Tag: e-ink

We Can’t Wait For Sony’s Shiny New E-Ink Remote to Arrive in India

A couple of months ago, Sony launched a crowd-funding platform, a la Kickstarter, for its own new products. Called First Flight, the platform is one of company’s attempts to get itself back on its feet by increasing profitability. The platform includes crowd-funded projects, along with allowing customers to directly buy or pre-order products developed by Sony workers.

The latest updates from Sony’s First Flight comes in the form of an e-ink device called ‘Huis’, pronounced as ‘house’, which is also the first project of the platform. It is a remote for your smart-home allowing you to control lights and remote controlled devices. How is it different from the many other such devices out there, you ask? To begin with, it is fully customizeable, is very low on power-demands and has support for IR, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

The remote works with television sets, music systems, lights, air conditioners and pretty much anything that is capable of communicating with a remote (barring any pets of the feline origin). Watch technology make your life so much easier as remotes for so many different gadgets get condensed into one with Sony Huis.

Though there is no word yet on when Huis would be made available globally, Sony has already begun taking orders for it in Japan. Currently it costs ¥27,950 or about Rs. 30,000.

Source

February 15, 2016
Sony’s Next Smartwatch May be Entirely Made Out of E-Paper

Sony is under a lot of pressure to return to profitability and reach back to the rank of the biggest consumer electronics brand in the world. Recently, apart from the Playstation family, no other device in the company’s consumer portfolio has seen an upwards momentum. In this trying times, Sony is working on something unique, a smartwatch made entirely out of e-paper.

There have been previous attempts into making an e-paper smartwatch. Central Standard Timing’s CST-01 is a Kickstarter-funded smartwatch with an e-ink display. With a ‘thinness’ of 0.80 mm, it holds the enviable spot of the world’s thinnest watch. It would be interesting to see what Sony comes up with its massive innovation budget.

Central Standard Timing’s CST-01 has an e-ink display and is 0.8 mm thin.

It is being reported by Bloomberg that the device will be developed by a new division within the company. This division is responsible for bringing innovative devices to Sony’s portfolio, and the e-paper smartwatch might just be the breakout star that this division was looking for. The watch is expected to be made almost entirely of e-paper including the straps.

The company is in an emergency reinvention mode and is working towards cutting down the heavy losses that have been incurred in the past years. The company is already planning on cutting down its smartphone and TV portfolio. This is the right time to come up with a unique and affordable product. Sony still has a lot of goodwill in the consumer market, which it can utilise to bring about the growth it desperately needs. Sony is known for design, and if a Kickstarter project can create the slimmest watch, we hope Sony can churn out something that upholds the brand we have come to appreciate over the years.

November 26, 2014
Paperfold is prototype for a Foldable Smartphone

The Human Media Lab at Canada’s Queen’s University has designed a prototype of a smartphone, that can not only fold, but transform from one form factor to another. The future of unified devices may simply lie in a design like this. The “Paperfold” uses three snap – E-Ink displays to create one large display.

The Human media lab claims that the inspiration came from paper, and that the device will have a lot of possible future uses. The hinges also act as buttons allowing you to switch between modes and tasks depending on your usage and application.

Although we are notoriously far from the project reaching commercial availability, it seems that the next logical step in transformation of devices could and may as well be devices like the Paperfold. Watch the video below for more.

May 2, 2014
E Ink Introduces 1.73″ Mobius Flexible Display For Smartwatches (PR)

Today, E Ink has announced a new business deal with Sonostar to release a new line of watches using a 1.73 inch display. E Ink offers a variety of electronic paper displays in many different sizes, some of them flexible.

The essence of this new 1.73 inch e-paper display is the new Mobius technology that is found in the new Sony 13.3 inch e-reader. The resolution will be 320×240 and will be able to display 16 levels of grey. It is said that this watch will last for a full month, before needing a recharge.

E Ink’s Director of Product Management, Giovanni Mancini, said, “The joint development between Sonostar and Transmart is the perfect example of the how E Ink can help its customers get their product to market. E Ink displays enable unique products that capture the customer’s imagination. Our business development team has the expertise to help our customers design the displays into their products in ways never before thought possible.”

