E-ink readers in 2015

charmian · 01-04-2015, 05:11 PM

What are your predictions for e-ink readers in 2015?

theducks · 01-04-2015, 06:09 PM

The ones you own will still work

fjtorres · 01-04-2015, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

The ones you own will still work

Unless you drop them or flex them by accident.
(Sob!)

One nice trend is open Android eink readers.

Like this one:

http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/201...mazon-for-129/

JSWolf · 01-04-2015, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmian

What are your predictions for e-ink readers in 2015?

My prediction is that Amazon will come out with a new Reader in 2015 that won;t have any new customization options then what you have now with the Voyage. I'm thinking maybe they'll come out with a 6.8 - 8" screen.

Sony won't be coming out with any new Reader.

Kobo will come out with a new Reader that might be similar to the H2O but with capacitance touch.

B&N won't be coming out with a new Reader.

Onyx will come out with a new Reader that runs Android and will have problems with it.

These are my predictions that are just really guesses (well some are and some are not)

fjtorres · 01-04-2015, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

My prediction is that Amazon will come out with a new Reader in 2015 that won;t have any new customization options then what you have now with the Voyage. I'm thinking maybe they'll come out with a 6.8 - 8" screen.

Sony won't be coming out with any new Reader.

Kobo will come out with a new Reader that might be similar to the H2O but with capacitance touch.

B&N won't be coming out with a new Reader.

Onyx will come out with a new Reader that runs Android and will have problems with it.

These are my predictions that are just really guesses (well some are and some are not)

Really going way out on a limb there.

Xanthe · 01-04-2015, 07:30 PM

Amazon will come out with a larger Voyage and drop the HD 7 from its line.

Rumors about Sony re-entering the ereader market will begin in Japan but nothing will appear for at least two years. (It's time for that on their ereader cycle.)

There will be a new Kobo that basically does what all the other Kobos do, only with more start-up problems.

I don't know WTF B&N is going to do. If there ever was a company that squandered and didn't understand its ereader business, it's that company. I mean, it partners and brings out a new color tablet with a display that's inferior to its prior tablets. Who does that???!

Someone will once again tease us with the prototype of a color e-ink reader.

JSWolf · 01-04-2015, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xanthe

Amazon will come out with a larger Voyage and drop the HD 7 from its line.

I think the HD 6 will go as cell phones are big enough that the 6 is just not viable. Amazon will keep the HD 7 with a new model and I do think a 6.8 - 8" Reader. But, the problem is, it won't be any more user friendly then the current Voyage,

Quote:

Rumors about Sony re-entering the ereader market will begin in Japan but nothing will appear for at least two years. (It's time for that on their ereader cycle.)

Sony won't be reentering the Reader market. They are done.

Quote:

There will be a new Kobo that basically does what all the other Kobos do, only with more start-up problems.

The H2O is rather good. No startup problems at all. I think Kobo might go for a larger Reader and drop all the others below the Aura. So it'll be the Aura, H2O and a new one. The rest will be dropped from the line.

Quote:

I don't know WTF B&N is going to do. If there ever was a company that squandered and didn't understand its ereader business, it's that company. I mean, it partners and brings out a new color tablet with a display that's inferior to its prior tablets. Who does that???!

B&N won't do anything. They've already botched things hugely with the eInk Readers. Poor interface, partitioned memory to give the user almost no memory for side loading and B&N took away the card slot with the nook Glowlight. It's just a mess. Plus, I'm not a fan of the shape. It's just odd to hold without a case.

Quote:

Someone will once again tease us with the prototype of a color e-ink reader.

It'll be another product that won't actually come to market.

Hrafn · 01-04-2015, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

The ones you own will still work

Given that I fully expect the second page-forward button of my i62HD to give up the ghost in the next year (the first failed a few months ago), that's by no means certain.

As far as predictions go, I fully expect further (generally slow and) incremental improvements in terms of display resolution, contrast, robustness and weight. The latter will continue to make larger eReaders increasingly viable (but fail to move the 'sweet spot' away from 6"). I expect at least one or two smaller manufacturers to attempt a radical innovation, but highly doubt if it will be sufficiently beneficial to become mainstream.

JSWolf · 01-04-2015, 10:27 PM

6.8" is more sweet then 6".

Ripplinger · 01-04-2015, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

6.8" is more sweet then 6".

