From 9103851780d3280e0b3a52ff88b35991fdb5d476 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Amolith Date: Sun, 23 May 2021 11:21:41 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] update blog file --- blog.org | 408 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++---------------------------- 1 file changed, 204 insertions(+), 204 deletions(-) diff --git a/blog.org b/blog.org index 6822e16..722d130 100644 --- a/blog.org +++ b/blog.org @@ -280,6 +280,210 @@ From SndChaser... Can't decide whether to include this section or not. If you make it all the way down here, let me know what you think. +** TODO Catchy title about Supernote being "the new paper" :Supernote:Writing:Productivity:Organisation: +:PROPERTIES: +:EXPORT_FILE_NAME: something-about-supernote +:EXPORT_HUGO_CUSTOM_FRONT_MATTER: :toc true +:END: + +I like writing things down. I like the feel of the pen (preferably a +fountain pen) glide smoothly over the paper, that nice solid feeling of +the tip against the table, seeing the ink dry as it flows from the nib, +accidentally swiping my hand through it before it's finished and +smearing a bit of ink across the page, cursing under my breath as I dab +it up with a handkerchief or a napkin or something else nearby. I also +love that writing things by hand [[https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797614524581][has an impact on memory and improves +retention]]. + +*** The problem +Unfortunately, I don't love keeping up with that paper. Across many +different classes, even with dedicated folders for each one, something +important inevitably gets lost. Notebooks are also bulky and can take up +a lot of space. I tried [[https://bulletjournal.com/][bullet journalling]] for about a month earlier +this year and, while the process was enjoyable, the maintenance was not. +My brain moves faster than my pen (even though I have terrible +handwriting) and I inevitably forget letters or even whole words. This +is a problem while writing in pen because white-out looks ugly and I +dislike wasting whole pages because of a couple mistakes. + +The obvious solution here is to get an iPad with an Apple Pen, right? +Right?? + +Wrong because Apple bad[fn:2]. + +*** The solution +Enter the world of ... what are they even called? E-ink notebooks? Paper +tablets? E-R/W[fn:1]? Do they even have a "device category" yet? I don't +know but they solve my problem in a wonderful way. + +As the names suggest, these are devices that can /usually/ open and read +e-books (EPUBs, PDFs, etc.), annotate them, and create standalone pages +of notes as if they were full notebooks. The most well-known of these +devices is likely the [[https://remarkable.com/][reMarkable]]. They had a [[https://venturebeat.com/2019/10/08/remarkable-raises-15-million-to-bring-its-e-paper-tablets-to-more-scribblers/][hugely successful +crowdfunding campaign]] and produced the reMarkable 1, followed by [[https://blog.remarkable.com/remarkable-2-the-next-generation-paper-tablet-91b47d0080cb][the +reMarkable 2 in 2020]]. There are a few others by now but we'll look at +the reMarkable first. + +*** The reMarkable +This device boasts all of the features I was looking for. It renders +digital content, from books and manuals to comics and light novels, +allows you to mark those documents up as you would if it were physical +media, create full notebooks of hand written text, organise them, +search, and, if your handwriting is legible enough (mine certainly is +not), perform OCR on your notes and email a transcription to yourself. +It even runs Linux and the developers have opened SSH up so you can +remote in and tinker with it as much as you like. Because of this, +there's a pretty awesome [[https://github.com/reHackable/awesome-reMarkable][community of people creating third-party tools +and integrations]] that add even further functionality. My favourite is +probably [[https://github.com/bordaigorl/rmview][rMview]], a really fast VNC client for the reMarkable that allows +you to view your device's screen on any computer. + +After watching all of [[https://www.youtube.com/c/MyDeepGuide][MyDeepGuide's]] [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSI9-gaSSmiXwb7Vjk5Vb-nB41UTnrXd][extensive playlist on the +reMarkable]], however, I decided to go with a different product. + +*** Enter the Supernote A5X +The [[https://www.supernote.com/#/product?type=SN-A5-X][Supernote A5X]] has all of the basic features the reMarkable has: +reading documents, writing notes, and organising your content. Its +implementation, on the other hand, seems to be much more polished. It +also lacks some features from the reMarkable while adding