Interest in wearable has exploded in recent months following reports earlier this year that Apple already had 100 people working on a much-rumored iOS-based smartwatch some have dubbed “iWatch.” Apple is said to be experimenting with wristwatch-like devices that sport curved glass.

[toggle title=”Press Release”]June 2, 2013 – Cambridge, MA — E Ink® Holdings, “E Ink” (8069.TW), a digital signage and display visionary, announces the addition of a 1.73″ flexible display to its Mobius product line of flexible electronic paper display (EPD) technology. The 1.73″ display has been specifically engineered for smartwatch and watch applications. The display is based on flexible TFT technology developed and brought to production by E Ink. The first commercial product to use this 1.73″ display is the Sonostar Smartwatch announced this week at Computex in Taipei, Taiwan.

The Sonostar smartwatch was jointly developed by E Ink’s subsidiary Transmart Co. Ltd and Sonostar. The smartwatch was chosen by the Taipei Computer Association as one of only 10 major product highlights at Computex, which will run from June 4-8 in Taipei, Taiwan.

The 1.73″ Mobius display supports a resolution of 320X240 pixels with 16 greyscale levels. The display size and characteristics make the technology ideal for the smartwatch market. Using a flexible substrate, the 1.73″ Mobius is lightweight and rugged and is conformable so the end product has a better fit for the consumer. Its low power usage and sunlight readability make this technology ideal for mobile devices. Unlike conventional displays, the 1.73″ Mobius display can be cut into different shapes.

“The joint development between Sonostar and Transmart is the perfect example of the how E Ink can help its customers get their product to market,” said Giovanni Mancini, director of product management for E Ink Holdings. “E Ink displays enable unique products that capture the customer’s imagination. Our business development team has the expertise to help our customers design the displays into their products in ways never before thought possible.”

More information on the Sonostar smartwatch can be obtained by visiting the Sonostar booth at Taipei World Trade Center Hall I (No: C0317) during Computex Taipei 2013 (June 4 to 8) or by going to www.sonostar.com/Smartwatch/. You can get more information about the Mobius 1.73″ display by visiting www.eink.com.

About E Ink Holdings
Founded in 1992 by Taiwan’s leading papermaking and printing group YFY (1907.TW), E Ink Holdings Inc. (8069.TW) is the pioneer of TFT and ePaper business in Taiwan. Its corporate philosophy aims to deliver revolutionary products, user experiences, and environmental benefits through advanced technology development. This vision has led to its continuous investments in the field of ePaper display as well as its 2008 acquisition of Hydis Technologies, manufacturer of the world’s best wide viewing angle LCDs and its 2009 acquisition of E Ink Corporation, the worldwide leader in ePaper. Listed in Taiwan’s GreTai Securities Market and the Luxembourg market, E Ink Holdings is now the world’s largest supplier of displays to the eReader market. For corporate information, please visit www.einkgroup.com; for EPD information, please visit www.eink.com / tw.eink.com; and for FFS information, please visit www.hydis.com.

All trademarks above are property of their respective owners.[/toggle]

[GoodeReader]

June 4, 2013
Sony reveals prototype 13.3 E Ink Display tablet with stylus, Aims at Future Students

Sony has just shown off a new prototype the E-paper Slate, which combines as the name suggests an E-Ink display and a Stylus to bring about digital classrooms. Packed with a 13.3-inch screen (1,200 x 1,600px) with an electromagnetic induction touchscreen for accessing menus and scrolling using a Stylus.

The device currently only supports a few file formats including PDF and is sized up at only 6.8mm thick with a light weight of 385 gms.

The Slate is also equipped with onboard storage of 4GB and an expansion slot that can enable increase in capacity for the student. If the need arises. The Battery life is also supposed to be marvelous with over 3 weeks of usage, incase of wireless networks being off. The Software updates will be pushed OTA thanks to Wifi connectivity along with the ability to pass along notes wirelessly.

The prototype is functional to the extent that the company will begin summer 2013 tests, for late 2013 availability for the the E-Paper Slate, In Japan atleast.

May 13, 2013
Popslate Case adds a second screen with E-Ink to the iPhone 5

An Awesome case that takes iPhone photography and ability a step further. Its called “Popslate” and its a pretty cool cover that adds a second (E-Ink) display to the back of the iPhone which is also touch sensitive. The iPhone app lets you take a picture with your phone and display it on the back of the device instantly , the always-on, ultra low-power, black and white display can also become a canvas for notifications, sports scores, maps, lists and notes.

