Cellular Book: Rollup screen e-reader for 2007

Bob Russell · 02-05-2007, 08:46 PM

You may remember the previous expectations of a rollup screen device by summer 2006. Well, things are not too far behind schedule.

Telecom Italia and Polymer Vision have announced the Cellular Book. "The innovative terminal will be presented to the Industry as a world first at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona from February12th (booth in Hall 2, D 06)."

We're all about specs, and here's what we know so far:

* Polymer Vision rollable display technology which extends up to 5-inches
* 16 grey levels
* High contrast/high reflectivity display for paper like reading even in sunlight
* 4gig memory in initial devices
* Newspapers and books can be bought and delivered through TIM’s mobile network via a regular SIM Card
* Wireless access to e-mail, news, information feeds and maps
* Mini-USB slot
* Download and play music, audiobooks and audio podcasts
* Single-handed navigation
* 10 days of average usage time between battery charges

Future improvements should include color and moving images. But it's not clear if this will be a closed or open system. Will you have to buy content over their network, or will you also be able to read your own e-books?

And the bad news? "Telecom Italia will exclusively market the innovative terminal in Italy." No pricing was given for the device, wireless data costs or content.

Thanks to Branko Collin for the news. He has posted his coverage of the device at TeleRead.

branko · 02-06-2007, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Russell

And the bad news? "Telecom Italia will exclusively market the innovative terminal in Italy."

Ah, but: "Polymer Vision will market the device in the rest of the world". Which I guess means that only Telecom Italia will get the rights to the device in Italy.

jæd · 02-06-2007, 07:02 AM

I think I've seen the first serious/possible replacement for my Illiad...!

That has some very nice specs...!

TadW · 02-06-2007, 07:06 AM

It's good that they finally come out with it, alas only in a very limited market.

I am concerned that the size of the screen doesn't do it for me. I find even the screen of the Sony Reader - which is 6 inch - could be bigger, and I don't think I could go back to anything smaller.

yvanleterrible · 02-06-2007, 09:51 AM

An other reader with left handed controls!

I really don't get it! Am I stupid to turn pages with the right hand?

PS Idots can refrain from answering!

NatCh · 02-06-2007, 11:51 AM

Sorry I can't refrain!

Seriously though, yeah, I turn pages with my right hand on a p-book, but I generally hold it in my left hand. On my Reader I both hold it and turn the pages with my left hand. Maybe that's what they're thinking of?

Besides, this thing doesn't look like it has that many controls, and certainly not enough controls to make inverting the screen un-doable. I don't think we know yet if that can be done on this device or not.

It does look like they've maybe found a way to reinforce the rolling screen, which would be a big plus.

Jack B Nimble · 02-06-2007, 12:51 PM

I mostly use my left hand for reading for short periods or when eating and reading. Though I often switch back and forth when I read for hours at a time. Doesn't the Sony allow for inverting?

Jack

yvanleterrible · 02-06-2007, 01:02 PM

The Sony does'nt permit the hand that holds to swith unless you're holding it horizontal. If you're laying on your side, like 90% of my read time, it's a two handed affair.

NatCh · 02-06-2007, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack B Nimble

Doesn't the Sony allow for inverting?

Nope, and that's rather a sore spot with a number of people.

On the other hand (you should pardon the expression

) it also only weighs 9 oz., so it's less of a burden to hold for long periods of time.

yvanleterrible · 02-06-2007, 05:03 PM

Sure but if your hands are too dry or too humid, because of the nature of the material, you have to exert a death grip that is tiresome.

NatCh · 02-06-2007, 05:15 PM

Ah, but remember: I use a wrist lanyard when I'm just carrying it around.

Soothes my nervousness about dropping the rascal, as well as reducing the amount of grip force I have to exert to hold it.

yvanleterrible · 02-06-2007, 05:23 PM

Forgot that. I'll grab one off in the crowd of useless old cameras lying around.

erwin · 02-06-2007, 05:33 PM

Hi!
I'm in Italy, and I will buy one of these as soon as they will be available. Stay tuned for a review... :-)

Pitchfork · 02-07-2007, 09:03 AM

The CellularBook looks like it just is a branded version of the upcoming Readius.

Is anyone planning on going to the 3GSM conference in Barcelona? I was thinking of going, but unfortunately will not be able to make it

Alexander Turcic · 02-07-2007, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitchfork

Is anyone planning on going to the 3GSM conference in Barcelona? I was thinking of going, but unfortunately will not be able to make it

Would be cool if someone could go to Barcelona and make some shoot some nice closeups of the Radius for us!

