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I built Timeframe, our family e-paper dashboard (hawksley.org)

1616 points by saeedesmaili · 145 days ago · 369 comments on HN

Article summary

The author built a family e-paper dashboard called Timeframe, which displays calendar, weather, and smart home data. The project evolved over a decade, with various prototypes and iterations, including using Magic Mirror, jailbroken Kindle devices, and Visionect displays. The current setup uses a Boox 25.3" Mira Pro display with real-time updates and integrates with Home Assistant. The author aims to bring Timeframe to market, but faces challenges such as hardening for deployment and reducing hardware costs.

Main themes

  • e-paper dashboard
  • smart home integration
  • Home Assistant
  • hardware prototyping
  • DIY projects
  • weather APIs
  • cost and accessibility

What commenters say

  • Some commenters think the project is cool, but the large primary display is too expensive for a normal household.
  • Others suggest using smaller, cheaper e-paper displays, such as those from Waveshare or TRMNL, as a more affordable alternative.
  • A few commenters share their own experiences with building similar projects, using various hardware and software components, and offer advice and resources for others who want to build their own.
  • There is a discussion about the pros and cons of using TRMNL, with some commenters expressing disappointment with the transparency and functionality of the self-hosted options, while others defend the service and its community-driven development.
  • Some commenters emphasize the importance of personality and design in software and hardware projects, and appreciate the custom weather icons and conversation-starting potential of the device.
  • Others discuss the accessibility of electronics prototyping and the resources available for learning and building similar projects, including YouTube channels and online communities.
  • There is a mention of alternative weather APIs, such as OpenMeteo and weather dot gov, which offer free or low-cost access to weather data.
  • The cost and complexity of the hardware setup are seen as major barriers to adoption by the average consumer, and some commenters suggest exploring cheaper options or DIY solutions.