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Plastic Logic Shows Off a Color ePaper Screen

Nate the greatest writes "I'm sure you've heard about the color E-ink screen which was rumored to be used on the next Kindle. As of today, E-ink no longer has that market niche to themselves. Plastic Logic held a press conference in Russia this morning where they unveiled a new color screen that uses their plastic-based screen tech. The resolution is low (75ppi), but if the video is any sign, then this might be a better screen than the 9.7" Triton color E-ink screen used on the Jetbook Color. And that's not all Plastic Logic showed off this morning; they also developed a frontlight for their screen, and they can play video at 12 frames per second. But best of all, they cut one of their screens in half just to show that it could still work."

12 of 50 comments (clear)

  1. Parenting by Dan+East · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ahhh, this will make parenting a little easier.
    Kid 1: "It's my turn!!"
    Kid 2: "I need to check my FB!"
    Kid 1: "You used the tablet all day yesterday!"
    Kid 2: "DID NOT!"
    Me: "Here, give me that blasted thing."
    Whips out tin snips.
    "Half for you, and half for you."

    --
    Better known as 318230.
  2. Another vaporware "article" - lovely. by EvilStein · · Score: 5, Informative

    A pretty weak "article" that has 3 links to some blog and one to laptop mag, and the still vaporware product is from a company the blogger pretty much wrote off 2 years ago.

    *This* is what makes it to the front page now? Wow..

    1. Re:Another vaporware "article" - lovely. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      If you want only articles about existing products - go visit a catalogue or review site.

      If you want to learn about interesting technology and things people are experimenting with, then stay here, but don't whine about everything not yet at production stage being "vaporware"

    2. Re:Another vaporware "article" - lovely. by Intrepid+imaginaut · · Score: 2

      Never has a sig been so apt.

  3. Re:plasticLogic == vaporware by CannonballHead · · Score: 3, Informative
    I don't see any mention of bankruptcy?

    They shut down their plans for Que but other than that...

  4. 75ppi or 175? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The Russian PR guy says 175ppi in at least one of the videos.

  5. Re:75 ppi... by Moryath · · Score: 2

    Ever held a paperback book that close to your face to read it? Notice the type looking a little bit "blocky"? Notice how you can see the flaws in the printing process?

    No different. 75 ppi is just fine for an e-reader. And no respectable optometrist EVER recommends holding the book at that distance. Hold it at standard reading distance instead (say, 24 inches or higher) and run that calculation.

  6. Re:These are issues, folks... by camperdave · · Score: 2

    The question is moot. With WIFI access, one is never done reading.

    --
    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  7. Re:75 ppi... by MBCook · · Score: 2

    According to Wikipedia, the current eInk Kindles are all about 68 ppi. So this screen would be as good (if not better) than the current Kindles in that department.

    Unfortunately, this screen looks like it lacks color saturation, which seems to be a common trait among all color eInk displays. It's a big improvement over previous displays, but I still wouldn't put it in a product yet. People would immediately put it next to LCD displays, and compared to the display on a $60 "might as well sell it at the drugstore" tablet, it would look bad.

    --
    Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
  8. Re:plasticLogic == vaporware by masmullin · · Score: 2

    The Que looked fucking awesome. I was rather distraught when they canceled it (and bought a kindle dx graphite).

  9. Re:75 ppi... by alphamax · · Score: 2

    According to Wikipedia, the current eInk Kindles are all about 68 ppi. So this screen would be as good (if not better) than the current Kindles in that department.

    Unfortunately, this screen looks like it lacks color saturation, which seems to be a common trait among all color eInk displays. It's a big improvement over previous displays, but I still wouldn't put it in a product yet. People would immediately put it next to LCD displays, and compared to the display on a $60 "might as well sell it at the drugstore" tablet, it would look bad.

    If you follow your own link, you will see that according to Wikipedia, current eInk Kindles are about 67 ppcm, which is around 169 ppi. So this screen isn't half as good as the current Kindles in that department.

  10. How big will they get? by hack++slash · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'd love some colour e-ink displays that are 3ft by 4ft, perfect for posters on your walls that only use power when you want to change the picture - and they'd literally be just the display, the device that 'uploads' the new picture would contain most of (all?) the necessary driver circuitry.

    --
    To do something right, you often have to roll up your sleeves and get busy.