On the iRex Blog there is an interesting article (http://i-to-i.irexnet.com/2007/11/09/what-makes-our-electronic-paper-displays-different/) about the internal workings of the iLiad, a bit of information about where and how it is produced, and what differentiates the iLiad electronics from other E Ink devices.

It also mentions that iRex is looking into E Ink's latest Vizplex technology; in fact, they are testing it right now.

Related: iRex iLiad Internals (photos) (http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/ILiad_Internals)

That sounds promising. But they left one important think out... Vizplex has more contrast.

Actually, vizplex has less contrast ;)
It has a contrast ratio of 7:1 whereas the previous material has about 8:1.
But the refectivity of vizplex is about 40% while previous e-ink material had around 32-35%.

So all in all, its not "that much" of a difference. But its a step. Since its brighter, it might seem more contratsy to some people. I like that ist faster though.

I'd like to see a Vizplex screen compared to a recent iLiad. I doubt the contrast is that much better. When comparing a new prs-500 to my new iLiad screen, I was highly disappointed at the screen quality of the Sony.

Dont forget, that the e-ink screen seem to loose a bit contrast over time. So the comparison could be unfair, although i have to admit, that i am quite astonished at how bright the newer iLiad screens look. I hope i can compare it to my CyBook Vizplex screen soon.

... i am quite astonished at how bright the newer iLiad screens look. ...

What do you mean by this? Newer as in new model or because it's not been used before (brand new). If you know what I mean!

newer as in newer iLiads. The new ones seem to be brighter than the earlier iLiads. But since i do not have a direct comparison, it might just be me beeing astoished about e-ink in general all over again ;)

It seems though, that iRex has developed a way to generate waveforms for specific batches of e-ink material, which results in better contrast, than using a standard waveform for all.

Look at this (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=e04Lbm4y2ZU) video comparing a PRS 500 vs. 505.

And here (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CaSH_pLctvM) another one...

I'd really like to see vizplex in real. Looks promising...
Gogol

I did a side by side comparison of my iliad and prs-505 at display in Borders, though I can certainly feel that 505 improved over 500, but the screen isn't as white as iliad, and I can't tell the difference of the contrast. But the text of similar size on iliad is definitely more readable.

I got my CyBook today, and i have to say, the iLiads screen looks better.
The Cybooks screen is a bit brighter, but the black of the iLiad is darker and the characters on the screen of the iLiad are sharper than the characters on the CyBook.

I will try to do a more inpdepth comparison of the two when i got the time.

Even though you've had the iLiad longer?!

It's what I like to hear! My iLiad is arriving tomorrow. I'm just a bit excited! (Even though I'm 30+!)

The iLiad i am comparing it to is one of the first V2 iLiads. So it is a couple of months old, and the screens of the brand new ones are a tiny bit brighter.

What really mazed me, is how sharp the iLiads letters look. And how continuously black the black is. The CyBook display has speckles of dark in the white and the other way around. I hardly notice that on the iLiad. Its strongly noticeable in the status bar of the CyBook. Now i do not know, if i maybe got a faulty CyBook, but i am guessing not.

The software of the CyBook on te other hand has lots of features i wish the iLiad had. And i like its weight and battery runtime. I miss buttons at either side of the CyBook to conveniently flip pages while reading with one hand. The iLiads flipbar has really grown on to me. And the button of the CyBook is too small, i accidentally hit the confirm button alot. And while holding the CyBook i often press one of the side buttons. Thats as annoying as hitting one of the iLiads category buttons on accident.

I have to get a good camera and see if i can get the speckles show up on an image.