Frequently Asked Questions

Glint is a programmable e-paper dashboard device designed and made in Singapore. It features a beautiful 7.5-inch e-ink screen that displays real-time information you care about — bus arrival times, weather forecasts, news headlines, gym capacity, stock prices, calendar events, and much more.

Unlike a phone or tablet, Glint's e-paper display is always on, easy on the eyes, and uses very little power. It sits on your desk, shelf, or wall and quietly keeps you informed without any distractions, notifications, or glowing screens.

For everyone. You don't need to be technical to use Glint. Our web-based dashboard at dash.glintdisplay.com features a visual drag-and-drop grid editor that makes building layouts as easy as arranging apps on your phone.

For commuters — see your next bus arrival times at a glance before you leave for work.

For professionals — track your calendar, Jira tickets, Slack messages, and stock portfolio on a distraction-free display.

For developers — build custom widgets with HTML/CSS using our Monaco code editor with live preview, and connect to any API.

For teams — set up shared dashboards in meeting rooms, office lobbies, or co-working spaces with multi-user admin controls.

Glint comes with a growing library of widgets for popular services and data sources:

• Transport — Real-time Singapore bus arrivals via LTA DataMall
• Weather — Current conditions and forecasts from NEA and OpenWeather
• News — Headlines from CNA, The Straits Times, and Hacker News
• Fitness — ActiveSG gym capacity so you know when it's not crowded
• Finance — SGX stock prices and portfolio tracking
• Productivity — Google Calendar, Notion, Todoist, Jira, and Linear
• Developer tools — GitHub notifications, Slack messages
• Smart home — Home Assistant integration
• Music — Spotify now playing
• Custom — Connect any API with OAuth2, Bearer token, or API key authentication

You can also build fully custom widgets using HTML and CSS in our built-in code editor.

Glint is designed to be a beautiful, minimal desk companion. The 7.5-inch e-paper screen has the look and feel of printed paper — no backlight, no glare, and perfectly readable in any lighting condition, just like a real book.

The device sits in a custom 3D-printed enclosure that we design and manufacture in-house. It's compact enough to fit alongside your monitor, on a bookshelf, or mounted on a wall.

Currently available in black and white, with clear, orange, and yellow colorways coming soon.

Not at all. Glint is designed for everyone. The setup process takes just a few minutes: connect to WiFi, log in to your dashboard, choose your widgets, and drag them into place. No coding, no command line, no soldering.

That said, if you are technical, Glint is a playground. You can write custom widgets in HTML/CSS, connect to any REST API, build automations with scheduling rules, and integrate with developer tools like GitHub, Jira, and Linear.

Glint uses a 7.5-inch e-paper (e-ink) display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. E-paper technology works by reflecting ambient light — just like paper — which means:

• No backlight — easy on the eyes, even for hours of viewing
• Sunlight readable — the brighter the room, the better it looks
• Ultra-low power — the screen only draws power when updating, not while displaying content
• Wide viewing angles — readable from almost any angle, just like paper
• Always on — content stays on screen even when the device is in deep sleep

Glint supports two color modes:

• Black & White mode — Crisp, high-contrast monochrome display. Refreshes in approximately 3 seconds. Ideal for frequently updating content like bus arrivals and clocks.
• Black, White & Red tri-color mode — Adds red as a third color for emphasis and visual hierarchy. Refreshes in approximately 20 seconds. Great for highlighting important data like alerts, stock changes, or weather warnings.

You can choose the color mode per layout, so you can have some layouts in fast B/W mode and others in tri-color mode with red accents.

Refresh speed depends on the color mode:

• B/W mode — approximately 3 seconds for a full refresh
• B/W/Red tri-color mode — approximately 20 seconds for a full refresh

Glint also supports partial refresh, which is a flicker-free update that only redraws the areas of the screen that have changed. This means if only your bus arrival time changes, only that portion of the screen updates — no full-screen flash required.

