E Ink in 2009: Larger, colorful and flexible, says CEO

Alexander Turcic · 10-06-2007, 11:49 AM

It's probably too short to be called an interview; nevertheless, it's quite revealing. BtoBonline asked E Ink CEO and president Russell J. Wilcox about the future of e-paper. His estimates:

By 2008, more than 10 companies will sell e-readers (all monochrome and 6-inch);
In 2008, we'll see e-readers with 8-inch and 10-inch screens;
By 2009, we'll see e-readers with 11-inch and 12-inch screens;
By end-2008, and more in 2009, around half a dozen manufacturers are likely to introduce products with flexible displays;
By mid-2009, E Ink will strike with "really good" color capabilities.

Enough, I am still wiping the drool off my keyboard.

Full article: link

[via nxtbook]

tribble · 10-06-2007, 12:40 PM

Hehe, cant wait. I am ready to get me one of each

JSWolf · 10-06-2007, 12:48 PM

Because of this thread and because I really do need the money at the moment, my 500 is going back and I'll wait and see what happens in the reader world in the next couple of years. As long as my 500 works, I'll be ok for the moment.

yvanleterrible · 10-06-2007, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Because of this thread and because I really do need the money at the moment, my 500 is going back and I'll wait and see what happens in the reader world in the next couple of years. As long as my 500 works, I'll be ok for the moment.

Did you mean "505 is going back"? Is that the one you ordered this week? Must be tough. It sure makes me salivate, money's tight for me too that's why I won't order one.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-06-2007, 03:03 PM

Come on, 2009!

JSWolf · 10-06-2007, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Did you mean "505 is going back"? Is that the one you ordered this week? Must be tough. It sure makes me salivate, money's tight for me too that's why I won't order one.

Sorry to be the one pointing it out, your signature mentions "PRS050" for kovidgoyal. You might want to correct that.

Well, I may have been able to get away with it using the payment plans. But, seeing this thread is what put me over the edge to return it. I mean at present the 505 is not all that much better then the 500 other then the screen. I do find holding the 505 to be a problem. The cover is flimsy and when you have it folded back, it sticks out on the right side where the page turn buttons are. That make it harder to hold comfortably.

pruss · 10-06-2007, 09:11 PM

I am not sure I see the point of 10 inch screens for ebooks... I guess it might be nice for magazines, but you lose much of the convenience.

nekokami · 10-06-2007, 09:21 PM

The 10" is really good for documents, especially conversions from paper sources like PDFs from journals. Those will be with us for a while yet. I expect the 10" displays to be more popular in business and academic environments.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-06-2007, 11:15 PM

Actually, I can picture most magazine fare reduced to a paperback presentation size with little impact. That's mainly because I can see pictures being reduced to a smaller or "thumbnail" size when alongside text and articles, with the option of viewing a full-size version with a quick tap.

The nicest thing about e-books, like the web, is that it gives us some room to reconceptualize the presentation.

yvanleterrible · 10-07-2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

...The cover is flimsy and when you have it folded back, it sticks out on the right side where the page turn buttons are. That make it harder to hold comfortably.

Good find! This is the kind of detail that can render a design bothersome to use and of course our job here to ferret out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Actually, I can picture most magazine fare reduced to a paperback presentation size with little impact. That's mainly because I can see pictures being reduced to a smaller or "thumbnail" size when alongside text and articles, with the option of viewing a full-size version with a quick tap.

The nicest thing about e-books, like the web, is that it gives us some room to reconceptualize the presentation.

One bit of software option, on a reading device, that could be written, would be the ability to change picture size independantly from text size and vice versa. It could be done on RTF and HTML files, I wonder about PDF though. In this way when you open a file with included pictures, you could have an option, like you say, of displaying in thumbnail, and still manipulate text size to your liking.

Azayzel · 10-07-2007, 11:44 AM

It was probably an easy enough forecast to make too, that's a long time to develop and get to market. Judging from the things we've seen turning up at recent consumer electronics shows, color may show up quicker than expected. Regarding larger screens, I think the main problem here is ensuring flexibility so we don't have too many Iliad issues with broken screens due to a larger, more flex-susceptible, screens. I'll be one of the first to run out and grab one of the 10" models when they're available! Sign me up, but don't ring me for too much moola!

bowerbird · 10-08-2007, 03:05 AM

> His estimates:
> * By 2008, more than 10 companies will sell e-readers (all monochrome, 6-inch);
> * In 2008, we'll see e-readers with 8-inch and 10-inch screens;
> * By 2009, we'll see e-readers with 11-inch and 12-inch screens;
> * By end-2008, and more in 2009, around half a dozen manufacturers
> are likely to introduce products with flexible displays;
> * By mid-2009, E Ink will strike with "really good" color capabilities.

***

now here are _my_ estimates:
> * By 2008, more than 5 companies will sell e-readers (all monochrome, 6-inch);
> * In 2009, we'll see e-readers with 8-inch and 10-inch screens, at $400 and up.
> * By 2010, we'll see e-readers with 11-inch and 12-inch screens, at $400 and up.
> * By end-2010, and more in 2011, around half a dozen manufacturers
> are likely to introduce products with flexible displays, at $600 and up.
> * By mid-2012, E Ink will strike with "really good" color capabilities, at $500 and up.

check back in coming years and see who was closer to the mark...

e-ink has been breaking promises for so many years now that
i'm continually amazed that anyone dares to believe 'em at all...

