Les Echos, Chinese Iliads and other Newpaper E-reader deals

[jæd]

Although I noticed it in reference to the Les Echos e-reader deal, here's an article with a positive spin on the Iliad...

Les Echos will not be the first news*paper to launch a full-fledged e-reader *edition. The Yantai Daily, in China’s Shandong Province, broke that barrier in October, offering a personalized news feed on iLiad readers. The newspaper bought 2000 of the devices because it concluded that “iRex is the most sophisticated e-paper provider in the world,” project manager Li Qingji told IEEE Spectrum, speaking by phone.

http://spectrum.ieee.org/feb07/4884

[Alexander Turcic]

What I find remarkable about the iLiad is that it's the only device out there with an advanced 1024x768 16-grey scale E Ink screen.

Lately we see lots of E Ink devices emerging with the 800x600 Sony Reader screen, which is, I suppose a second generation E Ink display (1st gen was used for the Sony Librie). But why is iRex the only one to use 1024x768 and capable of displaying more grey scales?

[NatCh]

I think iRex are the only folks building their own panels -- everyone else has to get them from PVI. I don't think e-Ink has licensed anyone else to make the stuff. If that's so, then it's probably a matter of PVI only making the smaller ones.

[Alexander Turcic]

Perhaps iRex should become a panel manufacturer than