According to EETimes (http://www.eetimes.com/rss/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=210602952&cid=RSSfeed_eetimes_newsRSS) they do (emphasis mine):

Using an ASIC twice as fast and eight times more energy efficient than components used in second-generation devices, iRex claims its e-ink handheld aims to replace paper for many mainstream uses.

"With generation three, we have achieved a hardware platform that is fully utilizing all the capabilities of e-ink displays, and is capable of replacing most uses of paper today," claimed iRex CEO Hans Brons.

And:

The iRex 1000, however, is said to offer optimal page loading and pen input, according to Brons, by virtue of an ASIC that performs all background processing steps faster than users can perceive.

"We have put much more horsepower behind the system environment to insure that everything that needs to be done to update the display is done extremely quickly," Brons claimed.

Okay, somebody please cast a pebble of knowledge into the ocean of my ignorance: what's an ASIC?

An application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is an integrated circuit (IC) customized for a particular use, rather than intended for general-purpose use. For example, a chip designed solely to run a cell phone is an ASIC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASIC).

Got it. Thanks, zerospinboson! We used to call that an embedded microcontroller, but they weren't application specific then, I suppose. :nice:

Got it. Thanks, zerospinboson! We used to call that an embedded microcontroller, but they weren't application specific then, I suppose. :nice:

A microcontroller is programmable while an ASIC is likely not although the original prototyping process may include some that are. Application Specific IC can incorporate the earlier forms called gate arrays (FPGA) and other forms of customized devices.

By the way the original comment about 3G is incorrect I believe. The iRex DR 1000 device is itself a 3rd Generation iRex product and has nothing to do with the screen. I do believe there is only one current screen process from e-Ink so everyone is using the same technology.

Dale

So the same Vizplex screen, but with a more efficient controller? Kinda like that Epson controller announced not long ago, that could address parts of the screen rather than refreshing the whole thing. I think it could handle 8 simultaneous updates.... I wonder what the iRex is like to use.

I do believe there is only one current screen process from e-Ink so everyone is using the same technology.

So the same Vizplex screen, but with a more efficient controller?

Yep, iRex has always been a step ahead by using their own, more advanced display controller. For instance, even before the announcement of Vizplex, the iLiad already supported up to 16 individual grey levels and writing functionality.

Interested? Read What makes our electronic paper displays different? (http://i-to-i.irexnet.com/2007/11/09/what-makes-our-electronic-paper-displays-different/) on the iRex Blog. Notice it's slightly outdated and doesn't necessarily apply to the Digital Reader.

A microcontroller is programmable in software - you can make it run a program which interprets input signals and sets outputs. An ASIC is programmable "in hardware" - you can actually reconfigure the chip so that a particular configuration of input signals produces a particular set of output signals. This is usually done using FPGA (field-programmable gate array) or CPLD (complex programmable logic device) technologies.

The Metronome controller used in PRS-505 is implemented using an ASIC - an Actel ProASIC3 FPGA to be specific. I assume they used the same or similar approach in the iRex 1000. Metronome is faster than the older Apollo because it uses a 16-bit LCD interface to transfer image bits versus 8-bit custom protocol in Apollo. The new Epson controller should be even faster since it executes some of the processing itself instead of relying on the main CPU.

Is there any information on this 3G e-ink generation?

Specs?

Availability?

Is this just a rumor or do you mean the plastic logic screens?

Thanks!
Gogolo

I think it's just an accidental rumor at this stage. e-Ink Inc. doesn't have anything on their site (http://eink.com/) about it, anyway, and that's likely where you'd see it pretty close to first. :shrug:

I think it's just an accidental rumor at this stage. e-Ink Inc. doesn't have anything on their site (http://eink.com/) about it, anyway, and that's likely where you'd see it pretty close to first. :shrug:
Their website is not all that wonderful. It shows the 500 instead of the 505. Plus if you click on the Sony Reader link, you go someplace else.