02-05-2007, 08:46 PM	#1
Bob Russell MobileRead Editor Posts: 4,923 Karma: 24061 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: Sony PRS500, Treo 700p, Dell x50v, Lenovo X61t	Cellular Book: Rollup screen e-reader for 2007 You may remember the previous expectations of a rollup screen device by summer 2006. Well, things are not too far behind schedule. Telecom Italia and Polymer Vision have announced the Cellular Book. "The innovative terminal will be presented to the Industry as a world first at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona from February12th (booth in Hall 2, D 06)." We're all about specs, and here's what we know so far: * Polymer Vision rollable display technology which extends up to 5-inches * 16 grey levels * High contrast/high reflectivity display for paper like reading even in sunlight * 4gig memory in initial devices * Newspapers and books can be bought and delivered through TIM’s mobile network via a regular SIM Card * Wireless access to e-mail, news, information feeds and maps * Mini-USB slot * Download and play music, audiobooks and audio podcasts * Single-handed navigation * 10 days of average usage time between battery charges Future improvements should include color and moving images. But it's not clear if this will be a closed or open system. Will you have to buy content over their network, or will you also be able to read your own e-books? And the bad news? "Telecom Italia will exclusively market the innovative terminal in Italy." No pricing was given for the device, wireless data costs or content. Thanks to Branko Collin for the news. He has posted his coverage of the device at TeleRead.

02-06-2007, 11:51 AM	#6
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,484 Karma: 31590 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: PRS600	Sorry I can't refrain! Seriously though, yeah, I turn pages with my right hand on a p-book, but I generally hold it in my left hand. On my Reader I both hold it and turn the pages with my left hand. Maybe that's what they're thinking of? Besides, this thing doesn't look like it has that many controls, and certainly not enough controls to make inverting the screen un-doable. I don't think we know yet if that can be done on this device or not. It does look like they've maybe found a way to reinforce the rolling screen, which would be a big plus. __________________ ΨΦ! "Torg, why do you have emergency pants?" -- Riff

02-06-2007, 05:15 PM	#11
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,484 Karma: 31590 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: PRS600	Ah, but remember: I use a wrist lanyard when I'm just carrying it around. Soothes my nervousness about dropping the rascal, as well as reducing the amount of grip force I have to exert to hold it. __________________ ΨΦ! "Torg, why do you have emergency pants?" -- Riff

02-06-2007, 05:33 PM	#13
erwin Newton Zaelot Posts: 39 Karma: 60 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Trieste, Italy Device: Toshiba G900, Newton	Hi! I'm in Italy, and I will buy one of these as soon as they will be available. Stay tuned for a review... :-) __________________ Cheers Erwin

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02-06-2007, 07:02 AM	#3
jæd Evangelist Posts: 458 Karma: 293 Join Date: May 2006	I think I've seen the first serious/possible replacement for my Illiad...! That has some very nice specs...!

02-06-2007, 07:06 AM	#4
TadW Uebermensch Posts: 2,476 Karma: 8172 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Italy Device: Kindle	It's good that they finally come out with it, alas only in a very limited market. I am concerned that the size of the screen doesn't do it for me. I find even the screen of the Sony Reader - which is 6 inch - could be bigger, and I don't think I could go back to anything smaller.

02-06-2007, 09:51 AM	#5
yvanleterrible Treeding Posts: 5,738 Karma: 36584 Join Date: May 2006 Device: Soon, soon an iPad!	An other reader with left handed controls! I really don't get it! Am I stupid to turn pages with the right hand? PS Idots can refrain from answering!

02-06-2007, 12:51 PM	#7
Jack B Nimble Groupie Posts: 154 Karma: 672 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Tapwave Zodiac, eBookwise 1150	I mostly use my left hand for reading for short periods or when eating and reading. Though I often switch back and forth when I read for hours at a time. Doesn't the Sony allow for inverting? Jack

02-06-2007, 01:02 PM	#8
yvanleterrible Treeding Posts: 5,738 Karma: 36584 Join Date: May 2006 Device: Soon, soon an iPad!	The Sony does'nt permit the hand that holds to swith unless you're holding it horizontal. If you're laying on your side, like 90% of my read time, it's a two handed affair.

02-06-2007, 05:03 PM	#10
yvanleterrible Treeding Posts: 5,738 Karma: 36584 Join Date: May 2006 Device: Soon, soon an iPad!	Sure but if your hands are too dry or too humid, because of the nature of the material, you have to exert a death grip that is tiresome.

02-06-2007, 05:23 PM	#12
yvanleterrible Treeding Posts: 5,738 Karma: 36584 Join Date: May 2006 Device: Soon, soon an iPad!	Forgot that. I'll grab one off in the crowd of useless old cameras lying around.

02-07-2007, 09:03 AM	#14
Pitchfork Connoisseur Posts: 98 Karma: 31 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Spain Device: Iliad/Ipaq 6340	The CellularBook looks like it just is a branded version of the upcoming Readius. Is anyone planning on going to the 3GSM conference in Barcelona? I was thinking of going, but unfortunately will not be able to make it

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