John Biggs shot (http://crunchgear.com/2007/02/13/polymer-vision-readius/) the first photo of the Polymer Vision Readius presented at the 3GSM congress in Barcelona this year. The Readius, aka Cellular Book, aka librofonino, has a flexible 5-inch e-paper display capable of displaying 16 grey levels. Most likely it's going to be exclusively available in Italy later this year.

Let's cross fingers for more photos to pop up soon.

Related: Rollup screen e-reader device for 2007 (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9647)

I must admit that I am a little disappointed to see another prototype device instead of a production ready Cellular Book. This looks very much like the device presented last year (only now it is silver).

My friend is currently on the plane to Barcelona, and should be attending the show tomorrow armed with a digital camera and a lot of extra batteries.

If he has an internet connection in his hotel room, I should be receiving some pictures of the device tomorrow night, otherwise we will have to wait until friday morning when he meets me in Malaga. Keeping my fingers crossed also.

The technology itself looks great, although I expect larger screen on these devices (that's the point if you can hide most of the screen, bigger screen for less space in your pocket/bag). But from what they said, they're working on a closed system for it in Italy, and that's not customer-friendly at all. GSM/Wifi support is good, and WiMax will be even better but they drain the battery way too much, I expect a really good battery monitoring system on such a device.

E-ink and flexible display, isn't just interesting because it looks much better than LCD for reading purpose, it is also a great opportunity to carry larger screen on a mobile device and increasing the usage time between battery recharges.

I'm with Hadrien with being underwhelmed.

In another posting, many people referenced the Readius, and when I ran a google search, I found that the prototype was announced in 2005. A year and a half later, consumers are slated to get the product.
The product still only has a five inch screen. Indeed, it is astounding to have a flexible computer display. Yes, I find it encouraging that these products are becoming more common. However, I really wonder how useful a 5 inch screen is to most people.
When a product is released that can display A4 images--say, a PDF that does not need to be integrated, interpolated, or otherwise adulterated--then I will be impressed.
Until that time, most folks will simply counter any enthusiasm by early adopters by suggesting "I can do that on my phone" (yes, I know that the Readius is itself a phone) or "I'll just buy a UMPC."
I am all for innovation, but I am pessimistic about this devices chances considering its diminutive size.

I must admit that I am a little disappointed to see another prototype device instead of a production ready Cellular Book.


That's exactly why I don't go to car shows anymore. It's obvious where they get their cue from!

The earlier model wasn't a prototype, it was a proof of concept. Or so I was told.

The difference is that Polymer Vision was apparently in the market of supplying rollable displays a year and half ago, and now it's in the market of making devices. Technologically that may not be a big step, conceptually it is.

Did you notice that the Readius (prototype) looks different from the Cellular Book (the one that will come out in Italy this year)? The Readius is wrapped in a nice brushed aluminium look, while the Cellular Book looks like a cheap piece of plastic.

And neither is close to what the earlier concept looked like.

This device is too small to be a comfortable reader, unless in an emergency. It would be a marvelous format for a PDA though!

I have just spoken to my friend at 3GSM.

The photo in this thread is not the actual device, this is simply a demonstration of how resilient the screen is. My friend has taken a number of pictures of the "real" device and I should have them this evening.

Okay, Pitchfork, you've successfully got us all drooling. (sluuurrrrp!)

Attached are some live photos via CNet (http://crave.cnet.co.uk/gadgets/0,39029552,49287756-4,00.htm).

Notice: Books - Now reading: Harry Potter and the sorcerers stone

It's gadgety but cooooool!

Notice: Books - Now reading: Harry Potter and the sorcerers stoneHah! :laugh4:

How indiscreet of them. :grin:


It's gadgety but cooooool!Don't you mean 'gadgety and coooool,' yvanleterrible?

I have a question for folks who have actually seen e-ink devices in person:

The farthest right image, the title page of Sherlock Holmes, looks immensely more clear and like black ink on white paper than the shots of the SONY Reader that I've seen.