Point. But they've usually been pretty quick about letting us know about updates in their own products. :shrug:

iRex is not talking about a third generation of eInk. They're talking about a third generation of devices, which is different.

Basically, the way iRex is looking at it, the original Sony/Kindle/etc devices are generation one. The iLiad is generation two, and the DR is generation three.

As far as eInk itself you've still only got two, the original and vizplex. There's nothing new from EInk that I've heard of.

Basically, the way iRex is looking at it, the original Sony/Kindle/etc devices are generation one. The iLiad is generation two, and the DR is generation three.


Perhaps they mean the iRex third generation.

Gen 1 is the iLiad
Gen 2 is the iLiad V2 and Book Edition
Gen 3 is the DR1000 line

BOb

Perhaps they mean the iRex third generation.

Gen 1 is the iLiad
Gen 2 is the iLiad V2 and Book Edition
Gen 3 is the DR1000 line

BOb

I don't think so. The v1, v2, and book edition are virtually identical as far as the internal hardware and technology that they use. iRex has said before that they consider the competitor's devices to be Gen 1 and the iLiad to be Gen 2. It would follow that the DR is Gen 3.

iRex has said before that they consider the competitor's devices to be Gen 1 and the iLiad to be Gen 2. It would follow that the DR is Gen 3.

Ok, but I don't see how they can consider Kindle gen 1 and iLiad gen 2 when the iLiad came quite a bit before the Kindle.

BOb

Ok, but I don't see how they can consider Kindle gen 1 and iLiad gen 2 when the iLiad came quite a bit before the Kindle.

BOb

It's not when it came out, it's the technology that it's using. The kindle is using the same screen and display controller that most of the other devices are, even though it came out later than the iLiad.

The way iRex has referred to "generations" in the past has been:

6" screen + alpha controller (most devices, including the kindle) = Gen 1
8.1" screen + delta controller (iLiad) = Gen 2

I'm assuming that they're using the same definition they have previously, and that now they're adding:

10.2" screen + improved delta controller (DR1000) = Gen 3

I consider the Sony Librie, the 500, and the iLiad to be gen 1. The 505, Kindle, Gen3, V3 (and derivatives) to be gen 2 and the DR to be gen 3. The Plastic Logic could very well be gen 4.

I consider the Sony Librie, the 500, and the iLiad to be gen 1. The 505, Kindle, Gen3, V3 (and derivatives) to be gen 2 and the DR to be gen 3. The Plastic Logic could very well be gen 4.

I assume based mostly on release dates?

The way iRex has referred to "generations" in the past has been:

6" screen + alpha controller (most devices, including the kindle) = Gen 1
8.1" screen + delta controller (iLiad) = Gen 2


Of course that is marketing speak. Or it could be because they aren't native English speakers. But, you can't have a generation that comes before its parents. I don't think my kids could have been born before I was. I know I'm just nit picking here.

I consider all the current eInk devices to be Gen 1 of eInk. They are probably Gen 2 of digital readers in general with LCD devices being Gen 1.

BOb

Of course that is marketing speak. Or it could be because they aren't native English speakers. But, you can't have a generation that comes before its parents. I don't think my kids could have been born before I was. I know I'm just nit picking here.


The kindle was released after the iLiad, but the technology inside the kindle was released *before* the iLiad's. That's what they're talking about. The specific product/brand doesn't really matter. iRex is talking about the "generation" of the internal hardware.

Yes, it is all marketing speak. You can define "generation" with regards to these devices anyway you want. JWolf's definition is just as valid as iRex's. I was just trying to point out what iRex meant in the article, and that they were not talking about a new generation of eInk, which some people seemed to have thought.


I consider all the current eInk devices to be Gen 1 of eInk. They are probably Gen 2 of digital readers in general with LCD devices being Gen 1.


That's just as valid as anything else. It's just not what iRex was talking about.