others. + +*** Operating System +While the reMarkable runs Codex[fn:3], a /"custom Linux-based OS +optimised for low-latency e-paper"/, the Supernote just runs Android. +There are both benefits and detriments to this; on one hand, they're +running all of Android, bloated that it is, on a very lightweight +tablet. On the other, they don't have to develop and maintain a custom +operating system. This allows them to focus on other aspects that are +arguably more important so I don't actually mind that it runs Android. + +The only place that Android stands out is in system operations; file +transfer uses MTP and, when you swipe down from the top of the device, a +small bar appears similar to what was in early Android. This lets you +change WiFi networks, sync with the companion app on your LAN, the +remote servers, take a screenshot, search, and access the system +settings. Nothing else about the device really makes me think of +Android. + +*** Community +I don't usually browse Reddit but [[https://old.reddit.com/r/Supernote/][the Supernote community]] there is +fascinating. I haven't looked around enough to know exactly what his +relationship is with the company, but one of the members, [[https://old.reddit.com/user/hex2asc][u/hex2asc]], +seems to represent Supernote in something of an official capacity. He's +incredibly active and usually responds to posts and questions within a +couple of days. + +Before I purchased one, [[https://old.reddit.com/r/Supernote/comments/lhffyd/sync_targets_open_document_formats_and_crossnote/][I wrote a post]] asking about a couple of things +that concerned me: sync targets, open document formats, and cross-note +links. I don't ever plan to write full documents with a keyboard on the +Supernote but it would still be nice. The other features would be +absolutely killer for me as I would like to maintain a Zettelkasten (I +wrote about [[/vim-as-a-markdown-editor/][using Vim to do so]] last year but didn't end up sticking with +it) and manage document synchronisation with my own Nextcloud server. +The community was quick to respond and confirm that Zettelkasten +functionality would be implemented soon™. u/hex2asc responded /the day +after/ and said that WebDAV would be supported but not earlier than May, +ODF would likely not be supported, and cross-note links were definitely +a possibility. Another community member has been avidly following the +subreddit and even put together an [[https://app-rm.roadmunk.com/publish/03e6dca3d769e2b7015f7f48a649cb3f75f44d9e][unofficial roadmap]]. + +*** Interfaces + +**** Home & Organisation + +***** TODO Record very short videos + +**** Settings + +***** TODO Record very short videos + +**** Writing & Annotating + +The following images are screenshots of the full page above with the +possible UI variations while reading a book. This first one is default, +with the editing bar at the top. It is exactly the same as what's +displayed on the blank pages for hand writing full notes. From left to +right is the Table of Contents toggle, the pen tools (fineliner, +"fountain" pen[fn:5], and highlighter), the erasers, lasso select tool, +undo/redo, context menu, palm rejection toggle, previous page, goto +page, next page, and exit. + +[[/assets/pngs/supernote-reader-default.png]] + +You can hold your finger on that bar and drag it down to detach it from +the top. The default width exposes all the tools without whitespace. You +can move it around the screen by dragging the circle with a straight +line through the middle on the far left. + +[[/assets/pngs/supernote-reader-medium.png]] + +If you tap that circle, the width shrinks and everything except the +pens, erasers, and undo/redo buttons are hidden. It can be dragged the +same was as in the previous image and tapping that circle will expand +the bar again. + +[[/assets/pngs/supernote-reader-small.png]] + +The last mode is with the bar completely hidden. You achieve this just +by dragging it to the right edge of the screen. Once hidden, you can +swipe right to left from the edge and it will be revealed flush with the +right edge. + +[[/assets/pngs/supernote-reader-minimal.png]] + +*** Experience +**** Reading content +I love e-ink. I think it looks beautiful and would love to have an e-ink +monitor[fn:4]. That said, the Supernote has an especially nice display +with 226 PPI (pixels per inch). The image below was taken with my +phone's camera so it's not very good. However, if you zoom in a bit, you +can see that the curved edges of some letters are /slightly/ pixellated. +Viewing with my naked eye at a comfortable distance, it does look better +/to me/ than some of my print books. + +[[/assets/pngs/supernote-resolution.png]] + +/At