Bored with white e-paper displays? Try black!

Bob Russell · 05-12-2006, 06:14 PM

According E-Book Russia (as translated by Babelfish), Hitachi has announced availability of a new black e-paper display. It is available to wholesalers in lots of 10 or more, and is apparently not cheap. Specifically, the translation says "from 4000000 Jaehns (near i 35000 for the complete set)" but it's not clear to me what that is in US$.

Is there really a difference between the previous white displays and this one? It's hard to tell from the translation. Maybe someone who speaks Russian can help us out here. But it does seem to be a new monochrome A4 sized display, and oddly enough it is apparently done in cooperation with Bridgestone corporation! The name in the translation is also odd -- "Albirey," but that does match previous news, where there is some additional text to be compared for discerning readers looking for more information. It has a wireless module, the monitor is standalone, and there is internal memory for storing information.

For now, it's just good to know that the Phillips spinoffs have some competition, and every new e-paper technology is a good thing. If only they were available in products!

BasilC · 05-12-2006, 07:17 PM

Here's my attempt at a translation (of the Russian, that is, not the Japanese original!):

Hitachi Ltd demonstrates a black electronic paper display

On 11 March Hitachi Ltd announced an A4 electronic "paper" display, and as soon as the 12th it was ready to sell wholesale batches ready for introduction of systems [can't make much sense of this last bit!]. The minimum batch size is a single system comprising ten items, and it's not cheap - prices start at 4,000,000 yen (about $35,000 a set).

Albirey is a monochrome A4 display comprising a "paper" module, which has been developed by Bridgestone over the past three years. As well as a display, a system incorporates a wireless module for data transmission and a power unit to make the system as autonomous as possible. The company has not revealed the format and size of the built-in memory.

The product has been announced as a monochrome display, made up of two colours - white and black.

The market segment that the display is aimed at is public places - underground railways, stations, public displays etc.

Source: it.nikkei.co.jp/digital/news/

Bob Russell · 05-13-2006, 12:05 AM

Thanks Basil! You know it sounds expensive at $3500/unit, that's pretty good for industrial electronic signage as a remote unit. But that's exactly the sort of thing that can pump up volume and make these technologies practical and cheap enough for consumer use also.

05-12-2006, 06:14 PM	#1
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Bored with white e-paper displays? Try black! According E-Book Russia (as translated by Babelfish), Hitachi has announced availability of a new black e-paper display. It is available to wholesalers in lots of 10 or more, and is apparently not cheap. Specifically, the translation says "from 4000000 Jaehns (near i 35000 for the complete set)" but it's not clear to me what that is in US$. Is there really a difference between the previous white displays and this one? It's hard to tell from the translation. Maybe someone who speaks Russian can help us out here. But it does seem to be a new monochrome A4 sized display, and oddly enough it is apparently done in cooperation with Bridgestone corporation! The name in the translation is also odd -- "Albirey," but that does match previous news, where there is some additional text to be compared for discerning readers looking for more information. It has a wireless module, the monitor is standalone, and there is internal memory for storing information. For now, it's just good to know that the Phillips spinoffs have some competition, and every new e-paper technology is a good thing. If only they were available in products!

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05-12-2006, 07:17 PM	#2
BasilC Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 60 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: London England Device: Palm Tungsten T3	Here's my attempt at a translation (of the Russian, that is, not the Japanese original!): Hitachi Ltd demonstrates a black electronic paper display On 11 March Hitachi Ltd announced an A4 electronic "paper" display, and as soon as the 12th it was ready to sell wholesale batches ready for introduction of systems [can't make much sense of this last bit!]. The minimum batch size is a single system comprising ten items, and it's not cheap - prices start at 4,000,000 yen (about $35,000 a set). Albirey is a monochrome A4 display comprising a "paper" module, which has been developed by Bridgestone over the past three years. As well as a display, a system incorporates a wireless module for data transmission and a power unit to make the system as autonomous as possible. The company has not revealed the format and size of the built-in memory. The product has been announced as a monochrome display, made up of two colours - white and black. The market segment that the display is aimed at is public places - underground railways, stations, public displays etc. Source: it.nikkei.co.jp/digital/news/

05-13-2006, 12:05 AM	#3
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Thanks Basil! You know it sounds expensive at $3500/unit, that's pretty good for industrial electronic signage as a remote unit. But that's exactly the sort of thing that can pump up volume and make these technologies practical and cheap enough for consumer use also.