Partial refresh makes Glint feel much more responsive and pleasant compared to traditional e-paper devices that flash the entire screen on every update.

The display is 7.5 inches measured diagonally, with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. This gives you a sharp, detailed canvas for displaying text, icons, charts, and layouts. The pixel density is well-suited for reading text at arm's length — similar to a quality e-reader.

Every Glint device is housed in a custom 3D-printed enclosure that we design and manufacture in-house right here in Singapore. The case is precision-printed to fit the e-paper display and electronics snugly, with a clean, minimal aesthetic.

Currently available in black and white.

Coming soon: clear, orange, and yellow colorways.

Absolutely. E-paper is a reflective display technology — it works by reflecting ambient light rather than emitting its own. The brighter your environment, the crisper and more readable the screen becomes. This makes Glint perfect for desks near windows, outdoor sheltered areas, or anywhere with natural light. There is no glare from backlighting because there is no backlight.

Setting up Glint is quick and straightforward:

1. Power on your Glint device — it will create a temporary WiFi hotspot
2. Connect to the hotspot from your phone or laptop and enter your home or office WiFi credentials
3. Once connected, your device will appear in your dashboard at dash.glintdisplay.com
4. Use the visual drag-and-drop editor to build your layout, add widgets, and customize your display
5. Hit publish — your Glint device will update within seconds

The entire process usually takes less than five minutes.

Glint connects via WiFi 802.11 b/g/n on the 2.4 GHz band. This is compatible with virtually all modern routers and access points. The 2.4 GHz band provides excellent range and wall penetration, which is ideal for a device that sits on a desk or shelf and doesn't need high-bandwidth streaming — just periodic data fetches.

If WiFi drops, Glint will continue to display the last content that was rendered on screen — that's one of the advantages of e-paper. The content persists on the display without any power.

The device will automatically attempt to reconnect to your WiFi network. Once connectivity is restored, it will resume fetching data and updating the display according to your schedule. No manual intervention needed.

Glint requires a WiFi connection for initial setup, data fetching, and receiving layout updates from the dashboard. However, the device will continue displaying the last-rendered content even without connectivity. For the best experience, a stable WiFi connection is recommended so your widgets can stay up-to-date with real-time data.

Yes. Glint supports OTA (over-the-air) firmware updates. When we release new features, performance improvements, or bug fixes, your device will receive the update automatically over WiFi. You don't need to plug anything in or manually flash firmware — it just works in the background.

Yes. The Glint dashboard provides real-time device monitoring including battery level, WiFi signal strength, and overall device health. You can check on your device from anywhere through the web dashboard, making it easy to manage devices deployed in offices, meeting rooms, or other locations.

Everything is managed through the Glint web dashboard at dash.glintdisplay.com. The dashboard features a visual drag-and-drop grid editor where you can:

• Browse and add widgets from the widget library
• Drag widgets onto a grid that matches your display's 800 x 480 pixel canvas
• Resize and reposition widgets to create your perfect layout
• Preview exactly how your display will look before publishing
• Save multiple layouts and schedule them to rotate throughout the day

Glint has a growing ecosystem of widgets. Here's the current library:

Singapore-specific:

• Bus Arrivals (LTA DataMall)
• Weather (NEA)
• News (CNA, The Straits Times)
• ActiveSG Gym Capacity
• SGX Stocks

Productivity & work:

• Google Calendar
• Notion
• Todoist
• Jira
• Linear
• Slack

Developer & tech:

• GitHub
• Hacker News

Lifestyle & smart home:

• Spotify
• OpenWeather
• Home Assistant

Custom:

• Custom API widgets (any REST API with OAuth2, Bearer token, or API key auth)
• Custom HTML/CSS widgets via the built-in code editor

Yes. Glint's scheduling system uses timeline-based rules that let you rotate between different layouts based on day and time. For example:

• Weekday mornings (6am–9am) — Show bus arrivals, weather, and your calendar
• Work hours (9am–6pm) — Show Jira tickets, Slack mentions, and stock prices
• Evenings (6pm–11pm) — Show news headlines, gym capacity, and Spotify now playing
• Weekends — Show a relaxed layout with weather, news, and Hacker News

Absolutely. Glint includes a built-in widget code editor powered by Monaco (the same editor engine behind VS Code). You can write custom widgets using HTML and CSS, with a live preview of how they'll look on the e-paper display.

