The Open Book
hackaday.io
This is a complete reimagining of the Open Book Project, but the original mission remains: As a society, we need an open source device for reading. Books are among the most important documents of our culture, yet the most popular and widespread devices we have for reading are closed objects, operating as small moving parts in a set of giant closed platforms whose owners' interests are not always aligned with readers'. The Open Book aims to be a simple device that anyone can build for themselves. The Open Book should be comprehensible: the reader should be able to look at it and understand, at least in broad strokes, how it works. It should be extensible, so that a reader with different needs can write code and add accessories that make the book work for them. It should be global, supporting readers of books in all the languages of the world. Most of all, it should be open, so that anyone can take this design as a starting point and use it to build a better book.

This is a complete reimagining of the Open Book Project, but the original mission remains:

As a society, we need an open source device for reading. Books are among the most important documents of our culture, yet the most popular and widespread devices we have for reading are closed objects, operating as small moving parts in a set of giant closed platforms whose owners’ interests are not always aligned with readers’.

The Open Book aims to be a simple device that anyone can build for themselves. The Open Book should be comprehensible: the reader should be able to look at it and understand, at least in broad strokes, how it works. It should be extensible, so that a reader with different needs can write code and add accessories that make the book work for them. It should be global, supporting readers of books in all the languages of the world. Most of all, it should be open, so that anyone can take this design as a starting point and use it to build a better book.

Check out the promo video as well:
https://youtu.be/vFD9V8Hh7Yg

      • naught@sh.itjust.works
        33·
        11 months ago

        I keep mine in airplane mode most of the time to avoid getting new ads too often. Also the only ads are on the lock screen which is extremely unobtrusive if you’re looking to save a few bucks

    • Kusimulkku
      1·
      11 months ago

      I bought an “ad supported” model but I’m not sure if they’ve activated the “service” in my country since I’ve not seen a single ad. And won’t, because that thing is never ever online.

      • LazaroFilm@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        I got the one with ads too. Then I called and asked for the ads to be removed because I’m not okay with the kind of ads they were showing. Gambling and adult romance ads are not okay for my kids. They removed it for free. Now it shows the cover of the book I’m reading when off.

        • Kusimulkku
          2·
          11 months ago

          Hah this goes perfectly with my other comment

          If you want them to remove it normally, it costs you. If you want to remove it for free you must use some excuse for it. “The ads are sexual and my kid sees them, do something Amazon support!”. Apparently 50% of the time it works every time.

          • LazaroFilm@lemmy.worldEnglish
            3·
            11 months ago

            And the stats is right. Worked flawlessly for me. For my wife they charged her the removal and I called back saying I would not pay. They couldn’t put the ads back, so they had to refund me.

      • GrappleHat@lemmy.mlEnglish
        4·
        11 months ago

        There have been ads on Kindle for a very long time. You can optionally pay an extra $15-$20 to remove the ads though.