Philips Readius...now with...cellphone?

[scythe000]

Gizmodo writes:

The READIUS has a slightly different design than the prototype, with a 5-inch flexible display that actually rolls up around the phone, allowing it to be stored when not in use. The phone is manufactured under Polymer Vision, which is partly owned by Philips. The Dutch company has yet to release complete specs for the phone, but the READIUS is advertised as having a large display and great battery life. With a mid-2008 release, we won't have to wait too long to test this e-reader, mobile phone mash-up.

Wow...now if this were color, I'd go for it.

Related: Polymer Vision: rollable e-paper is finally on the roll

[Thomas]

Hi,
As mentioned some time ago in MobileRead Polymer Vision would introduce Readius the commercial product around this time. See attached press release that went out today.
Thomas

[grimo1re]

Philips spin-off Polymer Vision has launched the Readius product for commercial launch by mid 2008. The device combines a rollable display with a mobile phone. The company also provides a Readius internet portal for personalisation and content selection. The device offers 30 hours of continuous reading without battery charge. The phone supports HSDPA and allows users to access POP3 and IMAP e-mail accounts as well as web-based mail services. The Readius further supports Micro SD cards and can play MP3s.

Summary of key specifications
Weight: One third the average weight of e-readers (115g)
Display size: 5” diagonal, 16 greyscales
Device size: 115 x 57 x 21mm (when closed)
Battery life: 30 hours continuous reading
Connectivity: Tri Band/3G HSDPA, ActiveSync and USB mass storage (USB2.0), Bluetooth 2.0
Processor: ARM11 400MHz
Storage: up to 8 GB High Capacity Micro SD
User Interface: 8 buttons (SimpleTouch Buttons)


---
I'm not sure whether this is e-ink...does anybody here know? I do have a serious case of gadget lust - provided this is e-ink. I'm also curious to know which ebook formats it can read. I'm going to do some more drooling now on their website...

[Jaapjan]

Originally Posted by grimo1re

I'm not sure whether this is e-ink...does anybody here know? I do have a serious case of gadget lust - provided this is e-ink. I'm also curious to know which ebook formats it can read. I'm going to do some more drooling now on their website...

Oh, it is definately eInk so you can drool if you want!

[yvanleterrible]

It is the first application of the long awaited flexible eink. You can find some information on this device's prototype somewhere in this huge MR site.

[HarryT]

The resolution was pretty low, as I recall. Nothing like that of the "hard" screens.

[Kingston]

Some more links about it:



http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/0...s-ebook-p.html

http://news.digitaltrends.com/news/s...ible_screen_3g

http://www.techgadgets.in/mobile-pho...en-introduced/

[Lemurion]

Adding a cellphone to it pretty much removes the majority of my interest. I have a cellphone, I don't need one in my reader.

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

Adding a cellphone to it pretty much removes the majority of my interest. I have a cellphone, I don't need one in my reader.

Ah, but that cell phone might transform your reader in a Kindle by allowing web browsing.

[brecklundin]

I just ran across the Readius while tweaking my EVDO settings. But one thing they might have wrong, at least for the US over the next few years...it's HSDPA MBB. HSDPA is FAST but it also is not exactly rolling out quickly here in the US.

Over 230 million folks in the US have EVDO RevA coverage. People are using it over other WISP options because it's more reliable with better latency.

I am sure this device will be a HUGE hit in Europe and everywhere not the US.

I just wish device mfg's would decide to make connectivity options modular. Why exclude any segment of the population by making a device that functions over just one system? If someone is traveling here they could either buy or rent an EVDO module, WiMaxx (or whatever it's called this week), HSDPA module. And then if carriers offered monthly service options it would make everyone's life easier.

I did find a solid, so far, MBB ISP called Millenicom that I have a monthly service with for EVDO. I get Rev A and I am truly mobile now a days.

BTW, I have a Franklin CDU680 USB device and it uses far less power than my internal Intel 3945abg Wifi card. I get about 20mins or so more battery life when using the EVDO. So I suspect the way EVDO (and prolly HSDPA) works will offer longer battery life than wifi connectivity.

I actually like the idea of having so form of MBB in a reader. I added wifi to my antique Clie. Since doing so, it's NICE to be able to look-up details or definitions as I read. I thought it would be distracting at first glance but for me it actually improves my enjoyment of whatever I am reading.

Like others, I don't want a phone in the device. It is redundant for most people. Also it artificially inflates the cost. In fact isn't reading a nice quiet time in your daily life? Having a cell phone to intrude on that just seems, well, just darned wrong to me...

Reading is a simply joy...why are these companies trying to make it more complicated? I suspect it is because few of them actually read for enjoyment so they over engineer them.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

I just ran across the Readius while tweaking my EVDO settings. But one thing they might have wrong, at least for the US over the next few years...it's HSDPA MBB. HSDPA is FAST but it also is not exactly rolling out quickly here in the US.

Over 230 million folks in the US have EVDO RevA coverage. People are using it over other WISP options because it's more reliable with better latency.

EDGE coverage is pretty wide-spread in the US. Not as fast as EVDO but certainly fast enough for downloading books, reading e-mail, etc. Apple have used it for their iPhone.

