Polymer Vision Readius - first photo from 3GSM

[NatCh]

It's hard to say, Cthulu, e-ink is notoriously hard to photograph well, and that pic looks really, really good.

Digging back to (what appears to be) the original thread on the device (from September '05), and following the link Brian provided to the specs at the time, I was able to pull up the current spec list (which appears to be identical to the old one).

Readius Screen Specifications
- Contrast: 10:1.
- White reflectance: 35%-40%
- Switching time: 0,5-1s
- Optimum refresh rate: 50 Hz
- Number of pixels: 240 x 320 (quarter VGA - 4.8")
- Rolling radius: 0.75 cm

Comparing that to the specs posted on e-ink's site (assuming this is what the Reader is using)

E-Ink Screen (Reader??) Specifications:
White State Reflectivity: 37% (typical)
Contrast Ratio: 8:1 (typical)
Viewing Angle: 170º
Grayscale Capability: 2-bit (4 gray levels)
Image Update Time: 1000 ms (grayscale mode)
500 ms (1-bit mode)

(Note that there are further specs posted there, but these are the most relevant items)

I'd say that at least on paper (if you'll pardon the expression), the Readius's display does seem to have a bit of an edge.

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by NatCh

Hah!

How indiscreet of them.


Don't you mean 'gadgety and coooool,' yvanleterrible?

There is something of the word gadgety to me that means it won't last long.

[NatCh]

Ah, with that connotation, I see what you mean.

[Cthulhu]

I noticed that the girl in the video posted in another thread was very keen to point out the future possibility of a cell phone with this screen. The company representative she interviewed was equally as keen to point out "this is only the beginning."

I liked when he said it took ten years to get the product made, but that now innovations were coming every six months. Either that is an astounding amount of drivel, or the electro-fluoretic display market is finally burgeoning.

Of course, I think that both individuals had little to no idea what they were actually saying.

I guess we'll see how many Italian early adopters there are soon. ;-

[Bob Russell]

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

Of course, I think that both individuals had little to no idea what they were actually saying.

I thought that the gal asked a perfectly natural question and the first time I watched the video I thought he blew her off completely in order to give more of his speech, thus causing her to break off the interview. But then I realized, like you did, that he sort of, kind of, did answer vaguely. Still, he avoided answering the question and never really acknowledged what she asked. I think he had things he wanted to communicate and knew the window was limited.

But it was a great video, and it's fun to get a glimpse. I'd sure like to hear a more in-depth interview and some more clues of how long to get future features and products to market.

Did you notice also that it looked very reflective and that there was lots of glare from the protective plastic cover? I wonder if that was exaggerated by the camera. You would think they would have improved the glare on that plastic after 10 yrs of development! ;-)

<Obviously I'm kidding -- these things are always much harder to do than it seems on the surface.>

[Pitchfork]

At last I have received some photos of the Readius from the 3GSM conference in Barcelona. My friend had some problems sending the files to me from his phone, so we had to wait until he was in his hotel in Madrid before sending them. Anyway, better late than never

BTW my friend also managed to have a chat with the guys from Polymer Vision about the device and their plans for it, so I will write a bit about that tomorraw as it is getting late here, and it is time for bed.

[erwin]

Originally Posted by Pitchfork

so I will write a bit about that tomorraw as it is getting late here, and it is time for bed.

NO WAY! Here in Europe is only 2 am, so wake up this lazy friend of yours and have him immediately let us know planned price and date of delivery!!!

BTW: HP and the SS on the screen... ROTFL!!! Now this is a way to make JKR have a little stroke...

Cheers
Erwin

[NatCh]

Originally Posted by erwin

Now this is a way to make JKR have a little stroke...

Not before she finishes Book 7, she'd better not!

[Alexander Turcic]

Thanks for the photos!! The more I look at the photos, the more I am starting to like the idea of having a connected device. Just look at the Telecom Italia Mobile entry: "Newspapers, e-books, travel information, etc.". Very neat! Of course it will also mean that the Readius is a power-sucker in contrast to the Sony Reader and other offline E Ink devices...

Originally Posted by Pitchfork

At last I have received some photos of the Readius from the 3GSM conference in Barcelona. My friend had some problems sending the files to me from his phone, so we had to wait until he was in his hotel in Madrid before sending them. Anyway, better late than never

BTW my friend also managed to have a chat with the guys from Polymer Vision about the device and their plans for it, so I will write a bit about that tomorraw as it is getting late here, and it is time for bed.

[Bob Russell]

Great pictures! Is the screen annoyingly reflective, or is it comfortable to read on? These pics make it look like it's okay. And the lower resolution seems to not really be a problem also. Besides... improvements every 6 months, right?!

Can't wait to hear your impressions.

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by NatCh

Not before she finishes Book 7, she'd better not!

I'm sure the publisher has a life insurance policy on her. Can you imagine the amount of zeros it comprises?

b3t This little display is awesome, even the grayscale. Just can't wait for color to show up on a device like this. Showing pictures on one will beat a video iPod.

[Cthulhu]

Those new pictures from Pitchfork look much more like what I was expecting from a device.

It seems a bit lack luster, just like every other display with jagged letters, until one realises that the screen is actually *BENDING* while still displaying. Patently phenomenal.

@ Alex--
There's the chance that the Readius will have a short battery life, but the reviewer kept mentioning it as a mobile phone. No mobile really last for more than a day with use. Besides, if the Polymer Vision kids are smart enough, they will but a little on/off switch or script for whatever radio-dealy it has inside. My Treo has that option for Bluetooth, so I cannot imagine that it is so difficult to implement.

[Bob Russell]

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

Those new pictures from Pitchfork look much more like what I was expecting from a device.

It seems a bit lack luster, just like every other display with jagged letters, until one realises that the screen is actually *BENDING* while still displaying. Patently phenomenal.

@ Alex--
There's the chance that the Readius will have a short battery life, but the reviewer kept mentioning it as a mobile phone. No mobile really last for more than a day with use. Besides, if the Polymer Vision kids are smart enough, they will but a little on/off switch or script for whatever radio-dealy it has inside. My Treo has that option for Bluetooth, so I cannot imagine that it is so difficult to implement.

One of the videos had a representative for Readius talking about how they calculated a battery life around two weeks, I think. It was based on x hrs of reading/day and y page turns per minute. It sounds like screen battery drain is small and/or most of the device is made up of a big battery!

[mogui]

It looks like the device has PDA features, e.g. contacts and calendar. Is it a touch screen? Is there a stylus?

[NatCh]

From watching the vids, I think it's all controlled via the buttons on the 'base.'