Customer:
I’m interested in the Inkplate 5 and have some questions. First, is there a way to format books purely in UTF-8 or some other widely universal format for reading? Second, is it possible to wire it to run purely off AA batteries? Third, is it capable of read and write functions so I can copy data from one SD card to another? Finally, what kind of SD card or storage does it use?
Originally submitted via email support on 28 August 2023. Migrated to the forum for community visibility.
Soldered Support:
Yes, you can format your file in UTF-8. Being the standardised format, it’s probably the easiest to get working on the Inkplate 5. You need to do this on your computer, though. You can wire it to AA batteries, although Li-ion battery is recommended as it’s rechargeable and lasts longer. There’s only 1 SD card slot, so there’s no option to copy SD cards. It uses microSD storage.
Customer:
I wanted to confirm whether the Inkplate comes preprogrammed and ready to use as an e-reader. I saw Arduino is advertised as an easier way to work with e-ink screens, but I wasn’t sure if that meant it’s already set up as an e-reader.
Soldered Support:
The Inkplate does not come preprogrammed with e-reader software. It’s a DIY device that you need to program to do what you want it to do. You need to be familiar with Arduino IDE in order to work with it and customise it.