For data-driven widgets, you can connect to any REST API that supports:

• OAuth2 authentication
• Bearer token authentication
• API key authentication

This means if your favorite service has an API, you can build a widget for it. The code editor includes syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and error checking to make development smooth.

Yes. Glint supports multi-user access with admin roles and permissions. This is particularly useful for teams and offices where a shared dashboard might be managed by multiple people. You can invite team members, assign roles, and control who can edit layouts, manage devices, or adjust settings.

Traditional e-paper displays flash the entire screen black and white during every update — this is called a "full refresh" and it can be distracting. Glint supports partial refresh, a smarter approach where only the areas of the screen that have actually changed are redrawn.

The result is a much smoother, flicker-free update experience. If your bus arrival time changes from "5 min" to "3 min," only that small text area refreshes — the rest of the screen stays perfectly still.

This also reduces power consumption since less of the display is being updated.

Glint pulls real-time bus arrival data directly from LTA's DataMall API — the same data source that powers official apps like MyTransport. Simply enter your bus stop code and select which bus services you want to track.

The widget shows estimated arrival times for the next few buses, so you can time your walk to the bus stop perfectly. It updates automatically at your chosen interval — even every minute if you like.

This is one of Glint's most popular features. Place it by your front door, and you'll always know exactly when to leave.

Yes! The ActiveSG Gym Capacity widget shows you real-time occupancy data for ActiveSG gyms across Singapore. You can track your favorite gym and see at a glance whether it's packed or has room. It's a great way to avoid peak hours and plan your workout for when the gym is quieter.

Glint currently supports news headlines from CNA (Channel NewsAsia) and The Straits Times, giving you a mix of breaking news and in-depth coverage from Singapore's most trusted news sources. Headlines update automatically so you always see the latest stories. For international tech news, there's also a Hacker News widget.

Glint supports weather data from NEA (National Environment Agency) for hyper-local Singapore weather, as well as OpenWeather for global locations. You can see current temperature, conditions, humidity, and forecasts — all displayed beautifully on the e-paper screen. For those tracking weather at multiple locations (e.g., you travel frequently), you can set up multiple weather widgets.

Yes. The SGX Stocks widget lets you track Singapore Exchange-listed securities on your Glint display. Add the tickers you care about and see prices at a glance throughout the day — no need to open a trading app or browser. Combined with the tri-color (B/W/Red) mode, price drops can be highlighted in red for quick visual scanning.

Glint is equipped with a 5000 mAh rechargeable battery that can last over one month on a single charge — even with per-minute updates in black and white mode.

Actual battery life depends on several factors:

• Update frequency — more frequent updates use more power
• Color mode — B/W refreshes use less power than B/W/Red refreshes
• WiFi activity — more API calls mean more radio use
• Partial vs. full refresh — partial refreshes are more power-efficient

Glint charges via a standard USB cable. You can also leave it plugged in for continuous power if you don't want to think about charging at all. The device works seamlessly whether running on battery or connected to power.

E-paper is fundamentally different from LCD or OLED screens. It uses tiny microcapsules containing charged black and white particles that are physically rearranged by an electric field. Once the particles are in position, they stay there — no power needed to maintain the image.

This means power is only consumed during the brief moment the screen refreshes. Between updates, the display draws zero power while still showing your content clearly. This is why Glint can last over a month on a single charge while updating every minute.

Yes. The Glint dashboard shows your device's current battery level alongside other health metrics like WiFi signal strength. You'll always know when it's time to top up the charge, even if the device is in another room or location.