The open API will let you cutomize your apps to work with Popslate, The company has a partnership with E Ink to use the latest in ruggedized e-paper technology and is hoping to raise enough funds to make Popslate a reality. The Popslate will be available in two colours at launch (White and Black like the iPhone) and will be available for US $79 for the first 500 supporters and US$99 post the 500 mark.

The company does not have a prototype yet and has assembled a team of engineers and designers, to make the Popslate a reality. However if you look at their video, it seems quite unlikely that an E-Ink display fitted case could be that slim, and the display that responsive. Also with the display running on the iPhone’s batteries, it may be a major concern. Since the iPhone 5 is not doing great in the battery department anyway. Checkout the Video below and hit the link if you wanna buy one.

[Indiegogo (popSLATE)]

November 30, 2012
Microsofts new Patent shows off usefulness of Back panels in a Smartphone

Microsoft’s new patent for Interactive back panel displays could actually change the way we utilize a smartphone today, or tomorrow. The new patent by Microsoft simply describes a device with two screens. The Second Screen is however a low power screen with a lot of potential ( something like an e-ink display) displaying different information based on the current state and information on the original front facing screen. Looking at the patent images you can see a curved back panel which can be used as a display for clock connectivity or simply a status bar.

According to the patent, the display will continue to work even if the device is off. This is something that actually is exciting and hopefully can actually make it to devices in one form or another.

April 23, 2012
Barnes and Noble Nook 2 is coming this month

According to a report filed on Saturday, the successor to the original Barnes and Noble Nook, the Nook 2, will launch this month. The Nook 2 may or may not run Android like the original E-Reader, but if it does , then expect some Honeycomb madness up in that baby.

According to sources at digitimes, Inventec and Pegatron will assemble the eReaders and supply as many as 2-3 million devices by the end of this year. The Nook Color 2 E Ink will be powered by “e-paper backplanes,” there will be a new E Ink component to the Nook Color 2, although it is unclear what its role will be at this point.

The new Nook is also expected to create some battle for the Amazon Tablets expected to launch in November.

September 5, 2011
IFA 2011: Sony Announces worlds lightest E-reader with multitouch (PR)

Sony has announced the worlds lightest E-Reader weighing in at just 168 grams (5.93 ounces) and is just 8.9mm thin. The E reader also has a 600 x 800, 16-level gray scale E Ink Pearl display along with 1.3 GB of usable internal storage plus microSD expansion of up to 32GB.

The device will be available in Europe in October for around $149 and India in December for 9000 INR.

Looking at the button configuration the base operating system on the device appears to be Android.

[toggle title_open=”PRESS RELEASE” title_closed=”PRESS RELEASE” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]

Sony Introduces World’s Lightest 15.2cm (6″) eReader with Enhanced Touchscreen

31 August 2011

· Hold effortlessly in one hand: just 168 grams and 8.9mm thin
· Browse and download a huge range of eBooks via Wi-Fi
· Turn pages smoothly, zoom in and out, look up in dictionary or make notes, all on advanced, high-contrast touchscreen
· Borrow eBooks directly and wirelessly from your public library
· Over one month of battery life* lets you read without recharging on holidays or trips away
· Available in three fashionable colours: red, white and black

Treat yourself to the most natural and immersive reading experience with the new Reader™ Wi-Fi® (model PRS-T1) from Sony – the world’s lightest1 15.2cm (6″) eReader that also features an enhanced touchscreen.

Now with Wi-Fi, Reader gives you the additional freedom to buy, borrow or get eBooks for free wherever there’s a wireless connection available.

From the latest releases to popular titles and classics, it’s easy to browse and download titles in seconds from a huge range of compatible bookstores and other web sites. You will also be able to purchase and download eBooks and periodicals via Wi-Fi from the rapidly-expanding catalogue available at the Reader™ Store2. What’s more, Reader Wi-Fi is the worlds’ first3 eReader that will allow you to borrow eBooks wirelessly from public libraries thanks to simple, seamless access on the device4 via an on-screen ‘Public Library’ icon.