the moment,/ I am pretty disappointed with Table of Contents detection +for ePUBs. A great many of my books seem to use a legacy ToC format that +the Supernote sees and tries/fails to read before attempting to read the +more up-to-date one. This is easily remedied by editing the ePUB in +[[https://calibre-ebook.com/][Calibre]], going to Tools → Upgrade Book Internals → Remove the legacy +Table of Contents in NCX format. You might need to make a small change +to one of the HTML files and revert it before the save button is +enabled. After that, just copy it back over to the Supernote and +everything should work properly. + +**** Writing notes +I write notes as often if not /more/ often than I read and annotate books. +It's the main reason I purchased the device and I love the experience. +The Supernote doesn't /really/ feel like paper despite what their +marketing materials claim, though it doesn't feel /bad/ either. It's hard +to describe but I would say it's something like writing with a +rollerball pen on high-quality paper with a marble counter underneath: +incredibly smooth with but a little bit of texture so it doesn't feel +like writing on a glass display. + +While writing latency[fn:6] is noticeable, I really don't have a huge +issue with it. I write very quickly but find that the slight latency +actually makes writing /more/ enjoyable. It sounds weird and I'm not sure +why, but I /really/ like writing on the Supernote; it's wonderfully +smooth, pressure-sensitive, the latency makes things interesting, and +[[https://supernote.com/#/part?id=SP-04][the Heart of Metal pen]] feels good in my hand. + +**** Surfacing Content +While organisation is done using a regular filesystem hierarchy, the +Supernote does have other ways to search for and surface your notes. As +you're writing, you can use the lasso select tool and encircle a word. A +little dialogue pops up and gives you a few buttons for things you can +do with that selection: copy, move to another page, cut, add it to the +Table of Contents, or mark it as a key word. If you select the key word +icon, the Supernote does some incredible OCR[fn:7] on it and displays a +dialogue where you can add it to the note file as a tag. This dialogue +allows you to edit the word before adding it just in case the OCR was +wonky. Even with my terrible handwriting, I've found that it works very +well and I rarely have to make edits. + +*** TODO Pong Isi and Volpeon when finished +** TODO Migrating repositories between git hosts ** TODO A perfect email setup (for me) :PROPERTIES: :EXPORT_FILE_NAME: a-perfect-email-setup-for-me @@ -643,210 +847,6 @@ accounts as you want to send email from. *** TODO Pong Jake when finished -** TODO Catchy title about Supernote being "the new paper" :Supernote:Writing:Productivity:Organisation: -:PROPERTIES: -:EXPORT_FILE_NAME: something-about-supernote -:EXPORT_HUGO_CUSTOM_FRONT_MATTER: :toc true -:END: - -I like writing things down. I like the feel of the pen (preferably a -fountain pen) glide smoothly over the paper, that nice solid feeling of -the tip against the table, seeing the ink dry as it flows from the nib, -accidentally swiping my hand through it before it's finished and -smearing a bit of ink across the page, cursing under my breath as I dab -it up with a handkerchief or a napkin or something else nearby. I also -love that writing things by hand [[https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797614524581][has an impact on memory and improves -retention]]. - -*** The problem -Unfortunately, I don't love keeping up with that paper. Across many -different classes, even with dedicated folders for each one, something -important inevitably gets lost. Notebooks are also bulky and can take up -a lot of space. I tried [[https://bulletjournal.com/][bullet journalling]] for about a month earlier -this year and, while the process was enjoyable, the maintenance was not. -My brain moves faster than my pen (even though I have terrible -handwriting) and I inevitably forget letters or even whole words. This -is a problem while writing in pen because white-out looks ugly and I -dislike wasting whole pages because of a couple mistakes. - -The obvious solution here is to get an iPad with an Apple Pen, right? -Right?? - -Wrong because Apple bad[fn:2]. - -*** The solution -Enter the world of ... what are they even called? E-ink notebooks? Paper -tablets? E-R/W[fn:1]? Do they even have a "device category" yet? I don't -know but they solve my problem in a wonderful way. - -As the names suggest, these are devices that can /usually/ open and read -e-books (EPUBs, PDFs, etc.), annotate them, and create standalone pages -of notes as if they were full notebooks. The most well-known of these -devices is likely the [[https://remarkable.com/][reMarkable]]. They had a [[https://venturebeat.com/2019/10/08/remarkable-raises-15-million-to-bring-its-e-paper-tablets-to-more-scribblers/][hugely successful -crowdfunding campaign]] and produced the reMarkable 1, followed by [[https://blog.remarkable.com/remarkable-2-the-next-generation-paper-tablet-91b47d0080cb][the -reMarkable 2 in 2020]]. There are a few others by now but we'll look at -the reMarkable first. - -*** The reMarkable -This device boasts all of the features I was looking for. It renders -digital content, from books and manuals to comics and light novels, -allows you to mark those documents up as you would if it were physical -media, create full notebooks of hand written text, organise them, -search, and, if your handwriting is legible enough (mine certainly is -not), perform OCR on your notes and email a transcription to yourself. -It even runs Linux and the developers have opened SSH up so you can -remote in and tinker with it as much as you like. Because of this, -there's a pretty awesome [[https://github.com/reHackable/awesome-reMarkable][community of people creating third-party tools -and integrations]] that add even further functionality. My favourite is -probably [[https://github.com/bordaigorl/rmview][rMview]], a really fast VNC client for the reMarkable that allows -you to view your device's screen on any computer. - -After watching all of [[https://www.youtube.com/c/MyDeepGuide][MyDeepGuide's]] [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSI9-gaSSmiXwb7Vjk5Vb-nB41UTnrXd][extensive playlist on the -reMarkable]], however, I decided to go with a different product. - -*** Enter the Supernote A5X -The [[https://www.supernote.com/#/product?type=SN-A5-X][Supernote A5X]] has all of the basic features the reMarkable has: -reading documents, writing notes, and organising your content. Its -implementation, on the other hand, seems to be much more polished. It -also lacks some features from the reMarkable while adding others. - -*** Operating System -While the reMarkable runs Codex[fn:3], a /"custom Linux-based OS -optimised for low-latency e-paper"/, the Supernote just runs Android. -There are both benefits and detriments to this; on one hand, they're -running all of Android, bloated that it is, on a very lightweight -tablet. On the other, they don't have to develop and maintain a custom -operating system. This allows them to focus on other aspects that are -arguably more important so I don't actually mind that it runs Android. - -The only place that Android stands out is in system operations; file -transfer uses MTP and, when you swipe down from the top of the device, a -small bar appears similar to what was in early Android. This lets you -change WiFi networks, sync with the companion app on your LAN, the -remote servers, take a screenshot, search, and access the system -settings. Nothing else about the device really makes me think of -Android. - -*** Community -I don't usually browse Reddit but [[https://old.reddit.com/r/Supernote/][the Supernote community]] there is -fascinating. I haven't looked around enough to know exactly what his -relationship is with the company, but one of the members, [[https://old.reddit.com/user/hex2asc][u/hex2asc]], -seems to represent Supernote in something of an official capacity. He's -incredibly active and usually responds to posts and questions within a -couple of days. - -Before I purchased one, [[https://old.reddit.com/r/Supernote/comments/lhffyd/sync_targets_open_document_formats_and_crossnote/][I wrote a post]] asking about a couple of things -that concerned me: sync targets, open document formats, and cross-note -links. I don't ever plan to write full documents with a keyboard on the -Supernote but it would still be nice. The other features would be -absolutely killer for me as I would like to maintain a Zettelkasten (I -wrote about [[/vim-as-a-markdown-editor/][using Vim to do so]] last year but didn't end up sticking with -it) and manage document synchronisation with my own Nextcloud server. -The community was quick to respond and confirm that Zettelkasten -functionality would be implemented soon™. u/hex2asc responded /the day -after/ and said that WebDAV would be supported but not earlier than May, -ODF would likely not be supported, and cross-note links were definitely -a possibility. Another community member has been avidly following the -subreddit and even put together an [[https://app-rm.roadmunk.com/publish/03e6dca3d769e2b7015f7f48a649cb3f75f44d9e][unofficial roadmap]]. - -*** Interfaces - -**** Home & Organisation - -***** TODO Record very short videos - -**** Settings - -***** TODO Record very short videos - -**** Writing & Annotating - -The following images are screenshots of the full page above with the -possible UI variations while reading a book. This first one is default, -with the editing bar at the top. It is exactly the same as what's -displayed on the blank pages for hand writing full notes. From left to -right is the Table of Contents toggle, the pen tools (fineliner, -"fountain" pen[fn:5], and highlighter), the erasers, lasso select tool, -undo/redo, context menu, palm rejection toggle, previous page, goto -page, next page, and exit. - -[[/assets/pngs/supernote-reader-default.png]] - -You can hold your finger on that bar and drag it down to detach it from -the top. The default width exposes all the tools without whitespace. You -can move it around the screen by dragging the circle with a straight -line through the middle on the far left. - -[[/assets/pngs/supernote-reader-medium.png]] - -If you tap that circle, the width shrinks and everything except the -pens, erasers, and undo/redo buttons are hidden. It can be dragged the -same was as in the previous image and tapping that circle will expand -the bar again. - -[[/assets/pngs/supernote-reader-small.png]] - -The last mode is with the bar completely hidden. You achieve this just -by dragging it to the right edge of the screen. Once hidden, you can -swipe right to left from the edge and it will be revealed flush with the -right edge. - -[[/assets/pngs/supernote-reader-minimal.png]] - -*** Experience -**** Reading content -I love e-ink. I think it looks beautiful and would love to have an e-ink -monitor[fn:4]. That said, the Supernote has an especially nice display -with 226 PPI (pixels per inch). The image below was taken with my -phone's camera so it's not very good. However, if you zoom in a bit, you -can see that the curved edges of some letters are /slightly/ pixellated. -Viewing with my naked eye at a comfortable distance, it does look better -/to me/ than some of my print books. - -[[/assets/pngs/supernote-resolution.png]] - -/At the moment,/ I am pretty disappointed with Table of Contents detection -for ePUBs. A great many of my books seem to use a legacy ToC format that -the Supernote sees and tries/fails to read before attempting to read the -more up-to-date one. This is easily remedied by editing the ePUB in -[[https://calibre-ebook.com/][Calibre]], going to Tools → Upgrade Book Internals → Remove the legacy -Table of Contents in NCX format. You might need to make a small change -to one of the HTML files and revert it before the save button is -enabled. After that, just copy it back over to the Supernote and -everything should work properly. - -**** Writing notes -I write notes as often if not /more/ often than I read and annotate books. -It's the main reason I purchased the device and I love the experience. -The Supernote doesn't /really/ feel like paper despite what their -marketing materials claim, though it doesn't feel /bad/ either. It's hard -to describe but I would say it's something like writing with a -rollerball pen on high-quality paper with a marble counter underneath: -incredibly smooth with but a little bit of texture so it doesn't feel -like writing on a glass display. - -While writing latency[fn:6] is noticeable, I really don't have a huge -issue with it. I write very quickly but find that the slight latency -actually makes writing /more/ enjoyable. It sounds weird and I'm not sure -why, but I /really/ like writing on the Supernote; it's wonderfully -smooth, pressure-sensitive, the latency makes things interesting, and -[[https://supernote.com/#/part?id=SP-04][the Heart of Metal pen]] feels good in my hand. - -**** Surfacing Content -While organisation is done using a regular filesystem hierarchy, the -Supernote does have other ways to search for and surface your notes. As -you're writing, you can use the lasso select tool and encircle a word. A -little dialogue pops up and gives you a few buttons for things you can -do with that selection: copy, move to another page, cut, add it to the -Table of Contents, or mark it as a key word. If you select the key word -icon, the Supernote does some incredible OCR[fn:7] on it and displays a -dialogue where you can add it to the note file as a tag. This dialogue -allows you to edit the word before adding it just in case the OCR was -wonky. Even with my terrible handwriting, I've found that it works very -well and I rarely have to make edits. - -*** TODO Pong Isi and Volpeon when finished - ** TODO Setting LXC up for local "cloud" development * Education :@Education: ** TODO Homeschooling