Front-lit screen for new e-ink Kindle?

Andrew H. · 04-06-2012, 11:04 PM

Tech Crunch reports: http://techcrunch.com/2012/04/06/nex...rce=feedburner

Quote:

The device I saw was crudely camouflaged in a sort of cardboard enclosure, but the screen was clearly visible. With a tap, a slider popped up on the screen, and as it was dragged to the right, the screen lit up evenly with a rather cool light. In the dark, it was plainly noticeable as a glow, and in uneven light — say, shade or a shuttered room — the slight illumination made the screen much more readable. At full blast it was definitely projecting some light (technically speaking it was reflecting it), but it was still a soft glow and not the harsh flashlight of a backlit LCD.

mbelec · 04-07-2012, 07:06 AM

Hmm, sounds interesting.

Kumabjorn · 04-07-2012, 07:39 AM

Sounds very interesting.

HarryT · 04-07-2012, 07:56 AM

Very interesting indeed. Sounds like some kind of electroluminescent lighting system, perhaps.

Dulin's Books · 04-07-2012, 10:11 AM

its this tech Harry-https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...ht=light+guide

interesting - tech crunch and others are using the pics from Flex even while saying Amazon owns a separate light guide company Oy Modilis

HarryT · 04-07-2012, 10:19 AM

Thanks - that's very interesting.

elemenoP · 04-07-2012, 10:59 AM

It is not necessarily the flex lighting tech. They are just using that image as an approximation of what it might look like.

eP

Dulin's Books · 04-07-2012, 01:13 PM

its the same technology from two competing companies. light guide film that directs light from a hidden led source towards the surface of the display and distributes it evenly over the whole display. the pictures are from Flex Lighting while the article talks about Modilis which is now owned by Amazon and holds patents for light guide film.

afv011 · 04-07-2012, 01:44 PM

That's cool. Somebody posted a similar story regarding the new nook touch; I guess it's a race now to be the first to market.

Andrew H. · 04-07-2012, 03:01 PM

I'm very curious to see this. I didn't like the light on the Kindle cover with integrated light because it was too uneven for me, and not as bright as I would have liked.

silasgreenback · 04-07-2012, 10:16 PM

Can't wait for this any longer than it takes to save the cash.

ucfgrad93 · 04-07-2012, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

its this tech Harry-https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...ht=light+guide

interesting - tech crunch and others are using the pics from Flex even while saying Amazon owns a separate light guide company Oy Modilis

That looks awesome! I'd buy one in a heartbeat!

wizwor · 04-08-2012, 05:02 AM

Interesting idea, I don't expect to be lined up outside Staples at midnight on launch day

Battery life and outside reading are pretty much the only advantages of the kindle over the fire for me. I guess this feature would not help much on a sunny day and will likely adversely impact the battery life.

As I read more (I read a lot of technical boooks), I am finding the kindle screen a little small for displaying images with words. I end up having to change the orientation to closely examine charts and images. The Fire is a little better in this respect due to the screen size and a LOT better due to the ease of reorientation.

I do, however, see how this could be the only reader for many people.

HarryT · 04-08-2012, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizwor

Battery life and outside reading are pretty much the only advantages of the kindle over the fire for me. I guess this feature would not help much on a sunny day and will likely adversely impact the battery life.

You don't need a light on a sunny day. eInk screens are superb in bright sunlight; the brighter the light, the better they are. This is for reading in the dark, or a poorly-lit room.

There's no particular reason why it should use more power than the current Amazon lighted covers do, which draw power from the Kindle. The Kindle still has a very respectable battery life when the light is being used.

RainingLemur · 04-08-2012, 11:14 AM

I keep waiting for these things to happen. They need to hurry up, I'm getting impatient.

04-07-2012, 10:11 AM	#5
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	its this tech Harry-https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...ht=light+guide interesting - tech crunch and others are using the pics from Flex even while saying Amazon owns a separate light guide company Oy Modilis Last edited by Dulin's Books; 04-07-2012 at 10:25 AM.

04-07-2012, 10:16 PM	#11
silasgreenback New Leaf Turner Posts: 260 Karma: 1026664 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hadestown Device: Kobo Glo	Can't wait for this any longer than it takes to save the cash. Last edited by silasgreenback; 04-07-2012 at 10:44 PM. Reason: Cut and pasted post in the thread in the Kindle sub-forum.

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04-07-2012, 07:06 AM	#2
mbelec Addict Posts: 209 Karma: 1165996 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Maine Device: sony prs-350, Ipad 3	Hmm, sounds interesting.

04-07-2012, 07:39 AM	#3
Kumabjorn Basculocolpic Posts: 4,356 Karma: 20181319 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Kindle 4SO, Kindle for Android, Sony PRS-350 and PRS-T1	Sounds very interesting.

04-07-2012, 07:56 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Very interesting indeed. Sounds like some kind of electroluminescent lighting system, perhaps.

04-07-2012, 10:19 AM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Thanks - that's very interesting.

04-07-2012, 10:59 AM	#7
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	It is not necessarily the flex lighting tech. They are just using that image as an approximation of what it might look like. eP

04-07-2012, 01:13 PM	#8
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	its the same technology from two competing companies. light guide film that directs light from a hidden led source towards the surface of the display and distributes it evenly over the whole display. the pictures are from Flex Lighting while the article talks about Modilis which is now owned by Amazon and holds patents for light guide film.

04-07-2012, 01:44 PM	#9
afv011 Captain Penguin Posts: 2,964 Karma: 2079777777 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Device: Kobo Clara BW, Kobo Libra 2, Nook Glowlight	That's cool. Somebody posted a similar story regarding the new nook touch; I guess it's a race now to be the first to market.

04-07-2012, 03:01 PM	#10
Andrew H. Grand Master of Flowers Posts: 2,201 Karma: 8389072 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Naptown Device: Kindle PW, Kindle 3 (aka Keyboard), iPhone, iPad 3 (not for reading)	I'm very curious to see this. I didn't like the light on the Kindle cover with integrated light because it was too uneven for me, and not as bright as I would have liked.

04-08-2012, 05:02 AM	#13
wizwor Wizard Posts: 1,068 Karma: 23867385 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kindle, fire	Interesting idea, I don't expect to be lined up outside Staples at midnight on launch day Battery life and outside reading are pretty much the only advantages of the kindle over the fire for me. I guess this feature would not help much on a sunny day and will likely adversely impact the battery life. As I read more (I read a lot of technical boooks), I am finding the kindle screen a little small for displaying images with words. I end up having to change the orientation to closely examine charts and images. The Fire is a little better in this respect due to the screen size and a LOT better due to the ease of reorientation. I do, however, see how this could be the only reader for many people.

04-08-2012, 11:14 AM	#15
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	I keep waiting for these things to happen. They need to hurry up, I'm getting impatient.

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