Reading Tablet

[cbrunny]

I was sitting at home last night on the couch, reading on a 2nd gen Kindle. I really like the screen on that thing. There is no eye strain at all - quite nice. And I got to thinking - how great would it be if this screen was incorporated into a legit, high resolution full colour - "traditional" - screen. And, if even a bit of tablet functionality was incorporated, Google Books and Kindle could run on the same tablet. Wouldn't that be something...

I don't know much about integrating the e-ink displays with a full HD display, but it seems fairly obvious that it's difficult at best, and pure impossible at worst, with my expectation being impossible. So, next thought.

A fully-functioning high-end Android tablet that has both screens. One on the front, one on the back. Attach a hinge-type cover similar to the iPad so that you can flip from one screen to the other with some protection - the hinged cover would flip flop so it covers the screen that you are not using. Build in required software so that you can purchase e-books from either Google or Kindle using the full-display screen, and have them available for reading when you flip over to the reading screen.

I'd buy that.

 

[Zaap]

That's not a bad idea. Would certainly be interesting. I have no idea if its technically feasible or not.

It'd probably take some effort to keep it from weighing too much.

 

[ElFenix]

http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/03/video-pixel-qis-e-ink-lcd-hybrid-screen-demoed-at-computex/

http://gizmodo.com/5967746/this-dual-lcd-and-e-ink-phone-will-be-available-in-2013

http://news.techworld.com/personal-tech/3273146/apple-files-patent-for-hybrid-e-ink-and-lcd-screen/

 

[Commodus]

I was sitting at home last night on the couch, reading on a 2nd gen Kindle. I really like the screen on that thing. There is no eye strain at all - quite nice. And I got to thinking - how great would it be if this screen was incorporated into a legit, high resolution full colour - "traditional" - screen. And, if even a bit of tablet functionality was incorporated, Google Books and Kindle could run on the same tablet. Wouldn't that be something...

I don't know much about integrating the e-ink displays with a full HD display, but it seems fairly obvious that it's difficult at best, and pure impossible at worst, with my expectation being impossible. So, next thought.

A fully-functioning high-end Android tablet that has both screens. One on the front, one on the back. Attach a hinge-type cover similar to the iPad so that you can flip from one screen to the other with some protection - the hinged cover would flip flop so it covers the screen that you are not using. Build in required software so that you can purchase e-books from either Google or Kindle using the full-display screen, and have them available for reading when you flip over to the reading screen.

I'd buy that.

Sounds like a Yotaphone on a large scale. It'd be cool, but I suspect it won't happen just because the percentage of tablet buyers who really want an e-ink screen built into their device is slim -- they either don't mind an LCD, or they already have an e-paper reader. That and it may be a bit of a quirk to have to switch screens just because someone pinged you on Twitter.

 

[cbrunny]

oh very cool. I had no idea something even better was even in development. That's great news.

 

[paperwastage]

color eInk isn't there yet... i own a Jetbook Color 1, colors are way off

there are technologies like mirasol, but color will be off too

i rather have my eReader and phone/tablet separate.... eReader lasts weeks without charge, but not the phone/tablet

 

[Belegost]

oh very cool. I had no idea something even better was even in development. That's great news.

The other competing method to Pixel Qi is Mirasol, currently used in Qualcomm's Toq watch, and used in a Kyobo e-reader (I think it's not on the market any more)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interferometric_modulator_display
http://goodereader.com/blog/electronic-readers/kyobo-mirasol-color-e-reader-review
http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/qualcomm-toq-smartwatch/

 

[DaveSimmons]

http://news.techworld.com/personal-tech/3273146/apple-files-patent-for-hybrid-e-ink-and-lcd-screen/

Sigh, I hope someone challenges Apple's application for a patent on "why not both?" -- obvious patent is blindingly obvious. Also vague patent is intentionally vague.

 

[BrightCandle]

There are two innovations that have been threatening to come out for the past couple of years in this regard. The first is the colour eInk screens. I think initially they were saying they were just 16 colours but still dramatically better than just greyscale. But in addition they were making the refresh considerably faster, they expected to make those colour screens capable of video playback.

The second is a screen made by Qi that is reflexive and transmissive. That is an LCD screen is transmissive, it emits light from its backlight through an LCD of particular colour to produce your image. A reflexive screen is like the eInk screens, there the screen colour itself is set and the reflection from the ambient light around you is what you see - which is why eInk looks so physical because its the same temperature as the room around you. Qi has a screen you can buy after market (did two years ago anyway) that could do both of these things with just a switch. It could even run half and half! The screen looked amazing and the main advantage of reflexive was the stability of the image and the power saving.

I haven't heard from either company recently, presumably they are still trying to perfect reflexive screens, but in the future they are potentially be the ideal screen. Have a look at Qi, they might have an update to that panel and something you can buy to replace in a laptop/tablet today.