From 52be0043f10d8fd01ff9bd1909f460abed879bc9 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Paul Buetow Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2025 17:30:46 +0200 Subject: Update content for md --- gemfeed/DRAFT-using-supernote-nomad-offline.md | 138 ------------------------- 1 file changed, 138 deletions(-) delete mode 100644 gemfeed/DRAFT-using-supernote-nomad-offline.md (limited to 'gemfeed/DRAFT-using-supernote-nomad-offline.md') diff --git a/gemfeed/DRAFT-using-supernote-nomad-offline.md b/gemfeed/DRAFT-using-supernote-nomad-offline.md deleted file mode 100644 index a7849255..00000000 --- a/gemfeed/DRAFT-using-supernote-nomad-offline.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,138 +0,0 @@ -# Using Supernote Nomad offline - -I am a note taker. For years, I've been searching for a good digital device that could complement my paper notebooks. I've finally found it in the Supernote Nomad. I use it completely offline without cloud-sync, and in this post, I'll explain why this is a benefit. - - -[Supernote Nomad](https://supernote.com/pages/supernote-nomad) - -I initially bought it because Retta stated on their website that an open-source Linux firmware would be released soon. However, after over a year, there still hasn't been any progress (hopefully there will be someday). So I looked into alternative ways to use this device. - -``` -⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ -⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣏⠀⢶⣆⡘⠉⠙⠛⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ -⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠋⣤⣄⠘⠃⢠⣀⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠉⠛⠛⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ -⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠀⡉⠻⡟⠀⠈⠉⠙⠛⠷⠶⣦⣤⣄⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿ -⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⠸⢿⣤⠀⢠⣤⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠙⠛⠻⠶⠀⢰⣿⣿⠻⣿⣿ -⣿⣿⣿⣿⠠⣶⣆⡉⠀⠀⠈⠉⠙⠛⠳⠶⠦⣤⣤⣄⣀⡀⢀⣴⠟⠋⠙⢷⣬⣿ -⣿⣿⣿⠏⣠⡄⠹⠁⠰⢶⣤⣤⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⢉⣿⠟⠁⠀⠀⣠⣾⣿⣿ -⣿⣿⡿⠂⠙⠻⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠛⠛⠷⠶⣦⣤⣴⠟⠁⠀⠀⣠⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿ -⣿⣿⡇⠸⣿⣄⠀⠰⠶⢶⣤⣄⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⣴⣟⠁⠀⠀⣠⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ -⣿⡟⠀⣶⣀⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠙⠛⠓⢾⡟⢙⣷⣤⢾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ -⣿⠋⣀⡉⠻⠀⠘⠛⠻⠶⢶⣤⣤⣀⡀⢠⠿⠟⠛⠉⠁⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ -⣿⡀⠛⠳⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠉⠛⠛⠷⠶⣦⠄⢀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ -⣿⣿⣿⣶⣦⣀⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ -⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣶⣤⣤⣀⣀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ -⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ -``` - -## Table of Contents - -* [⇢ Using Supernote Nomad offline](#using-supernote-nomad-offline) -* [⇢ ⇢ The Joy of Being Offline](#the-joy-of-being-offline) -* [⇢ ⇢ ⇢ Battery for Days](#battery-for-days) -* [⇢ ⇢ ⇢ Your Data is Your Data](#your-data-is-your-data) -* [⇢ ⇢ My Offline Workflow](#my-offline-workflow) -* [⇢ ⇢ ⇢ Getting Notes to my Laptop](#getting-notes-to-my-laptop) -* [⇢ ⇢ ⇢ Converting Notes to PDF](#converting-notes-to-pdf) -* [⇢ ⇢ ⇢ Syncing to my Phone](#syncing-to-my-phone) -* [⇢ ⇢ ⇢ Firmware updates](#firmware-updates) -* [⇢ ⇢ The Writing Experience](#the-writing-experience) -* [⇢ ⇢ Conclusion](#conclusion) - -## The Joy of Being Offline - -In a world of constant connectivity, the Supernote Nomad offers a sanctuary. By keeping it offline, I can focus on my thoughts and notes without compromise of my privacy. - -### Battery for Days - -One of the most significant advantages of keeping Wi-Fi off is the battery life. The Supernote Nomad can last a week, on a single charge when it's not constantly searching for a network. This makes it a good companion for long trips or intense note-taking sessions. - -### Your Data is Your Data - -Privacy was my main concern. By not syncing my notes to Retta's cloud service, I retain full ownership and control over my data. There's no risk of my personal thoughts and ideas being accessed or mined by third parties. It's a simple and effective way to ensure my privacy. - -[![A picture of the Supernote Nomad](./using-supernote-nomad-offline/nomad2.jpg "A picture of the Supernote Nomad")](./using-supernote-nomad-offline/nomad2.jpg) - -## My