When will Vizplex be ready for 8" screen?

quek · 10-11-2007, 08:48 AM

Hi Everyone

I am thinking about buying an Iliad and is curious on when Iliad will adopt Vizplex? Would that be soon as in a few months time or not so soon as in perhaps end of 2008?

Does anyone has any idea? I don't want to place an order and then find out that Vizplex Iliad will be out next month.

Thanks
Quek

HarryT · 10-11-2007, 08:50 AM

Certainly not in the immediate future - I think that's all any of us can realistically say. I would guess that we wouldn't see an "iLiad v2" before mid 2008 at the earliest.

As far as I'm aware, only 6" Vizplex screens are currently available. May be a while before larger screens start being made.

NatCh · 10-11-2007, 11:25 AM

I believe that iRex has their own factory in the Philippines, so they may have it faster than we anticipate, but there's not so much as a rumor yet.

wallcraft · 10-11-2007, 11:57 AM

I have never been sure where the iLiad screen comes from. The controller is made by iRex, and that is why they are the only ones today with 16 grey levels and 1024x768 resolution. The screen itself is EInk, but that may just mean that iRex buys the film from eink and assembles the display panels themselves.

The other 1st generation EInk readers all used 4 grey levels and 800x600 resolution because that is what was supported by eink's own controller and 6" panel. The early Vizplex 6" devices are still using this controller with a Vizplex panel. I think this includes the Cybook.

EInk's new Metronome display controller supports 8 grey levels and up to 1200x825 pixels. I assume the Sony 505 is using the Metronome controller, because it has 8 grey levels. If so, this means that other vendors will be able to supply 8" (1024x768) and 9.7" (1200 x 825) 8 grey level devices as soon a EInk makes the panels available.

So, there seems to be little advantage to Vizplex at 8" for iRex. The real completion will come from 9.7" screens. I don't know if iRex can (or will) use the Metronome controller in its next device or not, but it has to have at least a 9.7" screen and 1200 x 825 resolution. Its real advantage going forward is the lead it has in software for a more general purpose device than a single-function reader. I hope iRex produces such a device next year, if it is delayed until 2009 they will likely loose their lead at the top end of the market.

igorsk · 10-11-2007, 12:36 PM

PRS-505 got a new framebuffer driver, called "8track", which is provided by E-Ink (previous was called "librofb" and coded by Sony). There is some mention of "wavefom" too, so I guess it is Metronome.

tribble · 10-12-2007, 04:40 PM

The iLiads displays are built by PVI like all E-Ink displays today. I have seen a vizplex screen next to the iLIads screen and i have to say, that the differenz in contrast is barely noticeable. It is not really whiter. But it is alot faster in switchtimes.

I expect the iLiad to be available with vizplex sometime mid 2008. But that based purely on my personal gut feeling and not any hard facts.

10-11-2007, 08:48 AM	#1
quek Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 501 Join Date: Jan 2007 Device: Sony PRS500, Iliad	When will Vizplex be ready for 8" screen? Hi Everyone I am thinking about buying an Iliad and is curious on when Iliad will adopt Vizplex? Would that be soon as in a few months time or not so soon as in perhaps end of 2008? Does anyone has any idea? I don't want to place an order and then find out that Vizplex Iliad will be out next month. Thanks Quek

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10-11-2007, 08:50 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Certainly not in the immediate future - I think that's all any of us can realistically say. I would guess that we wouldn't see an "iLiad v2" before mid 2008 at the earliest. As far as I'm aware, only 6" Vizplex screens are currently available. May be a while before larger screens start being made.

10-11-2007, 11:25 AM	#3
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I believe that iRex has their own factory in the Philippines, so they may have it faster than we anticipate, but there's not so much as a rumor yet.

10-11-2007, 11:57 AM	#4
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	I have never been sure where the iLiad screen comes from. The controller is made by iRex, and that is why they are the only ones today with 16 grey levels and 1024x768 resolution. The screen itself is EInk, but that may just mean that iRex buys the film from eink and assembles the display panels themselves. The other 1st generation EInk readers all used 4 grey levels and 800x600 resolution because that is what was supported by eink's own controller and 6" panel. The early Vizplex 6" devices are still using this controller with a Vizplex panel. I think this includes the Cybook. EInk's new Metronome display controller supports 8 grey levels and up to 1200x825 pixels. I assume the Sony 505 is using the Metronome controller, because it has 8 grey levels. If so, this means that other vendors will be able to supply 8" (1024x768) and 9.7" (1200 x 825) 8 grey level devices as soon a EInk makes the panels available. So, there seems to be little advantage to Vizplex at 8" for iRex. The real completion will come from 9.7" screens. I don't know if iRex can (or will) use the Metronome controller in its next device or not, but it has to have at least a 9.7" screen and 1200 x 825 resolution. Its real advantage going forward is the lead it has in software for a more general purpose device than a single-function reader. I hope iRex produces such a device next year, if it is delayed until 2009 they will likely loose their lead at the top end of the market.

10-11-2007, 12:36 PM	#5
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	PRS-505 got a new framebuffer driver, called "8track", which is provided by E-Ink (previous was called "librofb" and coded by Sony). There is some mention of "wavefom" too, so I guess it is Metronome.

10-12-2007, 04:40 PM	#6
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)	The iLiads displays are built by PVI like all E-Ink displays today. I have seen a vizplex screen next to the iLIads screen and i have to say, that the differenz in contrast is barely noticeable. It is not really whiter. But it is alot faster in switchtimes. I expect the iLiad to be available with vizplex sometime mid 2008. But that based purely on my personal gut feeling and not any hard facts.

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