Are the specifications for the Readius that much more superior to the Reader(in terms of contrast, resolution, &tc) or it just a really, really good photograph?

If the latter is the case, I may need to recant some early shabbier things I said about this device

@Cthulhu

The contrast of an eInk screen is very dependent on the amount of available light.

It is quite normal for a trade show booth to have over 1.000 Watts of light available so the device will look it's best in those conditions.

AFAIK the Readius screen has the same specs. as the Iliad and Sony Reader with regard to contrast, so the better looking screen is purely due to the favorable lighting conditions.

It's hard to say, Cthulu, e-ink is notoriously hard to photograph well, and that pic looks really, really good.

Digging back to (what appears to be) the original thread (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4872) on the device (from September '05), and following the link (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=21856&postcount=4) Brian provided to the specs at the time, I was able to pull up the current spec list (http://www.polymervision.nl/Technology/CurrentSpecifications/Index.html) (which appears to be identical to the old one).

Readius Screen Specifications
- Contrast: 10:1.
- White reflectance: 35%-40%
- Switching time: 0,5-1s
- Optimum refresh rate: 50 Hz
- Number of pixels: 240 x 320 (quarter VGA - 4.8")
- Rolling radius: 0.75 cm

Comparing that to the specs posted on e-ink's site (http://www.eink.com/products/matrix/High_Res.html) (assuming this is what the Reader is using)

E-Ink Screen (Reader??) Specifications:
White State Reflectivity: 37% (typical)
Contrast Ratio: 8:1 (typical)
Viewing Angle: 170º
Grayscale Capability: 2-bit (4 gray levels)
Image Update Time: 1000 ms (grayscale mode)
500 ms (1-bit mode)

(Note that there are further specs posted there, but these are the most relevant items)


I'd say that at least on paper (if you'll pardon the expression), the Readius's display does seem to have a bit of an edge. :shrug:

Hah! :laugh4:

How indiscreet of them. :grin:


Don't you mean 'gadgety and coooool,' yvanleterrible?
There is something of the word gadgety to me that means it won't last long.

Ah, with that connotation, I see what you mean. :nice:

I noticed that the girl in the video posted in another thread was very keen to point out the future possibility of a cell phone with this screen. The company representative she interviewed was equally as keen to point out "this is only the beginning."

I liked when he said it took ten years to get the product made, but that now innovations were coming every six months. Either that is an astounding amount of drivel, or the electro-fluoretic display market is finally burgeoning.

Of course, I think that both individuals had little to no idea what they were actually saying.

I guess we'll see how many Italian early adopters there are soon. ;-

Of course, I think that both individuals had little to no idea what they were actually saying.I thought that the gal asked a perfectly natural question and the first time I watched the video I thought he blew her off completely in order to give more of his speech, thus causing her to break off the interview. But then I realized, like you did, that he sort of, kind of, did answer vaguely. Still, he avoided answering the question and never really acknowledged what she asked. I think he had things he wanted to communicate and knew the window was limited.

But it was a great video, and it's fun to get a glimpse. I'd sure like to hear a more in-depth interview and some more clues of how long to get future features and products to market.

Did you notice also that it looked very reflective and that there was lots of glare from the protective plastic cover? I wonder if that was exaggerated by the camera. You would think they would have improved the glare on that plastic after 10 yrs of development! ;-)

<Obviously I'm kidding -- these things are always much harder to do than it seems on the surface.>

At last I have received some photos of the Readius from the 3GSM conference in Barcelona. My friend had some problems sending the files to me from his phone, so we had to wait until he was in his hotel in Madrid before sending them. Anyway, better late than never :)

BTW my friend also managed to have a chat with the guys from Polymer Vision about the device and their plans for it, so I will write a bit about that tomorraw as it is getting late here, and it is time for bed.

so I will write a bit about that tomorraw as it is getting late here, and it is time for bed.


