e-Readers and to all your devices that run Bookfusion. For example on your smartphone, tablet or computer. It’s awesome!

It’s a closed beta at the moment so I can’t share the plugin with you just yet.

But I show you how to install it in this video and how to use it.

The Holy Grail of Digital Reading: Why the New BookFusion Plugin is a Game-Changer for Kindle and Kobo Diehards

1. Introduction: The Universal Reader's Dilemma

For the modern digital reader, the dream of a unified library has long been deferred by hardware silos and significant digital friction. If you start a chapter on a Kindle Paperwhite, finish it on a Kobo Clara, and try to review your highlights on an iPhone during a commute, you are likely intimately familiar with the manual labor of ecosystem hopping. Reading positions, bookmarks, and deep-cut annotations are typically trapped within the proprietary "walled gardens" of device manufacturers.

The solution to this fragmentation has finally arrived in the form of the new BookFusion KOReader plugin. Currently in closed beta, this tool acts as the ultimate connective tissue for power users who refuse to be locked into a single brand, promising true interoperability between disparate E-Ink devices and mobile platforms.

2. Beyond Page Syncing: A Full Library in Your Pocket

Most syncing solutions are anemic, offering little more than a "last page read" update that frequently fails. The BookFusion plugin for KOReader represents a fundamental shift by synchronizing the actual substance of your library. We are looking at a comprehensive data handshake that ensures your books, custom bookmarks, and highlights are mirrored across every screen.

This addresses the "E-Ink Paradox": we love these devices for their focused, eye-friendly hardware, but we hate the software silos that isolate our data. By using BookFusion as a central cloud repository, specialized E-Ink hardware is transformed from a static file-storage unit into a dynamic window into a living, synchronized library. As Stefan Svartling notes during his hands-on testing, the scope of the sync is total:

"it will sync all your books too it will sync your bookmarks your highlights and your reading position."

3. The End of Ecosystem Lock-In

The strategic significance of this plugin lies in its ability to bridge the gap between "closed" and "open" platforms. This isn't just a technical curiosity; it’s a cross-platform superpower. A "dumb" Kindle or a mid-range Kobo can now communicate effortlessly with high-end Android hardware or iOS devices.

During the beta phase, the plugin has demonstrated seamless performance across a surprisingly diverse range of hardware, including:

Legacy E-Ink: Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Basic, and Kobo Clara.
Specialized Android E-Readers: The "viwoods AiPaper Reader".
Mobile Powerhouses: iPhones and iPads, which serve as the high-resolution companions for "out and about" reading.

4. Direct Cloud-to-Device Downloads: The Death of the Calibre Cable

For years, the "USB-cable shuffle" has been the single biggest barrier to a frictionless KOReader experience. The BookFusion plugin effectively kills the need for a PC connection with its "Browse Books" functionality. Users can navigate their entire cloud library directly from the KOReader interface, organized into folders like "Currently Reading," "Favorites," and "Plan to Read."

The workflow is a revelation for power users: you can navigate to your library, select a title, and long-press to choose a specific destination folder on your device. This direct cloud-to-local download capability turns the e-reader into a standalone node that no longer requires a desktop intermediary:

"it's amazing really this works so incredibly good."

5. Seamless Setup (Even in Beta)

Despite the technical sophistication required to link a Kindle to a third-party cloud service, the installation process is remarkably grounded. It begins with a standard "drag-and-drop" of the plugin into the KOReader directory via a computer. However, the real "magic" happens during activation.

Once KOReader is launched, the device generates a "secret code." In a nod to both security and the technical nuances of the beta, this code is time-sensitive, remaining active for only a few seconds. You enter this code into a web browser linked to your BookFusion account, and the handshake is completed. Even in its current state, the linking process is designed for high-speed success, often taking only seconds to verify the connection.

6. The Beta Reality: "Amazing Future" vs. Current Bugs

Transparency is vital when discussing beta software. While the plugin offers a glimpse into a hardware-agnostic future, it is currently a "closed beta" for a reason. Early adopters must accept a degree of technical friction as the price of admission. Stefan is candid about the current risks, including occasional sync failures where a highlight or reading position might not propagate perfectly every time.

"it has some bugs... but it will only be better better and better and better."

This is the standard trajectory for high-impact open-source and third-party tools: initial grit giving way to a polished, indispensable workflow.

7. Conclusion: The New Standard for Digital Libraries

The BookFusion KOReader plugin represents a paradigm shift. It moves the e-reader away from being a single-purpose, isolated gadget and integrates it into a unified, personal library ecosystem. We are moving toward a future where the manufacturer of the hardware—whether it’s Amazon, Kobo, or a boutique Android manufacturer—is secondary to the continuity of the reading experience itself.

When the hardware becomes a commodity, the software becomes the strategy. How would your reading habits change if every device you owned stayed in perfect sync, finally liberating your library from the silicon that contains it?

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My Huion Ink e-ink Tablet Review

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Sat, 4 Apr 2026 14:13:00 +0200

In this video I do a review of the Huion Ink 10.3 inch e-ink tablet.

Huion Ink is mainly for reading, note-taking and sketching.

The Huion Ink EB1011 is a versatile 10.3-inch E-Ink tablet powered by Android 11, specifically designed for reading, note-taking, and sketching. It features a sharp 1872 x 1404 resolution display (227 PPI) with anti-glare etched glass and adjustable cold and warm front lighting, ensuring a comfortable, authentic paper-like experience both day and night.

Key features include:

Writing and Drawing: The tablet includes a battery-free Huion Ink Pencil that uses EMR technology and features 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity. With a felt nib and a tail eraser, it mimics the feeling of writing with a real pencil on paper. Users can customize their notes with various brushes and backgrounds, use AI to convert handwriting into text, or use the device as a standard pen tablet when connected to a computer.
Reading and Productivity: It supports a wide range of document formats (such as PDF, EPUB, and TXT) and allows for flexible layout customization. To boost study or work efficiency, it includes a split-screen function for taking notes while reading, quick annotation tools, and a Text-to-Speech (TTS) mode to read documents out loud.
Storage and Portability: Measuring just 6.5mm thick and weighing 450g, the tablet is highly portable. It comes with 64GB of built-in storage that can be expanded up to 2TB via an SD card. The 4,650mAh battery can last up to 12 days on a single charge.
Sharing and Connectivity: Notes and documents can be easily exported and shared using QR codes, local storage, or cloud uploads. It also offers a screen projection feature to display notes on a monitor during meetings.