Offline Workflow - -My workflow is simple and efficient, relying on a direct USB connection to my Linux laptop. - -### Getting Notes to my Laptop - -I connect my Supernote Nomad to my Linux laptop via a USB-C cable. The device is automatically recognized as a storage device, and I can directly access the `Note` folder, which contains all my notes as `.note` files. I then copy these files to a dedicated archive folder on my laptop. - -### Converting Notes to PDF - -To make my notes accessible and shareable, I convert them from the proprietary `.note` format to PDF. For this, I use a fantastic open-source tool called `supernote-tool`. It's not an official tool from Ratta (the manufacturer of the Supernote), but it works flawlessly. - -[https://github.com/jya-dev/supernote-tool](https://github.com/jya-dev/supernote-tool) - -I've created a small shell script to automate the conversion process. This script, `convert-notes-to-pdfs.sh`, resides in my notes archive folder: - -```bash -#!/usr/bin/env bash - -convert () { - find . -name \*.note \ - | while read -r note; do - echo supernote-tool convert -a -t pdf "$note" "${note/.note/.pdf}" - supernote-tool convert -a -t pdf "$note" "${note/.note/.pdf}.tmp" - mv "${note/.note/.pdf}.tmp" "${note/.note/.pdf}" - du -hs "$note" "${note/.note/.pdf}" - echo - done -} - -# Mage the PDFs available on my Phone as well -copy () { - if [ ! -d ~/Documents/Supernote ]; then - echo "Directory ~/Documents/Supernote does not exist, skipping" - exit 1 - fi - - rsync -delete -av --include='*/' --include='*.pdf' --exclude='*' . ~/Documents/Supernote/ - echo This was copied from $(pwd) so dont edit manually >~/Documents/Supernote/README.txt -} - -convert -copy -``` - -This script does two things: - -* It finds all `.note` files in the current directory and converts them to PDF using `supernote-tool`. -* It copies the generated PDFs to my `~/Documents/Supernote` folder. - -### Syncing to my Phone - -The `~/Documents/Supernote` folder on my laptop is synchronized with my phone using Syncthing. This way, I have access to all my notes in PDF format on my phone, wherever I go, without relying on any cloud service. - -[https://syncthing.net/](https://syncthing.net/) - -### Firmware updates - -One usually updates the software or firmware of the Supernote Nomad via Wi-Fi. However, it is also possible to update it completely offline. To install the firmware update, follow the steps below (the following instructions were copied from the Supernote website): - -* Connect your Supernote to your PC with a USB-C cable. For macOS, an MTP software (e.g. OpenMTP or Android File Transfer) is required for your Supernote to show up on your Mac. -* For Manta, Nomad, A5 X and A6 X devices, copy the firmware (DO NOT UNZIP) to the "Export" folder of Supernote; for A5 and A6 devices, copy the firmware (DO NOT UNZIP) to the root directory of Supernote. -* Unplug the USB connection, tap “OK” on your Supernote to continue, and if no prompt pops up, please restart your device directly to proceed to update. - -## The Writing Experience - -The writing feel of the Supernote Nomad is simply great. The combination of the screen's texture and the ceramic nib of the pen creates a feeling that is remarkably close to writing on real paper. The latency is almost non-existent, and the pressure sensitivity allows for a natural and expressive writing experience. It's great to write on, and it makes me want to take more notes. - -[![Another picture of the Supernote Nomad](./using-supernote-nomad-offline/nomad1.jpg "Another picture of the Supernote Nomad")](./using-supernote-nomad-offline/nomad1.jpg) - -## Conclusion - -The Supernote Nomad has become an additional tool for me. By using it offline, I've created a distraction-free and private note-taking environment. The simple, manual workflow for transferring and converting notes gives me full control over my data, and the writing experience is second to none. If you're looking for a digital notebook that respects your privacy and helps you focus, I highly recommend giving the Supernote Nomad a try with an offline-first approach. - -The Supernote didn't fully replace my traditional paper journals, though. Each of them has its own use case. However, that is outside the scope of this blog post. - -Other related posts: - -[2026-01-01 Cloudless Kobo Forma with KOReader](./2026-01-01-cloudless-kobo-forma-with-koreader.md) - -E-Mail your comments to `paul@nospam.buetow.org` :-) - -[Back to the main site](../) -- cgit v1.2.3