I think going with GSM is undoubtedly the correct choice - it makes the device world-wide rather than restricting it to a single-country market.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Ah, but that cell phone might transform your reader in a Kindle by allowing web browsing.

to get the connectivity you do not need the cell phone side. Just the MBB, in this case it uses HSDPA. MBB cards and cell phones are seperate devices though in some cell phones they will share some hardware such as the antenna.

Truly unlimited data only plans run from $49.99 to about $79.99/mo depending on the ISP. And that will get you anywhere from a 500kbps to maybe under the best conditions around 2.5Mbps in download speed. I get a solid 1250k/750k with EVDO RevA.

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

to get the connectivity you do not need the cell phone side. Just the MBB, in this case it uses HSDPA. MBB cards and cell phones are seperate devices though in some cell phones they will share some hardware such as the antenna.

Truly unlimited data only plans run from $49.99 to about $79.99/mo depending on the ISP. And that will get you anywhere from a 500kbps to maybe under the best conditions around 2.5Mbps in download speed. I get a solid 1250k/750k with EVDO RevA.

Interesting. What is the basic difference in coverage between a basic cell and this HSDPA?

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by HarryT

EDGE coverage is pretty wide-spread in the US. Not as fast as EVDO but certainly fast enough for downloading books, reading e-mail, etc. Apple have used it for their iPhone.

I think going with GSM is undoubtedly the correct choice - it makes the device world-wide rather than restricting it to a single-country market.

First HSDPA is not a GSM service it's actually related to CDMA (an improved but incompatible variation though...W-CDMA) but it runs over a different network than GSM. So, GSM is only important if one needs that cell phone side of the equation and EDGE. EDGE is a GSM service/function.

I don't agree at all that EDGE is "good enough"...the fact it's so slow (a good minimum of 10x slower then either MBB option) means shorter battery life if you use it often. The modem is running full out and longer to d/l that 1MB ebook or doing online look-up then using a MBB option. EVDO RevA or HSDPA are the only options which make sense. EVDO will gracefully fall back to 1xRTT in poor EVDO coverage areas.

As I understand it with EVDO or HSDPA there is no need for the cell phone component at all. EDGE pretty much requires a cell phone part of the device.

And as you say EDGE might be a better option if you are in an area where EVDO has to degrade to 1xRTT because EDGE is just slightly faster then the 1xRTT. Well, maybe 2x faster generally and that is a LOT at those slow speeds. But I am not sure it is going to be that much faster then 1xRTT. It just offers coverage in more fringe areas but w/o the benefit of better speeds in MBB coverage areas.

My whole point is that HSDPA is a bad choice for the US market due to slow roll out, still. People should be given the option to select the MBB/Data service that works for them. If all a person can get is EDGE then heck, let them plug in an EDGE module and use that...whatever works for the individual is how these things should work. How frustrating would it be to have an EVDO device then move to a new job and find your device no longer had access? Or the other way around leaving the only mobile solution to be replacing the device. Devices locked into any connectivity technology just bugs me no end.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Interesting. What is the basic difference in coverage between a basic cell and this HSDPA?

HSDPA is similar to the CDMA technology that EVDO uses. But the two don't take to each other. HSDPA has HUGE upside potential long term. It can deliver a big pipe, as in up to a theoretical max of about 10Mbps. But I have not read of anyone getting numbers any better than EVDO's numbers.

The population coverage numbers claimed/estimated for the two MBB services are:

EVDO: ~230 to 250 million
HSDPA: ~170 to 190 million

EDGE is the old guard for data coverage...pretty much anywhere there is GSM service there is EDGE service. But I imagine that GSM penetration in the US is not much different than EVDO's numbers. Still, it does cover the most people of all data options. It is just the speed is likely going to be no more than a 100k download under the best conditions as the GSM towers are oversold for the most part. And in real world use it will prolly be 50k-70k putting it in the 1xRTT range which EVDO will degrade to in areas of weak coverage.

The real interesting thing will be how HSDPA and WiMaxx (or whatever they call it this microsecond) evolve over then next 5-years.

If you want to see what towers are around you you can go here:

http://www.antennasearch.com (carrier agnostic)

Most carriers do not own the towers so the owner might not be an indication of what service is to be had in your area.

I have two towers near me. One is about 1000ft away and the other is about 3000ft away. I was very suprised at the quality of EVDO coverage where I live.

To see what data coverage is around you all the major carriers offer pretty accurate coverage maps on their sites and include rate info. Just remember to select the DATA plans and not the voice plans.

Coverage maps for data:

http://coverage.sprintpcs.com/IMPACT...FDisplayPhones

http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/
Warning about the AT&T map. You have to zoom in to actually see the HSDPA coverage otherwise you are seeing where their EDGE coverage is only.

You can see that AT&T's HSDPA is not in a lot of places but EDGE is EVERYWHERE. But, Sprint's EVDO (not including Alltel) is pretty darned close when you include their areas with just 1xRTT service right now. FYI the 1xRTT is not that different from EDGE as a rule. Plus one does not need a cell phone to use it. Any EVDO device will work.

oops, I think this is getting kinda off-point for the thread...hehehehe...d'oh!