Check it out and buy it here.

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My unboxing and first start of the XTEINK X4 mini e-Reader!

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 12:32:00 +0200

In this video I unbox a really cool and minimalistic e-ink e-Reader, the XTEINK X4!

It’s meant to be attached on the backside of your phone using MagSafe so you can just flip your phone around and just read! Great for when you procrastinate with dumb things like social media..

It fits perfectly fine on the backside of my iPhone Air. Albeit upside down but that is not really a problem.

The Xteink X4 is a specialized, ultra-minimalist e-reader designed for maximum portability and distraction-free reading. Rather than competing with feature-rich tablets, it focuses on a "just enough" philosophy, serving as a pocket-sized companion that can be used standalone or magnetically attached to a smartphone.

Technical Architecture and Hardware

Unlike standard e-readers that utilize mobile Systems-on-Chip (SoC), the X4 is built on a microcontroller architecture.

Processor: It is powered by an Espressif ESP32-C3, a single-core 160 MHz processor based on the open-source RISC-V architecture.
Memory: The device operates with extreme efficiency, utilizing only 400 KB of total SRAM (~380 KB available for applications).
Storage: While it lacks substantial internal memory, it includes a microSD card slot (supporting up to 512 GB) for storing e-books and images.
Display: It features a 4.26-inch E-ink panel with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels and a density of 220 PPI.
Input: To maintain its slim profile, the device omits a touchscreen. Instead, it uses seven physical buttons, including page-turn and navigation controls, which operate via a resistor ladder connected to Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) pins.

Physical Design and Connectivity

The X4 is engineered for the "Everyday Carry" (EDC) community, prioritizing weight and thinness.

Dimensions: The device measures 114 x 69 x 5.9 mm and weighs only 74 grams.
MagSafe Integration: A built-in magnetic ring allows it to snap onto the back of compatible iPhones or other devices, effectively creating a dual-screen setup.
Battery Life: Despite a small 650 mAh battery, the efficient E-ink display allows for up to 14 days of use (based on 1–3 hours of reading per day).
Wireless: It supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for file transfers and system updates.

Software and Performance

The software environment is intentionally restricted to prevent digital distractions.

File Support: The stock firmware natively supports EPUB and TXT documents, as well as BMP and JPG images.
Limitations: It cannot read DRM-protected books (which must be sideloaded) and does not support third-party Android applications.
Community Ecosystem: Because of its hackable nature, a community-driven firmware called CrossPoint has emerged, offering improved typography, Calibre integration, and faster wireless transfers.

Go check it out here and buy it you too:

https://www.xteink.com/

Watch video here:

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How to make reading great on your smartphone! Specifically the iPhone Air

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:32:00 +0200

Stop Hurting Your Eyes: 5 Surprising Ways to Optimize Your Smartphone for Reading

Many smartphone users struggle with significant digital eye strain, finding it painful to read on high-resolution devices for extended periods. It is a modern irony: we possess screens capable of incredible clarity, yet they often leave our eyes feeling exhausted and irritated. The primary culprit is not the hardware itself, but the "default settings" we accept out of the box. As a tech optimization specialist, I can tell you that factory configurations are rarely optimized for the biological needs of the human eye. To transform your smartphone—specifically a device as capable as the iPhone Air—into a high-performance e-reader, you must move beyond these presets. By implementing these expert configurations, you will eliminate fatigue and unlock a reading experience that actually surpasses traditional paper.

The Dark Mode Myth: Why Pure Black is Failing You

The most pervasive myth in digital wellness is that "True Black" dark mode is the gold standard for eye comfort. While pure black backgrounds save battery on OLED screens, they are a disaster for long-form reading. A completely black background with white text creates a "sharp contrast" that is incredibly jarring for the eyes to process, leading to rapid fatigue.

For nighttime reading, you must switch to a dark gray background in apps like Storytel. This softens the contrast while keeping the screen dim enough for a dark room. Furthermore, you must follow the "Daylight Rule": never use dark mode in a brightly lit environment. In a well-lit room or under studio lights, dark backgrounds increase visual interference.

"Reflection and glare makes your eyes more tired actually than anything else... glare and reflection makes your eyes very tired quite fast."

To protect your vision, use a light background in bright environments to effectively "drown out" the reflections that force your eyes to work harder.

The Sepia Secret for Daylight Reading

When reading in well-lit rooms or outdoors, a Sepia or light gray background is your optimal configuration. While pure white is better than dark mode in the sun, the contrast can still be too aggressive. Sepia—available in apps like Readestthrough settings like "Solarized"—balances the display, allowing for hours of reading without "glare fatigue."

Because the iPhone Air features a significantly higher resolution than any E-ink device, these color settings provide a level of crispness that traditional e-readers cannot match. By combining the warmth of a Sepia tone with high-density pixels, you create a reading surface that is actually superior to digital paper.

Activate the "Invisible" PWM Switch

One of the most critical hardware-level optimizations involves managing how your screen handles light. Most modern displays use Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), an invisible pulsing of the display. While your brain may not consciously register the flickering, your eyes perceive it, which is a leading cause of headaches and strain.

The iPhone Air provides a unique advantage over Android alternatives with a dedicated hardware-level toggle. You must activate this to protect your eyes:

Open Settings.
Navigate to Accessibility.
Select Screen and Text Size.
Scroll down and toggle the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) switch to On.

This setting minimizes display pulsing. Note that this is a specialized hardware configuration; you cannot use the "Reduce White Point" setting and the PWM switch simultaneously. Prioritize the PWM switch for maximum comfort.

The 50/25 Brightness Rule

To maintain peak eye health, you must manually command your brightness based on your environment. The behavior of the PWM switch changes based on these specific thresholds:

The Daylight Command (Above 50%): In lit rooms, keep your brightness above 50%. This ensures the display maintains a smooth, high-frequency pulse modulation that is significantly easier on the eyes.
The Darkness Command (Below 25%): In a completely dark room, drop the brightness below 25%. At this specific threshold, the PWM switch triggers DC Dimming. This effectively removes the pulsing entirely, replacing it with a constant light source that is much safer for late-night reading.

