Boox Phone Reader?

[cqman]

We'll see.

CES2020

[underscore]

Originally Posted by cqman

We'll see.

CES2020

let's hope so
(using a kingrow k1 in the meantime)

[orebmur]

I am using the Hisense A5 since a few days and i am quite content with it so far. For me, this finally is a smartphone that makes sense thanks to the e-ink display.

Nonetheless, it would be great to have more options and i'd be glad to see some competition coming from Onyx Boox in that area.

[pinko]

ohhhh yessss 😍😍😍
Onyx previews its new E-Ink smartphone at CES 2020. It comes with a 5.8" E-Ink display, Android 9 and an octa-core ARM processor.

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyBPpwcDJgQ&t=15s
article: https://notebookitalia.it/onyx-smart...nteprima-29252

very good: three mode with higher refresh rate and Play Store support

[pdurrant]

That does look very interesting indeed.

[Gibbo]

I like it.

[Question Mark]

Ah, this comes out just after I received my Hisense A5 two days ago. Figures...

Haven't really had too much time yet to play with the A5, but I am quite liking it.

However, I've discovered that a couple of my favourite apps won't run without Google Play services. Hadn't been expecting that. I knew that Google Maps and other such apps from Google likely wouldn't work and that I would manually have to update sideloaded apps etc. But I am sorely missing Moon + Reader Pro and a well used Japanese dictionary app. Fortunately, the free version of Moon + Reader is working.

So, if Onyx can get Google Play working, and if other specs are similar or better, I may just be tempted...

[dkccerbero]

Im waiting for this, a color e ink smartphone: https://youtu.be/JAVZL83k5aU

[Question Mark]

Yes, looks exciting. I kind of like the muted colours.

It looks exactly like the Hisense A5 except with a colour screen. It will be interesting to see how it performs and what cost it comes in at.

It will also be interesting to see if Onyx comes out with a colour eink phone now. Competition can be a good thing... May wait for a while before I make any more phone purchases.

[Philju]

@Onyx:
If I were you I would consider just to skip the black/white e ink phone display shown at CES 2020 and to replace it by a color e ink display right from the start.

Since Hisense presented the first color e ink display at CES 2020 everybody is waiting for this technology to get rolled out. Therefore I assume that only very few people would still buy a smartphone with a black/white display at the moment.

By offering your new e ink phone with a color display you could not only catch up with your competitor Hisense but even outnumber them, because your products allow Google services. Hisense however is still too stubborn to realize the significance of working Google services to achieve broad consumer acceptance.

[Question Mark]

Originally Posted by Philju

@Onyx:
If I were you I would consider just to skip the black/white e ink phone display shown at CES 2020 and to replace it by a color e ink display right from the start.

Since Hisense presented the first color e ink display at CES 2020 everybody is waiting for this technology to get rolled out. Therefore I assume that only very few people would still buy a smartphone with a black/white display at the moment.

By offering your new e ink phone with a color display you could not only catch up with your competitor Hisense but even outnumber them, because your products allow Google services.

Quite agree. A black and white eink phone will be a hard sell once a colour eink phones comes out. Unless, of course, the colour eink phones are ridiculously expensive or they perform comparatively poorly.

Originally Posted by Philju

Hisense however is still too stubborn to realize the significance of working Google services to achieve broad consumer acceptance.

Hisense did have Google Play on their dual screen A2 Pro. I have one and it works fine.

The A5 is aimed at the Chinese domestic market. As such, there isn't any particular need for Google services on it. It would only become advantageous if they were actively courting the international market.

[Philju]

Originally Posted by Question Mark

The A5 is aimed at the Chinese domestic market. As such, there isn't any particular need for Google services on it. It would only become advantageous if they were actively courting the international market.

You are right. Google services are even prohibited within China.

I just can't understand why Hisense doesn't offer its latest e-ink products to the western world (including Google services). It's so frustrating always just to wait until they might consider eventually to deliver those products to the rest of the world. Is Hisense so unmotivated to turn all the money down they could earn in those markets?

[mdp]

Originally Posted by Philju

If I were you I would consider just to skip the black/white e ink phone display shown at CES 2020 and to replace it by a color e ink display right from the start.

Since Hisense presented the first color e ink display at CES 2020 everybody is waiting for this technology to get rolled out. Therefore I assume that only very few people would still buy a smartphone with a black/white display at the moment.

Both rumors and evidence (refresh rate) show that the one presented by Hisense is not a new technology: it is a colour filter on top - à la Triton.

ACEP, I have seen in the E-Ink shop that 13.3'' displays are available - their refresh rate is apparently 25 seconds. Do not mix up ACEP and that "colour E-Ink phone".

If the E-Ink VB3300-EBA (I suppose that is) is overlaid with the filter, its 1280x720 may become a 640x360; its 284 DPI may become a 142 DPI. Is that enough?

That product must be seen in real life or adequate recordings, before calling it a win.

Originally Posted by Question Mark

Quite agree. A black and white eink phone will be a hard sell once a colour eink phones comes out. Unless, of course, the colour eink phones are ridiculously expensive or they perform comparatively poorly

...Or, as just written, unless they look bad.

[norweger]

Originally Posted by pinko

ohhhh yessss ������
Onyx previews its new E-Ink smartphone at CES 2020. It comes with a 5.8" E-Ink display, Android 9 and an octa-core ARM processor.

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyBPpwcDJgQ&t=15s
article: https://notebookitalia.it/onyx-smart...nteprima-29252

very good: three mode with higher refresh rate and Play Store support

Looks like a great reading device. Quick and responsive!

I am pondering buying the Hisense as a reading device, but as the Onyx guy said "It'll be released in early 2020" in the video, "in a few months", I might just wait.

The video was recorded in January, before corona got pandemic. So as many companies have shut down their factories now, the info in the video could be outdated, but I checked with Onyx and got an upbeat reply that the phone ain't on the marked yet, but "check our Facebook for new notifications".

[norweger]

I got in touch, and they're saying the phone is coming "soon". Hopefully that means weeks, not months.