NO WAY! Here in Europe is only 2 am, so wake up this lazy friend of yours and have him immediately let us know planned price and date of delivery!!! :rolleyes5 :D

BTW: HP and the SS on the screen... ROTFL!!! Now this is a way to make JKR have a little stroke... :D

Cheers
Erwin

Now this is a way to make JKR have a little stroke... :DNot before she finishes Book 7, she'd better not! :tongue3:

Thanks for the photos!! The more I look at the photos, the more I am starting to like the idea of having a connected device. Just look at the Telecom Italia Mobile entry: "Newspapers, e-books, travel information, etc.". Very neat! Of course it will also mean that the Readius is a power-sucker in contrast to the Sony Reader and other offline E Ink devices...

At last I have received some photos of the Readius from the 3GSM conference in Barcelona. My friend had some problems sending the files to me from his phone, so we had to wait until he was in his hotel in Madrid before sending them. Anyway, better late than never :)

BTW my friend also managed to have a chat with the guys from Polymer Vision about the device and their plans for it, so I will write a bit about that tomorraw as it is getting late here, and it is time for bed.

Great pictures! Is the screen annoyingly reflective, or is it comfortable to read on? These pics make it look like it's okay. And the lower resolution seems to not really be a problem also. Besides... improvements every 6 months, right?!

Can't wait to hear your impressions.

Not before she finishes Book 7, she'd better not! :tongue3:
I'm sure the publisher has a life insurance policy on her. Can you imagine the amount of zeros it comprises? :happy2:

b3t This little display is awesome, even the grayscale. Just can't wait for color to show up on a device like this. Showing pictures on one will beat a video iPod.

Those new pictures from Pitchfork look much more like what I was expecting from a device.

It seems a bit lack luster, just like every other display with jagged letters, until one realises that the screen is actually *BENDING* while still displaying. Patently phenomenal.

@ Alex--
There's the chance that the Readius will have a short battery life, but the reviewer kept mentioning it as a mobile phone. No mobile really last for more than a day with use. Besides, if the Polymer Vision kids are smart enough, they will but a little on/off switch or script for whatever radio-dealy it has inside. My Treo has that option for Bluetooth, so I cannot imagine that it is so difficult to implement.

Those new pictures from Pitchfork look much more like what I was expecting from a device.

It seems a bit lack luster, just like every other display with jagged letters, until one realises that the screen is actually *BENDING* while still displaying. Patently phenomenal.

@ Alex--
There's the chance that the Readius will have a short battery life, but the reviewer kept mentioning it as a mobile phone. No mobile really last for more than a day with use. Besides, if the Polymer Vision kids are smart enough, they will but a little on/off switch or script for whatever radio-dealy it has inside. My Treo has that option for Bluetooth, so I cannot imagine that it is so difficult to implement.One of the videos had a representative for Readius talking about how they calculated a battery life around two weeks, I think. It was based on x hrs of reading/day and y page turns per minute. It sounds like screen battery drain is small and/or most of the device is made up of a big battery!

It looks like the device has PDA features, e.g. contacts and calendar. Is it a touch screen? Is there a stylus?

From watching the vids, I think it's all controlled via the buttons on the 'base.' :shrug:

For my two cents, I think that a stylus is utterly useless unless someone can write a program that will transfer my script *as is* into a PDF/RTF file with my own script, or be smart enough to transfer it into 12 point Times Roman.

I am so glad that my Treo does not use graffiti, though it took some adjustment. The only purpose of the stylus these days is to perform a soft reset. Otherwise, a fingernail works ever so much better.

This may not be germane, but I would consider the two biggest and bestest advancements in electrophoretic displays is the ability to include colour globules, and a touchscreen.

Does anyone know if there are attempts to bring colour to the market, and if touchscreen is possible at all?

While I'm off the subject anyway, how does OLED compare to E-ink for power consumption?

For my two cents, I think that a stylus is utterly useless unless someone can write a program that will transfer my script *as is* into a PDF/RTF file with my own script, or be smart enough to transfer it into 12 point Times Roman.