The "Boldness" Hack: Ditching the Reading Glasses

The high resolution of the iPhone Air, combined with specific typography tweaks, can actually render physical reading glasses unnecessary. By adjusting the font weight, you achieve a level of legibility that traditional print simply cannot provide.

In your reading app—I highly recommend Readest for this—select the Atkinson Hyperlegible Next font. You must then set the font weight to exactly 450 weight (boldness). This specific weight, paired with brightness above 50% and a light background, creates a "hyper-legible" environment. This level of sharpness is so intense that it allows many users to read even small text comfortably without the assistance of glasses, effectively turning your smartphone into the ultimate vision-aid e-reader.

Reading on a smartphone is not inherently damaging to your eyes, but reading on unoptimized settings is. By moving away from pure black, strictly managing your brightness thresholds, and enabling hardware-level fixes like the PWMswitch, you transform the iPhone Air into the most advanced reading machine available. Your device is more than a phone; it is a high-resolution window into your books, provided you have the expertise to set the view correctly.

Which of these technical settings did you notice an immediate difference with after switching?

In this tutorial I go through some settings and tips to make your reading experience great on a smartphone. More specifically the iPhone Air! You get great eye comfort and your eyes don't get tired and you don’t get headaches or migraines.

Watch tutorial here:

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Huion Ink Note taking & Google Services

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:47:00 +0200

In this video I do some note taking on the Huion Ink tablet for you to see how it works. I also try to share notes to my Google Drive account without succeeding.

Check it out and buy it here: https://bit.ly/3NXBIJ0

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iPhone Air for Reading - After 6 months!

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 14:51:00 +0200

I’ve been using my iPhone Air since it was released 6 months ago and I thought I should do a follow up video on how it works for reading on it. So here it is.

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Unboxing and first look of the new version of HUION INK (EB1011) - an e-ink tablet for note taking and reading

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:55:00 +0100

The Huion Ink EB1011 is a 10.3-inch E-Ink tablet designed to bridge the gap between traditional paper and digital productivity. Running on Android 11, it is optimized for professional note-taking, extensive reading, and creative sketching.

Display and Build Quality

Visual Clarity: The device features a 10.3-inch E-Ink display with a resolution of 1872 x 1404 (227 PPI). This provides a sharp, paper-like visual experience that minimizes eye strain during long sessions.
Surface Texture: It utilizes anti-glare etched glass and a fully laminated screen. This technical construction reduces the air gap between the glass and the display (minimizing parallax) and creates a tactile "tooth" that mimics the friction of writing on physical paper.
Front Light: It includes an adjustable dual-color temperature front light. Users can toggle between cool and warm lighting presets to suit different ambient environments.

Advanced Writing Experience

Huion Ink Pencil: The included stylus uses Battery-Free EMR (Electromagnetic Resonance) technology, meaning it never requires charging.
High-Level Sensitivity: It supports 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, allowing for precise line-weight control. The pen also features a felt nib for a damping sensation and a functional tail eraser for natural digital editing.
AI Integration: The tablet includes AI-powered OCR (Optical Character Recognition), which recognizes handwritten notes in multiple languages and converts them into editable text (exportable as TXT or PDF).

Reading and Productivity Software

Versatile Format Support: The device handles a wide array of file types, including PDF, EPUB, MOBI, AZW3, DOCX, and TXT.
Split-Screen Functionality: Users can view a document on one side of the screen while taking notes in a notebook on the other, significantly enhancing research efficiency.
Text-to-Speech (TTS): For moments when eye fatigue sets in, the TTS engine allows the device to read documents aloud.
Android Ecosystem: Since it runs Android 11, users can install third-party applications from the built-in App Market, making it compatible with various digital libraries and e-book services.

Technical Specifications and Connectivity

Storage: It comes with 64GB of internal ROM, but notably supports expandable storage via SD card up to 2TB, allowing for a massive library of documents and high-resolution sketches.
Portability: The chassis is only 6.5mm thick and weighs 450g, making it highly portable.
Battery Life: The 4,650mAh battery provides up to 12 days of use on a single charge.
Dual Mode: Beyond its standalone capabilities, the EB1011 can be connected to a computer to function as a standard pen tablet for professional desktop software.

In this video I do a simple unboxing and first look of the 10.3 inch e-ink tablet called Huion Ink. I will do a review video later on after using it for a while.

Check it out and buy it here.

Watch video here:

The End of the "Audio vs. Print" Debate: Why Synced Listening is the Ultimate Reading Power Move

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 14:07:00 +0100

Storytel has a new feature called Synced Listening, and it’s amazing. It uses the real narrators together with the ebook, so you can read a long while the audiobook plays. All in sync. So it is so easy to follow along in the text when listening. Even if you raise the speed of the audiobook. It also works on modern fast e-ink based e-readers like viwoods AiPaper Reader, viwoods AiPaper mini, Bigme B7, Bigme B751c, Onyx Boox readers and so on. They need to have an excellent quick refresh mode though. I mostly use my incredible iPhone Air when using synced listening though. It has an excellent display for reading.

The Reader's Dilemma

For the modern bibliophile, the "To-Be-Read" pile is often a source of both excitement and guilt. We’ve traditionally been forced into a binary choice: the deep, cognitive focus of a dedicated e-reader or the versatile convenience of an audiobook. Choosing one usually means sacrificing the other. However, we are currently witnessing a paradigm shift for the TBR pile.

The bridge between these two worlds is Synced Listening. By fusing high-fidelity digital text with professional human narration in real-time, we are moving beyond simple "consumption" into a high-performance reading state. This isn't just a new feature; it’s a power move for anyone looking to master their library with unprecedented speed and retention.

Real Narrators, Not Robots: The Human Element of Syncing

The greatest threat to an immersive reading experience is the "uncanny valley" of AI-generated voices. While text-to-speech technology has improved, it lacks the soul required for long-form literature. This is why the Storytel ecosystem is a game-changer: it prioritizes real, professional narrators over robotic AI.

