More news on the plasticlogic reader on the Business Weekly website. Subscription needed for access but article can be read on cache from google.

http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:Wa_SvQ3IsbcJ:www.businessweekly.co. uk/2008051431911/electronics/plastic-logic-set-for-major-windfall.html+%22Plastic+Logic+set+for+major+windf all%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1

Still looks very promising but no indication when they will have devices for sale.

rYc4dnVs4RM

Not on topic, but this proves what I've long asserted: Google is a pirate and thief. Something that the content carrier provides on a paid subscription basis should not be freely available from "Google's cache".

The problem is with Business Weekly's website. No search bot should be able to read the contently of the pay section unless security on the site is broken.

So if I leave my windows unlatched on an otherwise locked house, and thieves come through the window and steal my favorite gimboo - I bear all the responsibility?

Google is the world's largest criminal organization, in my opinion.

Whether an indexing robot are a thief of welcome guest is on the internet determined by the robots.txt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robots.txt)


http://www.businessweekly.co.uk/robots.txt

I disagree, but won't pursue the debate. Yes, I know about robots.txt; I've been a web developer since there was a web. I've never convinced anyone to accept my viewpoint and no one has convinced me that I'm wrong. So, back to your regularly scheduled topic...

I disagree, but won't pursue the debate. Yes, I know about robots.txt; I've been a web developer since there was a web. I've never convinced anyone to accept my viewpoint and no one has convinced me that I'm wrong. So, back to your regularly scheduled topic...

Yep, its one of those life changing issue people agree to disagree on like:

abortion,
religion,
the death penalty,
legalizing marijuana,
is Google evil?

BOb

Google is the world's largest criminal organization, in my opinion.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/Limadat/tinfoilhat.gif

I disagree, but won't pursue the debate. Yes, I know about robots.txt; I've been a web developer since there was a web. I've never convinced anyone to accept my viewpoint and no one has convinced me that I'm wrong. So, back to your regularly scheduled topic...

You convinced me. (On the other hand, I believe I have been abducted by Munchkins, so this might not be a point in your favor.)

No, seriously, it was obvious once I thought about it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/Limadat/tinfoilhat.gif

Thank you Lima_dat. I am DEFINITELY the boy with the tinfoil. He was my favorite character in that movie. A perfectly balanced, well-adjusted, reasonable and open minded young man. And I'm obligated to note, he was RIGHT.

Thank you Lima_dat. I am DEFINITELY the boy with the tinfoil. He was my favorite character in that movie. A perfectly balanced, well-adjusted, reasonable and open minded young man. And I'm obligated to note, he was RIGHT.

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get you.

BOb

So, anyway, we were saying...

That video they show is hilarious, with the shoe. I love how they slow down at the last second when they hit their screen, but SLAM the LCD. With a shoe. Not a hammer or a dropped can of pop or something. A shoe. Too funny.

That video they show is hilarious, with the shoe. I love how they slow down at the last second when they hit their screen, but SLAM the LCD. With a shoe. Not a hammer or a dropped can of pop or something. A shoe. Too funny.

Ha, you noticed that too? I thought I was just imagining it.

BOb

Being able to it it lightly with a shoe is a step in the right direction. These devices need to be durable.

You don't hold your MP3 player gingerly whilst chanting, "it's a thin piece of glass. It's a thin piece of glass." You don't leap in slow motion to snatch it to safety from the destructive forces of your spouses buttock. You don't try to drop it but, if it happens it's probably not going to break.

I know, I know... but there are machines for impact testing, which can be calibrated and so on, which they could have used to show how their screen fares vs. an LCD.

Instead, they took off a shoe and whacked the LCD, but "pulled their punch", so to speak, with their screen. With a SHOE.

Am I the only one who thinks that is funny? I picture the tester standing there with one shoe on, maybe standing on one foot... or if not him, then some other poor schmuck. "Hey! You there, yeah you. Take off your shoe! We're doing a video... no time to explain, just give me your shoe!"

Am I the only one who thinks that is funny?

I wasn't going to watch the video but after your comment I had to - and loved it. That's the official ASTM test, is it not?

Anti-Shoe Thumping Metric?

I know, I know... but there are machines for impact testing, which can be calibrated and so on, which they could have used to show how their screen fares vs. an LCD.

