Foldable phones are the new hotness. What about a foldable eink reader?

Barty · 01-26-2019, 06:24 PM

So for a long time, people said 6" is a good / perfect size until larger eink readers came out and now some at least think the larger screen real estate makes reading more enjoyable and is worth the extra money. The downside is portability and pocketability. How about an 8" or larger reader that folds in half, then?

That wouldn't be a problem with an eink screen with plastic substrate. I guess the challenge will be the light guide. You'd need two separate ones?

j.p.s · 01-26-2019, 07:15 PM

A plastic substrate gets you flexibility, not 180 degree foldability.

piperclassique · 01-27-2019, 04:23 AM

How about a hinge? You know, like a DTB?

binaryhermit · 01-27-2019, 07:57 PM

I'm of the opinion that folding devices are a gimmick unless I see a legitimate use case for the folding-ness

j.p.s · 01-27-2019, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

I'm of the opinion that folding devices are a gimmick unless I see a legitimate use case for the folding-ness

The legitimate use case is folding a 13" display to fit in a pocket, but I will not be holding my breath while I wait for one.

Pulpmeister · 01-27-2019, 09:06 PM

I want one I can roll up and use to swat a fly.

frahse · 01-27-2019, 09:50 PM

I like the phones from "Earth Final Conflict" where the screens would peel out like a tape measure.

(I tried like heck to get the image here but failed at least 6 times.)

From Earth Final Conflict TV series. I tried to show the image, but you have to click on the url below.

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...act=mrc&uact=8

be4morgan · 01-28-2019, 12:53 AM

Why do I feel like it won't be durable enough? I used to love fordable phones but I don't think that I would love to have one nowadays.

tubemonkey · 01-28-2019, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pulpmeister

I want one I can roll up and use to swat a fly.

tubemonkey · 01-28-2019, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frahse

I like the phones from "Earth Final Conflict" where the screens would peel out like a tape measure.

(I tried like heck to get the image here but failed at least 6 times.)

From Earth Final Conflict TV series. I tried to show the image, but you have to click on the url below.

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...act=mrc&uact=8

I downloaded the image to my PC, then uploaded it as an attachment.

mbovenka · 01-28-2019, 08:52 AM

Like the Polymer Vision Readius of old. Nothing ever came of it...

Dopedangel · 01-28-2019, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pulpmeister

I want one I can roll up and use to swat a fly.

With lg releasing rollable tv's this year you might just get what you want in a few years

frahse · 01-28-2019, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I downloaded the image to my PC, then uploaded it as an attachment.

Thanks.

Bumped you a meg.

Dazrin · 01-29-2019, 01:44 PM

For me, it would be a way to fit them into your pocket easier and safer.

I already do this carry my Voyage in my pocket (with a case) but it is marginal. A 7" Oasis is too big (more square than rectangle) for that but I do like the screen size. If they built one that has a very durable back and sides and that folds in half to fit in my pockets easier and act as its own case I would like to try it. BUT, it would need to have a screen as good as the Voyage or Oasis (flat, good lighting, etc.) or it wouldn't be worth it. The screen is why I have an e-reader and compromising on that isn't something I want to do; it needs to be as good as or better than the Voyage/Oasis is now overall.

(BTW, the "similar threads" for this thread are interesting. In 2014 we were asking "do you think we will have foldable displays in the next 5 years?" Only a couple people really wanted to hazard an opinion and no one chimed in with "YES it will be" or we could give them some kudos. There was one person who said "I'd buy that instantly.")

BookCat · 01-30-2019, 12:43 PM

I want one that looks like something else - a bar of chocolate, maybe - so that there's no risk of it getting nicked while I'm out.

01-26-2019, 06:24 PM	#1
Barty doofus Posts: 2,543 Karma: 13088847 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Voyage	Foldable phones are the new hotness. What about a foldable eink reader? So for a long time, people said 6" is a good / perfect size until larger eink readers came out and now some at least think the larger screen real estate makes reading more enjoyable and is worth the extra money. The downside is portability and pocketability. How about an 8" or larger reader that folds in half, then? That wouldn't be a problem with an eink screen with plastic substrate. I guess the challenge will be the light guide. You'd need two separate ones?

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01-26-2019, 07:15 PM	#2
j.p.s Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,732 Karma: 103020299 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: pb360	A plastic substrate gets you flexibility, not 180 degree foldability.

01-27-2019, 04:23 AM	#3
piperclassique A garbling groftpot Posts: 990 Karma: 9234667 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: France Device: Oasis, Voyage, Kobo mini, Samsung tablet, phones, whatever.	How about a hinge? You know, like a DTB?

01-27-2019, 07:57 PM	#4
binaryhermit Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,732 Karma: 20469902 Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Lockport, IL Device: Kindle PW4, Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition	I'm of the opinion that folding devices are a gimmick unless I see a legitimate use case for the folding-ness

01-27-2019, 09:06 PM	#6
Pulpmeister Wizard Posts: 2,779 Karma: 29144810 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Perth Western Australia Device: kindle	I want one I can roll up and use to swat a fly.

01-27-2019, 09:50 PM	#7
frahse occasional author Posts: 2,315 Karma: 2064403292 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wandering God's glorious hills, valleys and plains. Device: A Franklin BI (before Internet) was the first. I still have it.	I like the phones from "Earth Final Conflict" where the screens would peel out like a tape measure. (I tried like heck to get the image here but failed at least 6 times.) From Earth Final Conflict TV series. I tried to show the image, but you have to click on the url below. https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...act=mrc&uact=8

01-28-2019, 12:53 AM	#8
be4morgan Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 337204 Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: USA Device: iPhone	Why do I feel like it won't be durable enough? I used to love fordable phones but I don't think that I would love to have one nowadays.

01-28-2019, 08:52 AM	#11
mbovenka Wizard Posts: 2,074 Karma: 14079267 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Almere, The Netherlands Device: Kobo Sage	Like the Polymer Vision Readius of old. Nothing ever came of it...

01-29-2019, 01:44 PM	#14
Dazrin Wizard Posts: 2,720 Karma: 75825105 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: PDXish Device: Kindle Voyage, various Android devices	For me, it would be a way to fit them into your pocket easier and safer. I already do this carry my Voyage in my pocket (with a case) but it is marginal. A 7" Oasis is too big (more square than rectangle) for that but I do like the screen size. If they built one that has a very durable back and sides and that folds in half to fit in my pockets easier and act as its own case I would like to try it. BUT, it would need to have a screen as good as the Voyage or Oasis (flat, good lighting, etc.) or it wouldn't be worth it. The screen is why I have an e-reader and compromising on that isn't something I want to do; it needs to be as good as or better than the Voyage/Oasis is now overall. (BTW, the "similar threads" for this thread are interesting. In 2014 we were asking "do you think we will have foldable displays in the next 5 years?" Only a couple people really wanted to hazard an opinion and no one chimed in with "YES it will be" or we could give them some kudos. There was one person who said "I'd buy that instantly.")

01-30-2019, 12:43 PM	#15
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	I want one that looks like something else - a bar of chocolate, maybe - so that there's no risk of it getting nicked while I'm out.

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