When you are "sync-reading," your brain processes the visual text and the auditory performance simultaneously. A human narrator provides the necessary cadence, emotional weight, and natural pacing that makes this multi-modal experience feel intuitive rather than distracting.

"Now I can read this as a normal ebook... if I now want to listen to that narrator, the real narrator, together while I'm reading the book text, it's like the immersive reading feature that Amazon has for Kindles."

The E-Ink Breakthrough: Quick Refresh is a Game Changer

In the past, E-ink was the enemy of synced reading. The slow, ghosting-heavy refresh rates of traditional displays couldn't keep up with the pace of a narrator, leading to a disjointed mess. That era is over. To make multi-modal reading viable, a device must support a "Quick Refresh" mode, and the current gold standards are the Viwoods, Bigme and Onyx Boox devices.

viwoods AI Paper Reader & Aipaper Mini: These devices offer a low-latency refresh rate that is almost as fast as a standard Android tablet. The result is a ghosting-free experience where the text highlights follow the narrator in real-time. Power User Note: Be aware that both viwoods models lack internal speakers; you must use Bluetooth headphones to engage the audio.
Bigme B751C / Bigme B7: This color E-ink reader is a formidable alternative, featuring built-in speakers and a fast refresh mode that keeps the text and audio in perfect harmony.

This technology finally makes specialized E-ink hardware a viable competitor to high-end tablets for immersive reading.

The iPhone Air and Display Wellness

While E-ink is king for many, a specifically configured smartphone can be a surprisingly elite reading tool. The thin and light iPhone Air —shines due to a critical technical feature: the PWM switch.

Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is the flickering or pulsating a screen uses to manage brightness. For many, this "blinking" causes significant digital fatigue and eye strain during long sessions. By engaging a PWM switch to remove this flickering at low brightness, you transform the device into a tool for "marathon reading." This allows you to dive into a book for hours in a pitch-black room without the headache usually associated with mobile screens.

Seamless Mobility: From the Commute to the Couch

The power of synced listening is the ability to adapt to your environment without losing your place. With Storytel’s library of over one million books, the reading experience becomes a constant, fluid companion.

The Commute (Listen-Only): Start your morning in the car with high-quality audio.
The Break (Read-Only): Transition to silent reading on your phone or e-reader in a quiet office.
The Deep Dive (Sync-Read): Return home and combine the text and audio to maximize focus and speed.

Because the ecosystem is perfectly synced, your device knows exactly where you stopped. Furthermore, power users can leverage Storytel’s AI search feature to instantly locate text quotes across that million-book library, turning a massive digital collection into a searchable database.

The Translation Quirk: As a "pro-tip" for those in the Storytel ecosystem, be aware that certain translated books (specifically some Swedish translations) may lack the synced listening feature due to copyright restrictions. While the vast majority of the library supports the feature, always check for the "sync" icon on translated titles.

Conclusion: The Future of the Page

Synced listening is more than a convenience; it is a fundamental shift in our relationship with books. It allows literature to adapt to the speed of modern life, rather than forcing the reader to find a static moment of silence. By utilizing high-speed E-ink refreshes, PWM-safe displays, and human narrators, we can engage with stories more deeply and frequently than ever before.

The ultimate question for the modern reader is no longer whether to read or listen, but how fast you want to evolve. Do you value the traditional silence of a standard ebook, or are you ready to accelerate your progress by syncing your text with a Magnus Roosman narration at 1.25x speed?

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Unlock Your Kobo: The Ultimate Guide to Installing KOReader

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 09:26:00 +0100

I get so many questions on how to install KOReader on Kobo e-Readers specifically, and I have a popular video tutorial on how to do that already, but some people has problems installing it anyway. Maybe because I use MacOS in the tutorial or some other things that people don’t understand, so I decided to do a detailed Tutorial on how to install KOReader on Kobo ebook readers. You find that below. You also find my original video tutorial at the bottom. I hope this helps.

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Pre-Installation Checklist & Safety

Precision is the key to a successful modification. Before we begin, let’s ensure your environment is ready.

Requirements

A Kobo e-Reader: Touch or newer.
A Computer: Running Windows 10+, a modern version of macOS, or a recent Linux distribution.
A High-Quality USB Cable: E-ink devices can be sensitive to data interruptions; use the original cable if possible.

Critical Safety Note To avoid those mysterious connection errors that plague E-ink devices—perform a clean, full reboot of your Kobo before starting. Ensure you connect the USB cable while the device is on the Home screen, rather than inside a book.

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The Recommended Method: Semi-Automated "One-Click" Install

For most users, the "One-Click" method is the gold standard. It bundles KOReader with necessary launchers like KFMon and NickelMenu in a single, fool-proof package. The script also allows you to install Plato, a secondary high-performance reader, alongside KOReader if you wish.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Download: Obtain the "One-Click" ZIP package (e.g., OCP-KOReader-vXXXX.zip) and the installation script for your OS (Windows .ps1, macOS .command, or Linux .sh).
Connection: Plug your Kobo into the computer and tap Connect on the device.
File Placement: Move both the ZIP package and the script into the same folder on your computer.
- macOS Users: Safari may automatically unzip the archive and trash the original ZIP. You must move the original ZIP file out of the Trash and back into the installation folder for the script to function.
Running the Script:
- Windows: Right-click install.ps1 and select Run with PowerShell. If you use PowerShell 7+, you must first right-click the file, select Properties, and check the Unblock box at the bottom.
- macOS: Right-click install.command and select Open. Click Open again when the GateKeeper warning appears.
- Linux: Execute install.sh via your terminal.
The Package Selection: Once the script runs, a terminal window will appear. You must enter the number (usually "0") corresponding to the KOReader package you want to install and press Enter.
Finalization: Follow any remaining prompts, then Safely Eject your Kobo. The device will process a "book," restart to perform an "update," and finally reboot. You will then see a new KOReader icon (looking like a book) in your library.

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Technical Nuance: The Firmware 4.17+ Quirk

If your Kobo is running firmware 4.17 or newer, the stock software (Nickel) will attempt to index every file on the device, including hidden system folders. This wastes battery, clutters your library, and can cause crashes. Fortunately, the community has developed a robust workaround.