Slipping effortlessly into a bag or pocket, Reader Wi-Fi is no bigger than a paperback book. 8.9mm thin and weighing just 168 grams it’s supremely comfortable to hold, with a gently curving profile that fits naturally in your hand.

Enjoying your favourite book is even more of a pleasure with the advanced Dual Touch screen. E Ink® Pearl electronic paper displays a clear, glare-free, high contrast image that’s easy to read for hours, even in direct sunlight.

Touch the screen to choose a book. Swipe a finger to turn the page, or zoom in and out by pinching your fingers together or apart. Tap on a word and hold to find its meaning from two built-in English language dictionaries. Words can also be translated to and from English using ten built-in translation dictionaries. You can even write notes on the page or highlight text with a finger or the supplied stylus – just like a real book.

Finding your way around the longest title is refreshingly quick and intuitive. Bookmark pages and return to them instantly, or search for particular passages and jump straight to the text you’re looking for.

While you’re reading, get extra information easily on a word or phrase with in-text access to Google™ and Wikipedia® look-ups. A simple browser also lets you download other compatible5 documents from the web via Wi-Fi for easy reading while you’re on the move.

Reader Wi-Fi handles a wide range of digital formats, including the popular EPUB eBook standard plus PDF and TXT documents. View your collection of digital photos on screen, or plug in a pair of headphones and listen to stored music tracks while you’re reading. The front cover image of your current title or a favourite photo can be displayed as a screensaver when Reader is in standby.

Fine-tune your reading experience with eight adjustable font sizes plus a choice of six font styles. Screen contrast and brightness are easily adjusted for comfortable viewing in any lighting conditions.

Its long battery life lets you read for over one month without needing a recharge (3 weeks with wireless on). Reader Wi-Fi can be used while the battery charges via USB on a connected PC, so there’s no need to interrupt your favourite book.

With a capacity of 2GB – enough to hold around 1,200 eBooks – internal memory space is easily expanded with an optional microSD card to hold tens of thousands more.

Style-matched optional accessories for your Reader include a form-fitting cover with built-in lighting arm that angles for reading at night or in dimly lit places.

Reader Wi-Fi with Pottermore download offer6

Sony’s first offer in its collaboration with J.K. Rowling’s eagerly anticipated Pottermore website (www.pottermore.com) is a specially-created limited edition of Reader Wi-Fi (PRS-T1) which includes a voucher that enables Harry Potter fans to download the first Harry Potter eBook title, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, from Pottermore. Pottermore, a unique website which builds an exciting and immersive online experience around the Harry Potter books and is the exclusive retailer of the Harry Potter digital eBooks, is partnered by Sony.

Reader Wi-Fi (model: PRS-T1) by Sony is available in Europe from October 2011, depending on country.

1 The world’s lightest eBook Reader with diagonal screen size of 15.2 cm (6″) as of 31st August 2011.

2 Reader Store will soon be available in Europe, coming first to the UK, Germany and Austria in 2011.

3 World’s first according to Sony research as of 31st August 2011.

4 Requires valid library card. Device feature – available only in UK, US, and Canada.

5 Unencrypted ePub and PDF files.

6 Availability of Reader Wi-Fi Pottermore special edition varies by country.

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September 1, 2011
Polymer Vision Intros new Rollable Display

The video says it all, the Future of displays is getting closer and closer. While Polymer Vision shows of the new Rollable Display can be rolled up 25,000 times at a radius of only six millimeters, There are no Pricing or availability details yet.

[Polymer Vision]

May 31, 2011
Sony Demonstrates Foldable / Flexible Organic TFT displays

While woes for Sony’s loss and security breaches continue. They have just showcased their new foldable and super-flexible Organic TFT display. The displays like the one above can be bent to a 5mm curvature radius. The 13.3-inch sheet has a 1,600 x 1,200 (150ppi) resolution and is powered by organic TFTs.

[Tech-On]

May 24, 2011
Flexible Paper Phone shows off the Future of Flexible Displays – Today

The new Paper Phone concept takes off where multitouch left off, The technology integrates a flexible E-Ink display mounted on a sheet of Bend Sensors. The sensors record your bend movements and every time you repeat the movement the pre specified input action is triggered. Check Out the Video for a full in depth look at the tech in action.

May 5, 2011