From Smartphone to E-Ink: Creating My Own RSS Newspaper

I have a deep appreciation for personal blogs. Whether I'm seeking entertainment, expanding my knowledge, or staying current with the latest software engineering trends, they are my go-to source.

My ideal reading environment involves lounging horizontally—perhaps on a sofa or a deckchair under the sun. Consequently, I rarely use my computer for this; I've always relied on my phone. However, this habit comes with a cost: significant eye fatigue.

For a long time, I tolerated this discomfort without seeking a solution. That changed when I discovered the X4 by Xteink, a pocket-sized e-reader.

The Hardware: Xteink X4

The X4 is a minimalist device with a very specific set of characteristics:

• Size: A compact 4.3-inch display.
• Interface: No touchscreen.
• Lighting: No integrated backlight.
• Software: No pre-installed corporate bookstore.

While some might view these omissions as outdated or inconvenient, they are exactly what attracted me. A dedicated community has even developed an open-source firmware for it called Crosspoint.

"The simplicity of the hardware is where the beauty lies."

Device Comparison

The Setup Process

I ordered the device from China, and despite some anxiety regarding German customs, it eventually arrived. My journey with the software looked like this:

• Test stock firmware (Verdict: Unimpressive/Forgettable)
• Install Crosspoint (Completed in just three clicks!)
• Purchase a DRM-free e-book
• Transfer file to X4 and verify reading experience

The contributors to the Crosspoint project deserve immense credit for their work.

Engineering the "Feedpaper"

My ultimate goal wasn't just reading books, but migrating my blog consumption from my phone to the X4. The plan was simple: convert my RSS feeds into an e-pub format. With the assistance of AI, I developed a tool to automate this in minutes.

The Technical Workflow

I utilize Feedbin as my RSS aggregator. The process follows this logic:

To ensure a quality reading experience, I had to filter out specific content that doesn't translate well to e-ink, such as:

1. YouTube channel updates.
2. Blogs with heavy JavaScript dependencies.
3. Newsletters consisting solely of links.

The logic for the filter can be represented as: $\text{Readability} = \sum (\text{Text Content}) - \sum (\text{JS/Video/Links})$

If you are interested in the implementation, the project is available on GitHub. Here is a conceptual snippet of the logic:

def create_feedpaper(unread_posts):
    filtered_posts = [post for post in unread_posts if post.type == 'text_heavy']
    epub_file = generate_epub(filtered_posts)
    mark_as_read(filtered_posts)
    return epub_file

The Result

Now, I can leave my phone at home, head to my favorite outdoor café with a latte, and enjoy a "freshly printed" digital newspaper on my X4.

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Footnotes & Additional Info:

• Crosspoint is compatible not only with the X4 but also with other devices based on the ESP32C3 chip.
• Note: I developed the tool specifically for macOS. If you are using a different OS and struggle to run it manually, feel free to reach out.

If you decide to build your own "feedpaper" system, I would love to see how it turns out!