The automated script usually handles this, but you should verify your configuration. Open .kobo/Kobo/Kobo eReader.conf on your device with a text editor and ensure the following lines exist under the [FeatureSettings] section:

[FeatureSettings]
ExcludeSyncFolders=(\\.(?!kobo|adobe).+|([^.][^/]*/)?\\..+)

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Alternative Manual Installation (For Advanced Users)

For those who prefer a "cleaner" setup, the NickelMenu method is highly recommended. Pro-Tip: This method is more resilient than KFMon; it typically survives official Kobo firmware updates without needing a reinstall.

Install NickelMenu: Download and install the KoboRoot.tgz for NickelMenu.
Download KOReader: Get the standard koreader-kobo-{version}.zip.
Extract: Move the koreader folder into the .adds directory on your Kobo.
Configure: Create a file at .adds/nm/koreader. Crucial: Ensure this file has no file extension (do not save it as .txt). Paste this string inside: menu_item:main:KOReader:cmd_spawn:quiet:exec /mnt/onboard/.adds/koreader/koreader.sh
Eject: Safely eject. KOReader will now appear as an entry in your main menu.

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First Steps and Specialist Tips

To start your journey, tap the KOReader icon in your library or the NickelMenu entry.

The UI Scaling Fix If the interface feels too small on high-resolution screens like the Sage or Elipsa, navigate to Top Menu > Gear Icon > Screen > Screen DPI. You can set a custom DPI here to scale the entire interface to your liking.

Navigation & Gestures KOReader uses a clever two-menu system. Tap the top of the screen for general settings and the bottom for document-specific formatting.

Zone	Action
Top Center	Open Top Menu (or Swipe Down to show)
Bottom Center	Open Bottom Menu
Left Side	Previous Page
Right Side	Next Page
Corners	Defaults: Stats, Night Mode, and Bookmarks

Specialist Power Moves

Screenshots: Perform a long diagonal swipe from one corner to the opposite corner.
Global Defaults: Find a setting you love? Long-press any menu item (like font weight) to save it as the default for all future books.
Precise Increments: When using adjustment dialogs (like font size), tap and hold the arrows to change the values in larger steps.

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Maintenance: Updates and Firmware Changes

In-App Updates Keep your device current by connecting to Wi-Fi and using the built-in update mechanism found in the Top-Right Menu. This is the easiest way to benefit from the constant stream of community improvements.

Handling Kobo System Updates Installing official Kobo firmware updates is safe. However, if you used the One-Click/KFMon method, the update will disable the launcher. To fix this, you do not need to reinstall the entire KOReader suite; simply reinstall the KFMon standalone package or run the automated script again. If you used the NickelMenu method, your installation will likely remain functional.

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How to install LocalSend KOReader plugin and send and receive files wirelessly on your e-reader

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Sun, 8 Mar 2026 13:18:00 +0100

In this tutorial I show you how to install LocalSend for KOReader. It is a KOReader plugin that enables sending and receiving files between devices using the LocalSend protocol. Transfer ebooks, documents, plugins, fonts and other files directly to and from your e-reader that runs KOReader. It works for iOS devices like the iPhone, iPad. It also works on all kinds of Android devices, and computers that runs MacOS, Linux or Windows.

Download the KOReader plugin from here.

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The End of the Robot Voice: Why Your Books Finally Sound Human

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Sun, 1 Mar 2026 14:51:00 +0100

We all have that "to-read" pile—a digital graveyard of PDFs and saved articles haunting our cloud storage. The barrier isn’t a lack of interest; it’s the friction of finding the dedicated time to sit and stare at a screen. Traditional text-to-speech (TTS) promised to liberate us, but the jarring, mechanical drone of legacy voices usually ends in an early exit.

ElevenReader by ElevenLabs is the first app I’ve tested that successfully bridges the uncanny valley between software and soul. By transforming flat digital text into high-fidelity narration, it treats your personal documents with the respect a publisher treats a best-seller. It isn't just a utility; it is a fundamental shift in how we interact with our personal libraries.

The Death of the Digital Drone

The core value proposition here isn't just "clearer" audio; it is the death of the robot voice as we know it. ElevenReader leverages AI models that understand prosody—the rhythm, stress, and intonation of human speech—resulting in an experience that feels like a professional production. This is the first time a TTS app has moved past being a tool for "consuming data" and into the realm of genuine media.

This shift matters because it removes the cognitive load of "translating" a computer voice in your head. These voices possess the nuance, pacing, and warmth of live talent. As the early consensus suggests, the results are unprecedented:

"The voices feels like real audio book narrators... Basically you are listening to an audio book."

The "Brian" Standard: Atmosphere Over Data

With a library of over 800 voices, including celebrity-grade narrators and custom "voice design" options, the experience is deeply personal. My current favorite is "Brian," a narrator whose delivery captures subtle environmental textures that AI usually misses. In one test, Brian narrated a passage about a 1960 Ford F100 swinging into a lot with a "scurry of gravel."

That specific detail—the "scurry of gravel"—is the smoking gun for ElevenLabs' superior prosody. The voice isn't just reading words; it is providing a performance that makes you forget you are using a mobile app. This level of quality changes the user’s relationship with the content, turning a static EPUB into an immersive story.

A Free Tier That Actually Respects the Reader

In a market where competitors like Speechify are often criticized for being "incredibly expensive" and restrictive, ElevenLabs has launched with a surprisingly aggressive free tier. Users receive 10 hours of high-fidelity listening every month for free. This is a massive disruption for the casual reader.

This 10-hour allowance is enough to finish a full 400-page novel every month without spending a dime. While the $9 per month subscription adds advanced "voice design" capabilities, the free plan remains a highly functional tool. It is a rare example of a premium AI service providing genuine value to the non-paying user.

The UX Paradox: Brilliant Tech, Bare-Bones Interface

From a UX perspective, ElevenReader is a study in contrasts. While it is an "excellently programmed" and stable build, it suffers from a baffling lack of customization that feels like a major oversight for a 2024 reading app. This is the app's primary "minus," representing a trade-off between a clean build and flexible utility.

While you can adjust the size of the text to your liking, you are locked out of changing fonts or broader formatting styles. For an app designed to help you read along with the audio, the inability to choose a preferred typeface is a surprising omission. It’s an unfortunate limitation in a product that otherwise feels incredibly premium.