Instead, they took off a shoe and whacked the LCD, but "pulled their punch", so to speak, with their screen. With a SHOE.

Am I the only one who thinks that is funny? I picture the tester standing there with one shoe on, maybe standing on one foot... or if not him, then some other poor schmuck. "Hey! You there, yeah you. Take off your shoe! We're doing a video... no time to explain, just give me your shoe!"

"Uh... You're the boss. Hey! WHAT DID YOU JUST DO!" Jimmy the intern turns back and forth neurotically while pulling his hair. "Oh my god! We'll be fired! That's the only prototype!"

"Relax Jimmy, I pulled back at the last second. No one will even know! Now, hand me your laptop."

The weight test is amusing too: wow ... just the display element (with no supporting electronics or irrelevant falderal such as batteries or memory) weighs less than a whole Sunday newspaper!

Clearly the Marketing folks were let out without their keepers. :rolleyes:

By the way, here (http://www.plasticlogic.com/hi-res.php) are more infos and videos.

By the way, here (http://www.plasticlogic.com/hi-res.php) are more infos and videos.

And this is exactly the level of "product" we've been hearing about since at least 2006. In the mean time, Amazon, iRex, Sony, Hanlin, Bookeen, Netronix and STAReBOOK have all had devices one could *BUY*. When PlasticLogic comes and puts a ready-for-retail product in my hands I'll believe they're worth talking about. (Okay, we're hearing a relatively soon release date on the Astak line, so I'm willing to believe their product is real.)

Derek

So, Plastic Logic convinced investors to put a bet on their ideas and has raised another $50 million in equity finance as announced here:

http://www.plasticlogic.com/PRPlasticElectronicsPioneerReceives50Million.html

(Had a go at their homepage first, looks a bit different now.)

Appart from naming their new management personnel they also put a date on the opening of their " new high-volume, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Dresden, Germany":

Sept. 17, 2008 it shall be.

We will see how things progress ...

More plasticlogic news.

Their new device is being demoed at DEMOfall 08 which is on right now. They have also posted a picture of it on their website which can be seen here.

http://www.plasticlogic.com/assets/PlasticLogicPreviewsElectronicReadingDevice.jpg

Looks nice!

German article about the Plastic Logic demonstration at Demo Fall 08:
http://www.golem.de/0809/62275.html

Key-facts:

Display: E-ink, black and white
Planned Start: first half of 2009
Price: tba in January 2009

The following video is also referenced there:
0znv3V-GsNk

Looks quite interesting.

Regards,
Jim

They forgot to whack it with a shoe.

They forgot to whack it with a shoe.

:rolleyes:

The weight test is amusing too: wow ... just the display element (with no supporting electronics or irrelevant falderal such as batteries or memory) weighs less than a whole Sunday newspaper!

Clearly the Marketing folks were let out without their keepers. :rolleyes:

You beat me to it NatCh! I was thinking the same thing about weight and all that jazz. They left out the heaviest element... the enclosure (then there's the battery)! It does look promising that they have a few videos out about it, guess we'll be waiting for the finished product. Can't wait! :bookworm:

Edit:
Here's a link to the most current data on the device - Sept 8, 2008

http://www.plasticlogic.com/PRPlasticLogicPreviewsElectronicReadingDevice.html

They say it's going to have an 8.5x11" form-factor and the inset picture shows it on top of a legal pad... though it could just be some plastic with a permanent image burned into it for the prototype.

Not on topic, but this proves what I've long asserted: Google is a pirate and thief.

Oh lord. Not this again.

Oh lord. Not this again.

Well, no .... Taylor said that some months ago .... so the only way it would be "this again" is if YOU BROUGHT IT UP AGAIN.

And .... thank you so much for that.

Sorry, wasn't paying close enough attention to the dates. PlasticLogic was just mentioned today over on the iRex forum, so I assumed this was a new thread on here as well. My bad.

That's ok .... go in peace my child. Just pray to whatever god you believe in that Taylor doesn't revisit this particular thread.

German article about the Plastic Logic demonstration at Demo Fall 08:
http://www.golem.de/0809/62275.html

Key-facts:

Display: E-ink, black and white
Planned Start: first half of 2009
Price: tba in January 2009

The following video is also referenced there:
0znv3V-GsNk

Looks quite interesting.

