[Sidnicious]

This is cool! I have some things like this around my house but via a different approach that I'd like to share: each one is just an old-ish e-reader from eBay or Craigslist, a mix of Kobos and Kindles. Both brands can be made to show a full screen web browser (Kobo: by editing a config file from a computer, Kindle: by jailbreaking and installing Kindle-Web-Launcher), so I have them display a page from a web server on my LAN.

Since the browsers support JS and some mix of WebSockets, EventSource, and, at the very least, long polling, it's possible to send messages out to them to update data in real-time or refresh the entire page when I change it. The screens are sharp and the browsers do partial updates, fast enough that I have some touch-draggable sliders that follow your finger.

They cost me from $16-50 each, depending on model. They tend to be cheaper if there's a lot of wear/damage to the case, but if you put it in a shell or cover the whole thing with gaffer's tape, that's not a problem!

[tduberne]

That is a really cool approach! Is the kobo still usable as an e-reader after the config change? I own one but I have so little time to read lately that it is mostly taking the dust. Being able to use it as some kind of always on display, while being able to pick it up to read when desired sounds really attractive to me.

[frosted-flakes]

The browser is accessible out-of-the-box in the "Beta" section. You only need to edit the config file if you want it full-screen. If you open the browser with it set to full-screen, I believe the only way to exit is to restart the Kobo, bringing you back to the home screen. So yes, it is still fully usable.

[rajlego]

Is there some guide to that you recommend/have you considered writing one? I've been thinking of doing e-ink display + rasberry pi but your approach sounds cheaper and likely better for the environment.

[fbartels]

Would be interested in a guide/repo as well.