Update: Actually you can change the font and the font size. My fault. Go into Preferences in the reader view to change the font.

Solving the AI "Speed Limit" Bug

The pursuit of AI realism currently hits a technical "speed limit" regarding playback. If you try to push the narration to 1.5x speed, the audio often becomes "grainy" or "noisy," losing the very realism that makes the app special. This suggests the complex AI models are currently optimized for natural human speeds.

However, there is a clever power-user hack to bypass this buggy slider. Instead of forcing a slow voice to go faster, users can simply browse the library for a narrator who naturally speaks at a more rapid, energetic clip. This preserves the high-fidelity audio quality while satisfying those of us who prefer to breeze through content.

The Future of Your Library

ElevenReader is a versatile ecosystem that handles everything from EPUBs and PDFs to web links and even physical pages. The ability to "scan text" with your camera and instantly hear it narrated turns any physical book into an audiobook. With Apple Watch integration and car-friendly playback, your library is now as mobile as your phone.

As we move toward a future where every document we encounter can be instantly converted into a professional production, we have to wonder: how much more would we read if the barrier to entry wasn't the act of reading, but simply the act of listening? ElevenReader suggests that the answer is a paradigm shift in our daily literacy.

Check it out here: https://elevenreader.io/

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How I Transformed My Viwoods E-Paper Devices into a Unified Productivity Powerhouse

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 14:25:00 +0100

I’ve been stuck at home battling a nasty bug lately, and while being sick is never ideal, it finally gave me the downtime I needed to perform a total overhaul of my mobile tech setup. For months, I’ve been toggling between two of my favorite E-ink devices—the Viwoods AiPaper Mini and the AiPaper Reader—but I found myself frustrated by the restrictive nature of their stock interfaces. I was tired of the "standard" e-reader experience. I wanted a high-speed, unified ecosystem that could actually rival a traditional LCD tablet or smartphone.

After hours of tinkering from my couch, I’ve successfully turned these two different pieces of hardware into a single, seamless productivity powerhouse. Here is exactly how I did it.

The Power of a Unified UI with Nova Launcher

The first thing I did was reclaim control over the visual experience. I swapped out the clunky stock interface on both devices for Nova Launcher Prime. My goal was parity: I wanted the pocketable AiPaper Reader and the larger AiPaper mini to feel like the same device in different sizes.

By using the same launcher, I’ve created identical layouts across both screens. Whether I’m picking up the Reader—with its convenient side-mounted fingerprint sensor—or the Mini (whose front-mounted sensor, I’ve discovered, sadly doesn't like to work when the device is lying flat on a table), the muscle memory remains the same.

I also made the executive decision to kill the proprietary "knowledge base" widget that comes standard. For a power user, those built-in "hubs" often act as silos that prevent fast access to the files I actually care about. Instead, I replaced it with a Google Drive "Latest Files" widget right at the top of my home screen. Now, the moment I wake either device, my most recent work is staring back at me, ready to be opened.

The "LCD-Speed" Refresh Rate Revolution

The real magic happened when I installed the latest beta firmware. For years, the knock on E-ink has been its sluggishness, but this update has completely flipped the script. The performance is now so fluid that the traditional "E-ink lag" feels like a thing of the past.

"The refresh rate [is] so awesomely fast so you can use these as real phones or real LCD tablets."

What makes this work so well in practice is the technical way the system handles the display. Every time I release my finger from the screen after scrolling through a long article or a news feed, the UI automatically triggers a "clean" refresh. This effectively nukes any ghosting artifacts before they can even distract me. It’s the first time I’ve felt comfortable using an E-paper device for heavy web browsing and news feeds.

Granular Control via Per-App Settings

As an E-paper specialist, I know that a "one size fits all" display mode is the enemy of productivity. One of the best features of the current Viwoods software is the ability to dive into granular, per-app settings.

I’ve spent time tailoring each of my main apps to match their specific purpose. For example, when I’m using a web browser, I toggle the device into "Quick Refresh" mode. This allows for smooth, usable scrolling that feels remarkably close to an LCD experience. However, when I switch over to an app like KOReader for serious deep reading, I prioritize clarity. I set it to "Best Display" mode for maximum text crispness and manually bump up the contrast. This level of customization ensures that the screen adapts to the software, rather than forcing the software to struggle against the screen.

Seamless Ecosystem Syncing with Readest

To manage my library across two devices, I’ve moved my entire workflow into the Readest app. It has quickly become my central hub because the synchronization is flawless. Whether I’m on the couch with the mini or out and about with the Reader, Readest automatically syncs my current books, my reading progress, and even my annotations and bookmarks.

The app is incredibly compatible with other tools I use, like KOReader, which is a huge plus for my workflow. I also appreciate the value proposition here: the free version of Readest is surprisingly generous, though I’ve noted that you can easily purchase more storage if you’re a heavy user who needs to keep a massive library in the cloud.

Pivoting from Note-Taking to Digital Learning

Perhaps the most counter-intuitive change I made was moving away from the stylus. While the AiPaper Mini is marketed heavily as a note-taking device, I’ve found its true potential lies in treating it as a "digital learning and research" machine.

I’ve essentially retired the pen features in favor of a high-performance Google ecosystem. By placing widgets for Google Docs, Gemini, and NotebookLM directly on my home screen, I’ve transformed these devices into AI-driven workstations. Instead of just scribbling notes, I’m now using them for intensive information processing—consuming complex web content, interacting with AI for research, and managing cloud-based documents. It’s a shift from manual input to high-level information consumption and processing.

Conclusion: The Future of High-Performance E-Paper

By combining custom launchers, high-speed beta firmware, and deep cloud integration, I’ve managed to bridge the gap between the slow e-readers of yesterday and the fast tablets of today. The Viwoods AiPaper series has proven that E-ink hardware is no longer just for static page-turning; it’s a legitimate contender for a dynamic, modern productivity workflow.

As someone who spends hours staring at screens, I find the eye comfort of this setup to be a game-changer. It leaves me with one final question for you: If you could get the speed of a traditional tablet without the eye strain and blue light, is there any reason left to keep your LCD tablet on your desk?