Regards,
Jim

Why do they never bend the screen on the edges with all the connectors? I love to see prototypes break. :D

It looks really good although the screen refresh in the video looks slow. I don't really want the flexible screen I just want to get rid of the fragile glass.

I would never hit it with a shoe unless I get a spider on the screen... or a lizard. [channels Jim Morrison] I am the lizard king I can do anything.

Well, you know what might be interesting, Barcey?? If they made a ereading device that you flipped the page forward in order to read the next page and back in order to go back.

But ... even on my worst day, I'm not about to whack any type of monitor with my shoe. There isn't a spider or lizard on the planet that could make me do that.

Scrolls. Really....uh.....short scrolls. You see you roll the thing up and tie it with some nice twine or maybe a ribbon and carry it in your hand while walking around like some ancient priest/adademic. Of course, to read it, you remove the twine and dramatically unroll your....uh....really short scroll. Oh, yeah. And then you plug the thing into the electronics package you keep under your robes.

Sorry, I'm just trying to imagine the packaging for this thing. Any nonsilly ideas out there?

That's ok .... go in peace my child. Just pray to whatever god you believe in that Taylor doesn't revisit this particular thread.

Nice try. You have no power against Thread Subscriptions. I still think the "watch us thump this with a shoe" test is one of most inadvertently funny things I've seen lately.

Hahaha, he's like an evil Jinn... "You spoke my name?"

lol, I love it here! :thumbsup:

A clip of the device in action

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Hahaha, he's like an evil Jinn... "You spoke my name?"
:pandalol: pfff !!!! :p perhaps a new user title... :rolleyes:

lol, I love it here! :thumbsup:

oh, yeah baby !! me too !

wow, I knew this day would come. Have you seen the video?
Touch interface, annotation...
A dream come true. (On paper at least...) :D
See Astak? People actually show prototypes. :)
:offtopic:
And now my only question is what's iRex doing? Seriously...

PS: @transman thanks for the vid.

Wow, the video looks really promising for design & actual usage! The only thing I couldn't spot on it was a place to insert external media, how to connect it to your PC/Mac, or the power connector. All that aside, it looks very promising in terms of size, weight, and thickness (though "less than a pound" leaves a lot of wiggle room!).

Thanks for the video post, now I'm getting a little amped for this device!

Add to the arsenal of inane questions: "can you twirl it?". Of course I would have asked, "can you thump it with your shoe?"

That said, it does look nice, although... now that I see it, I'm not sure I like the big form factor. My 6" Sony Reader is a perfect size. (Queue up the size matters joke.):

i agree : there is such a thing as too big.

Add to the arsenal of inane questions: "can you twirl it?". Of course I would have asked, "can you thump it with your shoe?"


Yea... I think that was just to get an impressive video shot. I would have asked, "Will it withstand a ninja squirrel attack?"

BOb

Yea... I think that was just to get an impressive video shot. I would have asked, "Will it withstand a ninja squirrel attack?"

BOb

oh god, why don't they put US in charge of these tests ???? that would be infinitely better !!!

Nice try. You have no power against Thread Subscriptions. I still think the "watch us thump this with a shoe" test is one of most inadvertently funny things I've seen lately.

I have long since realized that I have no power, period. :rofl:

Add to the arsenal of inane questions: "can you twirl it?". Of course I would have asked, "can you thump it with your shoe?"

That said, it does look nice, although... now that I see it, I'm not sure I like the big form factor. My 6" Sony Reader is a perfect size. (Queue up the size matters joke.):

The 8x11 size would be nice for my client docs, however, I would definitely wait until they have a color screen so that I could yellow highlight (or pink, or blue or green).

I would have asked, "Are there any parts that are edible?" You know ... sort of a go with what you know approach.

more pics:

http://www.tgdaily.com/images/slideshows/200809081/4.jpg

http://www.tgdaily.com/images/slideshows/200809081/5.jpg

So the flexibility is largely just to avoid problems of scaling up the conventional solid substrates that are used in the readers from Sony, Amazon, etc? If that's an enabler of larger screens, I'm all for it. I love my Sony for reading fiction but a larger device for reading the billions of PDFs that exist (and do so without conversion or reflow) would be excellent.