Valve open source the Steam Machine e-ink screen so you can make your own
Valve has open-sourced the design for its 'Inkterface' e-ink screen, allowing Steam Machine owners to DIY a status display using readily available components. This move delights the HN community, who appreciate Valve's commitment to hardware openness and user-driven customization. While some wish for a pre-built option, the DIY nature and community enablement are highly praised.
The Lowdown
Valve has made headlines by releasing the open-source design for an e-ink display for its Steam Machine, dubbed the 'Inkterface.' Although Valve itself will not be manufacturing or selling this accessory, it has provided all the necessary documentation and a video, empowering users and third-party vendors to create their own.
- The 'Inkterface' design is available on GitLab under an MIT license, providing comprehensive instructions for assembly.
- The components are off-the-shelf parts, primarily from Adafruit, including an ESP32 Feather, an eInk Breakout Friend, and a 5.83" monochrome eInk panel.
- This open-source release follows Valve's initial tease of the e-ink screen to early Steam Machine reviewers.
- While Valve won't produce it, accessory makers like JSAUX have already indicated plans to offer their own versions, including 'Ink & Pixel' editions.
This initiative by Valve fosters a spirit of hardware hacking and community-driven development, allowing enthusiasts to personalize their Steam Machines with a unique and functional e-ink display.
The Gossip
DIY Delight and Design Discussions
Commenters lauded Valve's decision to open-source the e-ink screen design, seeing it as a positive trend for hardware companies to enable community-driven add-ons rather than locking them down. Many expressed enthusiasm for building their own or seeing third-party versions, with some drawing parallels to other customizable hardware like the Framework Desktop, while also discussing practical considerations like airflow for integration.
Valve's Virtuous Vision & Value Vexations
The community largely applauded Valve's 'good guy' image for this open-source move, viewing it as supporting consumers and fans. However, a spirited debate arose regarding whether the e-ink display should have been included in the base Steam Machine, with some users willing to pay a premium for a factory-integrated option, while others countered that adding such features would inevitably increase the device's overall price and might not be feasible given current component costs.
E-Ink Explorations and Engineering Echos
Beyond the immediate DIY aspect, technical discussions emerged, identifying the specific Adafruit components used and exploring alternative e-ink technologies, such as Waveshare's color e-paper displays. Commenters also shared related personal projects for displaying system metrics and pondered the long-term reliability of e-ink panels in such applications.