Quote:
Originally Posted by binaryhermit
It does seem like the pace of innovation in eInk eReader hardware has significantly slowed. The last three big features in Kindle HW have been frontlight (in 2012), waterproof (2017) and whatever you want to call the Oasis 3's color-changing frontlight (2019).
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In terms of truly novel features, you are right that innovation has been slow. Improved contrast is the only real feature improvement of this type that comes to my mind, and I have no idea if/when that will happen.
However, I have a wider definition of innovation. I view the return of physical page-turn buttons as technological progress, even if it is a return to older technology. It is not that someone invented a new feature. Rather, I believe the designers changed their view about what the consumers wanted from their devices, resulting in an ergonomic improvement (of course, some view buttons as pointless). Likewise, the release of devices larger than 6" has been excellent progress in my view, even if it wasn't based on novel technology as such.
So, I am hopeful that the next flagship e-reader may have a new set of features or a new design, even if they are not based on brand new technology.