-bowerbird

tribble · 10-08-2007, 03:18 AM

Hehe, i would have said "By end-2011, E Ink will strike with "really good" color capabilities"

JSWolf · 10-08-2007, 03:41 AM

We already have the iLad with an 8" screen at $699.

nekokami · 10-08-2007, 11:29 AM

I'm wondering if "really good" color capabilities will include a faster refresh rate.

10-06-2007, 11:49 AM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,163 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	E Ink in 2009: Larger, colorful and flexible, says CEO It's probably too short to be called an interview; nevertheless, it's quite revealing. BtoBonline asked E Ink CEO and president Russell J. Wilcox about the future of e-paper. His estimates: By 2008, more than 10 companies will sell e-readers (all monochrome and 6-inch); In 2008, we'll see e-readers with 8-inch and 10-inch screens; By 2009, we'll see e-readers with 11-inch and 12-inch screens; By end-2008, and more in 2009, around half a dozen manufacturers are likely to introduce products with flexible displays; By mid-2009, E Ink will strike with "really good" color capabilities. Enough, I am still wiping the drool off my keyboard. Full article: link [via nxtbook]

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
flexible e-ink company goes bust	ylefox	News	1	07-21-2009 08:11 AM
Flexible AND Touch Sensitive E-Ink Display	Timoleon	News	1	03-03-2009 03:59 PM
At Last: Front-Lit E-Ink, Flexible E-Ink and ... E-Ink Watches!	NatCh	News	1	10-27-2007 10:50 AM
LG Philips with first flexible 14.1" color E Ink	tribble	News	24	05-23-2007 08:17 AM
Flexible E Ink in 2008 says Plastic Logic	Alexander Turcic	News	1	05-11-2006 06:02 AM

10-06-2007, 12:40 PM	#2
tribble iLiad Maniac Posts: 1,382 Karma: 2369 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Germany Device: Bookeen Opus (i love that thing) and iPad (what an irony)	Hehe, cant wait. I am ready to get me one of each

10-06-2007, 12:48 PM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,970 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Because of this thread and because I really do need the money at the moment, my 500 is going back and I'll wait and see what happens in the reader world in the next couple of years. As long as my 500 works, I'll be ok for the moment.

10-06-2007, 03:03 PM	#5
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Come on, 2009!

10-06-2007, 09:11 PM	#7
pruss Evangelist Posts: 461 Karma: 819417 Join Date: Nov 2004	I am not sure I see the point of 10 inch screens for ebooks... I guess it might be nice for magazines, but you lose much of the convenience.

10-06-2007, 09:21 PM	#8
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	The 10" is really good for documents, especially conversions from paper sources like PDFs from journals. Those will be with us for a while yet. I expect the 10" displays to be more popular in business and academic environments.

10-06-2007, 11:15 PM	#9
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Actually, I can picture most magazine fare reduced to a paperback presentation size with little impact. That's mainly because I can see pictures being reduced to a smaller or "thumbnail" size when alongside text and articles, with the option of viewing a full-size version with a quick tap. The nicest thing about e-books, like the web, is that it gives us some room to reconceptualize the presentation.

10-07-2007, 11:44 AM	#11
Azayzel Cache Ninja! Posts: 643 Karma: 1002300 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tokyo, Japan Device: PRS-500, HTC Shift, iPod Touch, iPaq 4150, TC1100, Panasonic WordsGear	It was probably an easy enough forecast to make too, that's a long time to develop and get to market. Judging from the things we've seen turning up at recent consumer electronics shows, color may show up quicker than expected. Regarding larger screens, I think the main problem here is ensuring flexibility so we don't have too many Iliad issues with broken screens due to a larger, more flex-susceptible, screens. I'll be one of the first to run out and grab one of the 10" models when they're available! Sign me up, but don't ring me for too much moola!

10-08-2007, 03:05 AM	#12
bowerbird Banned Posts: 269 Karma: -273 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: los angeles	> His estimates: > * By 2008, more than 10 companies will sell e-readers (all monochrome, 6-inch); > * In 2008, we'll see e-readers with 8-inch and 10-inch screens; > * By 2009, we'll see e-readers with 11-inch and 12-inch screens; > * By end-2008, and more in 2009, around half a dozen manufacturers > are likely to introduce products with flexible displays; > * By mid-2009, E Ink will strike with "really good" color capabilities. *** now here are _my_ estimates: > * By 2008, more than 5 companies will sell e-readers (all monochrome, 6-inch); > * In 2009, we'll see e-readers with 8-inch and 10-inch screens, at $400 and up. > * By 2010, we'll see e-readers with 11-inch and 12-inch screens, at $400 and up. > * By end-2010, and more in 2011, around half a dozen manufacturers > are likely to introduce products with flexible displays, at $600 and up. > * By mid-2012, E Ink will strike with "really good" color capabilities, at $500 and up. check back in coming years and see who was closer to the mark... e-ink has been breaking promises for so many years now that i'm continually amazed that anyone dares to believe 'em at all... -bowerbird

10-08-2007, 03:18 AM	#13
tribble iLiad Maniac Posts: 1,382 Karma: 2369 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Germany Device: Bookeen Opus (i love that thing) and iPad (what an irony)	Hehe, i would have said "By end-2011, E Ink will strike with "really good" color capabilities"

10-08-2007, 03:41 AM	#14
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,970 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	We already have the iLad with an 8" screen at $699.

Advert

Advert

10-08-2007, 11:29 AM	#15
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	I'm wondering if "really good" color capabilities will include a faster refresh rate.