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viwoods beta update adds the same awesome refresh modes to AiPaper mini as AiPaper Reader has - also per app settings!

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Sun, 8 Feb 2026 14:42:00 +0100

In a beta update release viwoods adds the same Refresh Modes and Per app settings to the AiPaper and AiPaper mini, as the viwoods AiPaper Reader already has. It’s incredibly good and fast now. It really makes this device into a new device. It definitely makes a difference!

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Citizen Promaster Sky Blue Angels AT8020-54L Watch Unboxing

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Sun, 8 Feb 2026 09:33:00 +0100

As you may know I am very interested in watches and has done a few very popular watch faces that you can download on my website svartling.net, but I have never own a good analog watch myself.

So in this video I unbox my first.

The Citizen AT8020–54L, also known as the Blue Angels World Chronograph A-T, is a specialized pilot’s watch powered by the Caliber H800 movement. It is a tribute to the U.S. Navy’s flight demonstration squadron and features their official colors and insignia.

Core Technologies

Eco-Drive: This technology allows the watch to convert any light source–natural or artificial–into energy stored in a rechargeable lithium-ion cell. A full charge provides about 6 months of power in normal operation, or up to 10 months with the power save feature activated.
Atomic Timekeeping: The watch is radio-controlled and automatically synchronizes with atomic clocks in five zones (North America, Europe, China, and Japan). This provides extreme precision with a margin of error of just one second every 100,000 years.

Key Functions

World Time: You can easily switch between 26 different cities (time zones) by pulling the crown out one click and rotating it.
Chronograph: The stopwatch can measure up to 60 minutes in increments of 1/20th of a second.
Perpetual Calendar: The watch automatically adjusts for the number of days in each month and leap years until February 28, 2100.
Slide Rule (E6B): The rotatable inner ring, controlled by the crown at 8 o’clock, acts as an analog flight computer for calculating speed, distance, and fuel consumption.

Design and Durability

Materials: It features a 43mm stainless steel case with blue ion plating and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating.
Water Resistance: Rated at 20 bar (200 meters), making it suitable for swimming, showering, and snorkeling.
Luminous Hands: The hands and markers are coated with a luminous material that glows in the dark after being exposed to light.

Maintenance Tips

Charging: To maintain the battery, avoid leaving the watch in dark places for long periods; regular exposure to light (especially sunlight) is recommended.
Signal Reception: For the best automatic sync, place the watch near a window at night with the 9 o’clock side (where the antenna is located) facing toward the signal station.
Low Charge Warning: If the second hand starts jumping in two-second intervals, the watch needs immediate charging.

If the hands or date do not line up correctly despite a successful signal sync, you may need to check and adjust the Reference Position, which acts as the watch’s internal “zero” point.

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Bigme B7 Color vs. B751C: Which Color E-Reader is Right for You?

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Sun, 1 Feb 2026 14:33:00 +0100

Introduction: A Tale of Two E-Readers

This is a head-to-head comparison between the newer Bigme B7 Color and its predecessor, the Bigme B751C. Both devices feature Kaleido 3 color e-ink displays, but they offer vastly different user experiences. This comparison reveals more than just a generational upgrade; it highlights the critical difference between a modern, supported device and a predecessor left behind by software updates. This article provides a detailed analysis of their displays, build quality, and performance to help you decide which e-reader is the better purchase today.

1. Display Quality: Clarity, Color, and Glare

The visual experience is paramount for an e-reader, and it's here that the differences between the two devices become immediately apparent.

Screen Finish and Reflections While the older B751C may occasionally show slightly more color saturation on specific images, it suffers from significantly more glare and reflections than the Bigme B7 Color. This makes the B7 Color easier and more comfortable to view in various lighting conditions.

Brightness and Whiteness The core difference lies in the display's tone and brightness. The Bigme B7 Color features a much whiter, brighter, and "crispy" display that looks like real paper, particularly when the front light is on. In contrast, the B751C's screen is darker without illumination and appears more yellowish and less bright when the front light is activated.

Warm Light Comparison The B7 Color's warm light is brighter and delivers what is described as a "really nice optimized warm color." In one specific scenario, however, the B751C holds its own: when using only the warm light, its display is considered "quite good," producing excellent colors.

2. Build, Design, and Ergonomics

The physical construction and feel of these devices are worlds apart, signaling a significant evolution in design from one generation to the next.

Materials and Feel The Bigme B7 Color has a "much, much nicer" feel and a superior build quality. The B751C, on the other hand, is described as feeling "very very plastic" and "plasticky." The source material notes that the plastic on the B751C's charging port had even broken. This specific point of failure underscores the broader concerns about the device's long-term durability compared to its successor.

Physical Buttons The tactile feedback from the page-turn buttons also differs. The buttons on the B751C feel "sloppier" and less refined, while the B7 Color offers a higher-quality mechanism with a more satisfying and "distinct" click.

Form Factor and Weight The older B751C is "a lot thicker" than the more streamlined B7 Color. While their weights are about the same, the B7 Color is noted as being "maybe a bit too heavy," which could be a factor for users who have problems "with holding it for a longer time."

3. Performance and Software Experience

While physical differences are immediately apparent, the chasm in long-term usability is defined by software and performance, where the B7 Color's modernity renders the B751C obsolete.

User Interface (UI) and Updates The B7 Color runs a "lot more modern" user interface. Critically, the B751C no longer receives software updates, leaving it with an outdated interface that includes a permanent bar with buttons at the bottom of the screen. This isn't merely a cosmetic issue; the outdated interface points to a complete halt in development, impacting everything from usability to security.

Scrolling and Refresh Speed Performance is a major win for the newer model. The B7 Color's scrolling is described as "really, really, really fast," feeling almost like an "LCD tablet." The B751C is "very much slower" in comparison.

Ghosting The Bigme B7 Color features a very effective "automatic ghost removal" that works "really really nice." The B751C exhibits "a lot more ghosting" when using its fast refresh mode. This is a direct consequence of its abandoned software, which lacks the more sophisticated ghosting-cancellation algorithms found in the B7 Color.

4. Head-to-Head Feature Comparison

This table summarizes the key differences between the two models.