See mergescribbles.php (http://syngrithy.org.uk/index.php?pT=7) ... :D

They're working on color e-ink, I believe there are some color cholesteric LCDs sort of in production .... There are some discussions of them buried around MR, if you want more detail. :nice:

I saw somewhere (a couple of years ago) data on what adding a touch screen to e-ink would do to its viewable angle, which suggests that a touch screen can be added to e-ink. I think some of the ChLCD stuff has touch screens, but again, I can't point to details off the top of my head.

For OLEDs, I think their power draw will be higher than e-ink (since they can't turn off between page changes http://www.mobileread.com/forums/images/smiliesadd1/shy.gif), but they're s'posed to be much lower power drawing than any other non-bistable type of display, as I recall.

Natch:

Thanks for the lead. It seems like a pretty nifty technology.

I do not understand how this differs that much from e-ink, but then I am not so tech-savvy. I saw a post about a colur screen that was two years old, with a projected time-line of two to three years for commercial release. A colour screen on the SONY Reader or IRex Illiad would indeed be an astounding device!

Personally, I am hoping that OLED television comes out soon, if for no other reason than that it will drive down the price of the LCD I desire. ;-

OLED TV would be nice, I'm presently hoping SED TVs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface-conduction_electron-emitter_display) will finally come out (they've been scheduled to do so pretty much every quarter for the past 3 years). But I've just seen that there's some sort of lawsuit that's come up recently that may slow it down further. grrrr.

Natch:

After you mentioned SED in another post, I looked them up, and indeed, there is a lawsuit afoot. I believe that this hiccup has presented the OLED producers with a possible window of opportunity. So far, both technologies are mostly conceptual only, but one or the other looks like it will be the next big thing.

I had a friend who couldn't wait for SED and so purchased an LED LCD.

Back to the point, are we not owed a more in-depth review of the Readius?

Well, 'owed' might be a bit strong, seeing as this is volunteer work on the part of a friend of one of our fellow MobileReaders (sorry, I'm drawing a complete blank as to who that was), but I, for one, would very much love to see something more in-depth. If Polymer Vision is looking for a MobileRead reviewer, I could probably be talked into volunteering -- along with most of the rest of the forum, I'm sure! :grin:

(...) If Polymer Vision is looking for a MobileRead reviewer, I could probably be talked into volunteering (...)


Me too! Me too!!! :drool: :happy2:

AND I'm in Italy, so I'm a better (or at least nearer...) candidate! ;)

In the mean time I found a 2005 article on the Readius prototype, with some more photos:

http://www.ifa-show.com/2005/philips_review/101_philips_e-reader.html


Cheers
Erwin

And here is another rollable display example that, if I'm right, no one mentioned till now: the HAC Flexible Display from the "Red Planet" movie.

http://designbivouac.typepad.com/designbivouac/2005/02/red_planet_hac_.html

Pitchfork was meant to give a more in-depth review.


Natch, I meant to put my little dingle next to my last post, to represent my tonuge firmly planted in my cheek.

Sorry guys,

Met up with my friend here in Malaga friday, and it turns out that not seeing each other for over 5 years requires the ingestion of serious amounts of alcohol to fix :)

He has gone back to Denmark now and we have arranged to go over the details of the device over messenger instead of trying to put something together with a hangover.

I'll bet anything that color e-ink will look pretty bland (like from an old ink jet printer).

Worst part, it'll have 1/3 the resolution (and won't have ClearType).

Also, anyone thinking it'll play video (e.g. "better than video ipod") is in for a big disappointment. High refresh rates and eInk are almost mutually exclusive. The looser the ink particles, the faster they'll refresh, but the sooner they'll decay and the display will no longer be bistable. In fact, I'm already upset by how quickly the Sony Reader display decays. And, again, you'll have bad color.

The most use a color eInk display will have is in giving you a colorful UI. If you want to look at photos or watch videos, buy a PSP (not a video ipod). If you want to read, buy eInk. If you want both... I don't think any display technology on the present horizon promises do both well (ie high-resolution + excellent color reproduction/contrast + high refresh rate + reflection-based + ability to emit light too).