In my previous article, I mentioned that we all need an iPod. To disconnect, to focus, to consume whatever we want to consume. To escape the addictive world of endless scrolling and pause for a second to ask ourselves: What do I want to do?
That, in essence, is what I was aiming for when I scored a second-hand Boox Palma on Vinted. This little device is nothing more than a compact Android smartphone with an e-paper display and no SIM card. It sounds simple — and that’s exactly what I needed.
Having owned an Onyx Boox tablet before (which I eventually replaced with a Kindle Scribe), you might wonder: Why go back? If I needed a smartphone-sized device for reading, I could just use… my actual smartphone. Or the iPad Mini we have lying around the house.
But the answer is simple: both are connected. And even if they’re not prone to distraction (like the iPad Mini), they are definitely prone to interruption (like my phone).
Yet Another Device?
Yes! I’ll admit it goes against my own directive to use as few devices as possible. More devices mean more hassle, more charging, more complexity. It adds static to the world of digital intentionalism.
But hear me out. The way I want to use this device is very intentional. Here’s how:
1. Reality Escape Pod
I’ve configured the Palma to help me “get away” from everything connected. It lets me focus on what I want to read, and pay attention to what I want to listen to entirely offline. I don’t need to be connected to do anything. In fact, I only activate the Wi-Fi when I want to “load up” on fresh content. (And if I can, I’ll just use a USB cable to drag files from my tablet.)
In that way, the Palma becomes a kind of digital library: quiet, distraction-free, and deliberate. It lets me “escape connection” for a while.
2. Ebook Reader
The Palma (like all Onyx devices) is an Android device that runs most apps from the Play Store. The e-paper display is crisp, and the refresh rate is decent — but I don’t use it for watching videos. It’s mostly for reading.
Since I use my Kindle Scribe as my primary e-reader and notebook, I installed the Kindle app on the Palma to sync books across devices. I do need to go online at the beginning and end of each reading session to sync my progress.
I also installed Instapaper, since Pocket no longer supports non-Firefox browsers. Instapaper works fine, and the text-to-speech function is handy when I don’t have the time or energy to read.
3. Audiobooks & Podcasts
Pocket Casts is my podcast app of choice. I’ve trimmed my subscriptions down to just the shows that bring real value, and I’m committed to listening to every episode. A couple of upbeat music podcasts are in there too, for when I need fresh tunes.
For audiobooks, I use Voice Audiobook Player — a simple, clean player that reads audio files from a folder. Nothing fancy, but it works perfectly.
4. Music
The beauty of the iPod era? You chose your music before you listened. No algorithm telling you what to like. You picked your tracks and lived with them. That’s what I do with the Palma.
I have a few “mood mixes” stored on it — long instrumental tracks, 2–3 hours each — that provide a general ambiance depending on the vibe I want. Blade Runner in the rain? Got it. Upbeat retro synth? That too. I keep about five mixes per mood, and when I’m bored with them, I swap them out manually.
I use the built-in Palma music player to keep things simple. I did consider streaming via an app like Musi (on iOS), but that would defeat the purpose. iPods and Walkmans had one rule: choose your tunes and live with it.
5. Accessories
Accessories? Just two.
Apple Earbuds — Terrible with my iOS devices (the most unreliable earbuds ever), but perfect as a single-use set for the Palma. Decent noise cancellation, compact, and they live in my bag. Moodbird — This little device looks like a sex toy, but it’s actually for guided breathing exercises. You hold it in your hand as it expands and contracts in a calming rhythm. Helps with meditation, anxiety, or sleep. It works on its own, but I use the Palma with the Moodbird app to customize specific programs.
Moderation
Not much on there, right? That’s the whole point: moderation.
Fewer apps mean fewer choices. One of the main pitfalls of modern devices is that they offer too much. We hop from one thing to the next, rarely finishing anything. Never pushing through the “boring” parts. Never staying with one experience.
So I’ve set clear limits on my digital carry-ons for the Palma:
5 podcasts 2 books 2 audiobooks 5 music mixes per genre
Usage
I use the Palma a lot. Reading on the couch. Listening to audiobooks while doing chores. Skimming articles in waiting rooms. My favorite use? Ambient soundscapes + reading. It’s heaven.
Best of all: I can leave my phone behind. I don’t need it to be “entertained.” No social scrolling. No WhatsApp interruptions. The Palma is my world. My rules. My escape.
Conclusion
Abundance is unmanageable.
To focus, we need to choose. What are we going to read or listen to now? What will we do next?
By keeping a small, deliberate selection of content, I get to finish what I start.
To focus. To take back control.
Links
Kindle App: Google Play Store
Pocketcasts: Google Play Store
Voice Audio book player: Google Play Store
Instapaper: Google Play store
Moodbird: https://www.moonbird.life/