Feature	Bigme B7 Color	Bigme B751C
Display Tone	Whiter, brighter, and paper-like	Darker, more yellowish
Glare	Less glare	More glare and reflections
Build Quality	Superior feel	Feels "very plastic"
Buttons	High quality, distinct click	"Sloppier"
Software UI	Modern, updated	Older, no longer updated
Scrolling Speed	Very fast, LCD-like	Much slower
Ghosting Control	Excellent auto-ghosting removal	Noticeable ghosting issues
Thickness	Thinner	A lot thicker
Battery Life	About the same	About the same

5. Final Verdict: The Clear Winner

Based on this direct comparison, the recommendation is unequivocal: the Bigme B7 Color is highly recommended over the Bigme B751C.

While the reviewer notes being "quite impressed" with the B751C's performance for its age, this doesn't change the final recommendation. The B7 Color is superior in nearly every meaningful way, stemming from several key advantages:

• Modern Software: The B7 Color features a modern UI and the potential for future updates, while the B751C is stuck on older, abandoned software. This is the root cause of its other performance failings.

• Better Performance: It offers significantly faster scrolling and much more effective ghosting management, creating a smoother, more modern user experience.

• Superior Display: The B7 Color's screen is whiter, brighter, less reflective, and more closely resembles real paper.

• Premium Build Quality: The device simply feels much nicer, more modern, and more durable in the hand.

• Future-Proof Features: As a more modern device, the B7 Color handles modern tasks like "sharing options a lot better and you can use AI better."

For anyone choosing between these two e-readers today, the Bigme B7 Color is the definitively better and more future-proof option.

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How to Install and Configure Custom Dictionaries in KOReader: A Detailed Tutorial

stefan@svartling.net (Stefan Svartling) — Sun, 1 Feb 2026 10:16:00 +0100

Introduction: Why Bother with Custom Dictionaries?

KOReader's power lies in its deep customizability, and nowhere is this more apparent than in its dictionary support. While the application is exceptionally capable, its default dictionaries may not cover every language or specific need out of the box. For instance, while it offers English-to-Swedish and Swedish-to-English dictionaries, a monolingual Swedish-to-Swedish dictionary is notably absent. This can be a significant gap for users who read primarily in their native language and simply want to look up definitions without translation.

Fortunately, KOReader's flexibility allows you to install your own custom dictionaries. This tutorial provides a complete, step-by-step guide to finding, installing, and configuring third-party dictionaries to perfectly tailor your reading experience.

What You'll Need

• An e-reader with KOReader installed.

• A computer to download and transfer files.

• A USB cable to connect the e-reader to the computer.

Part 1: Finding and Downloading Your Dictionary

Your first task is to source a dictionary in the KOReader-compatible StarDict format.

1. Understand the Format: KOReader uses the StarDict dictionary format, a robust and widely-supported open-source format, ensuring a vast library of community-created dictionaries is available.

2. Recommended Source: An excellent and reliable source for a wide variety of languages is the "eBook reader dictionary" repository on GitHub. It hosts numerous dictionaries ready for download.

3. Download Instructions: Navigate to the recommended GitHub repository. Find the language you need and locate the StarDict version of the dictionary. These files are typically packaged in a .zip archive. Download this file to your computer, and once downloaded, unpack or unzip it to access the dictionary files within.

Pro-Tip: After unzipping, you should see a folder containing at least three files with the same base name but different extensions: .ifo, .idx, and .dz. This is the complete StarDict set.

Part 2: Installing the Dictionary on Your E-Reader

With the dictionary files downloaded and unzipped, the next step is to sideload them onto your e-reader's storage.

1. Connect Your Device: Using a USB cable, connect your e-reader to your computer. Your device should prompt you to enter file transfer mode. On a Kobo, for example, you will need to tap "Connect" on the screen.

2. Locate the KOReader Folder: On your computer, browse the files on your e-reader. For Kobo devices, the KOReader installation is located in a hidden folder named .adds at the root of the device. Navigate into .adds, and then into the koreader folder.

3. Find the Dictionaries Folder: Inside the koreader folder, open the data folder. Within data, you will find the dictionaries folder.

4. Copy the Files: Copy the unpacked dictionary files (the ones you extracted from the .zip archive in Part 1) and paste them directly into this dictionaries folder.

5. Disconnect Safely: Once the file transfer is complete, safely eject or unmount your e-reader from your computer before unplugging the USB cable.

Part 3: Configuring the Dictionary Within KOReader

Now that the files are on your device, you need to configure KOReader to use the new dictionary.

1. Open KOReader: Start the KOReader application on your e-reader.

2. Navigate to Dictionary Settings: Tap the top of the screen to bring up the main menu. From the top menu, navigate to: 🔍 (Search Icon) > Dictionaries > Settings.

3. Manage Dictionaries: Your newly installed custom dictionary should appear automatically in the list. Tap on Manage dictionaries to see all available dictionaries. In this menu, you can:

◦ See a list of all installed dictionaries.

◦ Enable or disable specific dictionaries using the checkboxes next to their names.

◦ Reorder the dictionaries by tapping on one and using the up/down arrows. This is important: the dictionary at the top of the list will be the primary one used for lookups.

4. Recommended Settings: For an improved dictionary experience, it is recommended to enable the following options in the main dictionary settings menu:

◦ Enable Enable fussy search: This is highly recommended as it allows KOReader to find word variations, such as plurals, conjugations, and even minor misspellings, making lookups much more effective.

◦ Enable Dictionary lookup history: This keeps a log of words you've looked up, which is useful for review or vocabulary building.

5. Adjust Font Size: In this same settings menu, you can adjust the font size for the dictionary results to improve readability.

Part 4: Using Your New Dictionary

With the installation and configuration complete, your new dictionary is ready to use.

Open any book in KOReader. To look up a word, simply long-press on the word. A pop-up window will appear, displaying the definition from the primary dictionary you set in the previous step.

Conclusion: A Richer Reading Experience

By following these steps, you can easily overcome the limitations of the default dictionary set and install any language you need. Adding custom dictionaries allows you to tailor KOReader to your specific reading habits, unlocking a more seamless and powerful scholarly reading experience, tailored precisely to your linguistic needs.

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