Yes. Between screen updates, Glint enters a deep sleep mode where it consumes minimal power. The device wakes up on schedule to connect to WiFi, fetch new data, update the display, and then goes back to sleep. This sleep-wake cycle is what enables the impressive month-plus battery life. You can also use the scheduling feature to reduce update frequency during nighttime hours to save even more battery.

Currently, Glint is available in two case colors:

• Black — sleek and minimal, blends into any desk setup
• White — clean and modern, great for lighter-toned workspaces

We're actively working on new colorways. Coming soon: clear (translucent), orange, and yellow. Since every case is 3D-printed in-house, we have the flexibility to experiment with new colors and limited editions.

Glint's widget code editor is built on Monaco — the same editor engine that powers VS Code. To create a custom widget:

1. Open the widget editor in the Glint dashboard
2. Write your widget using HTML and CSS
3. Use the live preview panel to see how it'll look on the e-paper display in real time
4. Connect external data sources using API integrations (OAuth2, Bearer tokens, or API keys)
5. Save and add the widget to any of your layouts

The editor includes syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and error checking. You can design anything from simple text cards to complex data visualizations — as long as it can be expressed in HTML/CSS.

Yes. Glint supports connecting to any REST API as a data source, as long as it uses one of the following authentication methods:

• OAuth2 — for services like Google, Spotify, Notion, etc.
• Bearer token — for services that issue access tokens
• API key — for services that use simple key-based authentication

This opens up a world of possibilities. Want to display data from your company's internal API, a cryptocurrency tracker, an air quality monitor, or your own personal server? You can build a widget for it.

Yes. Glint has a dedicated Home Assistant integration. You can display sensor data, device states, automations status, and more from your Home Assistant setup on the e-paper screen. It's a great companion for smart home enthusiasts who want a glanceable overview of their home without pulling out a phone or talking to a voice assistant.

Glint collects only the minimum data necessary to operate the service:

• Account information — your email and display name for authentication
• Device telemetry — battery level, WiFi signal strength, firmware version, and device health for monitoring purposes
• Layout and widget configuration — the layouts you create and the data sources you connect
• API credentials — authentication tokens for the services you connect (stored securely and encrypted)

Your account data, layouts, and configurations are stored securely in the cloud and accessed through the web dashboard at dash.glintdisplay.com. API credentials and authentication tokens are encrypted at rest. Glint does not sell, share, or monetize your personal data or usage patterns.

Yes. All communication between your Glint device and the cloud dashboard is encrypted. The device authenticates securely with our servers, and all data transfers — including layout updates, widget data, and firmware updates — are transmitted over secure connections.

No. Glint has no camera, no microphone, and no GPS. It's a display-only device that connects to WiFi to fetch data and update its screen. It doesn't listen, watch, or track your physical location. It's one of the most privacy-friendly smart devices you can own.

Glint is currently available through our waitlist. Join at glintdisplay.com to be notified when devices are ready to ship. As a small Singapore-based team, we're producing devices in limited batches to ensure quality. Waitlist members get early access and priority ordering.

Pricing will be announced soon. Join our waitlist at glintdisplay.com to be the first to know when pricing and ordering details are available. Waitlist members may receive special early-bird pricing.

We're starting with Singapore first — it's our home, and many of our core widgets (bus arrivals, NEA weather, ActiveSG gyms, SGX stocks) are built specifically for the Singapore experience. International shipping is on our roadmap. Join the waitlist and let us know your location — it helps us plan our expansion.

Yes, proudly so. Glint is designed, 3D-printed, and assembled in Singapore. Every enclosure is manufactured in-house using our own 3D printers, and each device is hand-assembled and tested before shipping. We're a Singapore-based team building products for Singapore and beyond.

Each Glint package includes:

• Glint e-paper display device in your chosen case color
• USB charging cable
• Quick start guide with setup instructions

We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to us via email or through our website at glintdisplay.com. We're a small team and we personally read and reply to every message.