Depends entirely on the user. For me 6.8" is too big. Now that 6" readers are pretty much the size of past 5" readers, 6" is the best option for me and the sweet spot.

BWinmill · 01-04-2015, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The H2O is rather good. No startup problems at all. I think Kobo might go for a larger Reader and drop all the others below the Aura. So it'll be the Aura, H2O and a new one. The rest will be dropped from the line.

They'll either keep the Touch, or come out with a low cost replacement.

I don't foresee much happening in the ereader market, aside from incremental improvements. They're too much of a niche market to justify large investments in R&D, yet the customer base is sufficiently dedicated to neglect.

As for Sony, I wouldn't be surprised if they continue developing eInk based products. I would be surprised if they decided to market those products as ereaders.

howyoudoin · 01-05-2015, 05:21 AM

I reckon Amazon will be the first to come out with a combination e-ink and LCD tablet.

E-ink screen on one side and LCD on the other. Probably with a double flap cover that attaches at one side, protecting the other side while you use one of the screens.

leaston · 01-05-2015, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

I reckon Amazon will be the first to come out with a combination e-ink and LCD tablet.

E-ink screen on one side and LCD on the other. Probably with a double flap cover that attaches at one side, protecting the other side while you use one of the screens.

That's my holy grail for a tablet/ereader hybrid. It solves the pdf issue, which is the reason I won't buy another ereader for the foreseeable future.

fjtorres · 01-05-2015, 07:26 AM

Actually, color ereaders aren't a lost cause yet.
There remains one last hope.
Liquavista.

It's been just long enough time since Amazon bought them to get a first-gen product out the door some time this year. Their dual layer patent suggests they are looking to do a "spot color" reader with high res b&w text and mid-res color regions.

http://the-digital-reader.com/2014/0...-kindle-plans/

Something to keep an eye out for.

QuantumIguana · 01-05-2015, 10:24 AM

I'd jump at one with a flexible display. I don't mean foldable, I don't need a foldable display. All I want is a screen that can flex without breaking. This would eliminate the fragility of the screen and have an extra benefit of reducing the weight. If the screen can flex, you don't need the hardware to keep the screen from bending.

01-04-2015, 05:11 PM	#1
charmian Addict Posts: 386 Karma: 1814548 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kindle 3, Kindle PW2	E-ink readers in 2015 What are your predictions for e-ink readers in 2015?

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01-04-2015, 06:09 PM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,249 Karma: 61360164 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	The ones you own will still work

01-04-2015, 07:30 PM	#6
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	Amazon will come out with a larger Voyage and drop the HD 7 from its line. Rumors about Sony re-entering the ereader market will begin in Japan but nothing will appear for at least two years. (It's time for that on their ereader cycle.) There will be a new Kobo that basically does what all the other Kobos do, only with more start-up problems. I don't know WTF B&N is going to do. If there ever was a company that squandered and didn't understand its ereader business, it's that company. I mean, it partners and brings out a new color tablet with a display that's inferior to its prior tablets. Who does that???! Someone will once again tease us with the prototype of a color e-ink reader.

01-04-2015, 10:27 PM	#9
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,727 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	6.8" is more sweet then 6".

01-05-2015, 05:21 AM	#12
howyoudoin how YOU doin? Posts: 1,100 Karma: 7371047 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: India Device: Kindle Keyboard, iPad Pro 10.5”, Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Libra 2	I reckon Amazon will be the first to come out with a combination e-ink and LCD tablet. E-ink screen on one side and LCD on the other. Probably with a double flap cover that attaches at one side, protecting the other side while you use one of the screens.

01-05-2015, 07:26 AM	#14
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	Actually, color ereaders aren't a lost cause yet. There remains one last hope. Liquavista. It's been just long enough time since Amazon bought them to get a first-gen product out the door some time this year. Their dual layer patent suggests they are looking to do a "spot color" reader with high res b&w text and mid-res color regions. http://the-digital-reader.com/2014/0...-kindle-plans/ Something to keep an eye out for.

01-05-2015, 10:24 AM	#15
QuantumIguana Philosopher Posts: 2,034 Karma: 18736532 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2 gen, Kindle Fire 1st Gen, Kindle Touch	I'd jump at one with a flexible display. I don't mean foldable, I don't need a foldable display. All I want is a screen that can flex without breaking. This would eliminate the fragility of the screen and have an extra benefit of reducing the weight. If the screen can flex, you don't need the hardware to keep the screen from bending.