Esquire printed magazine. Now with an E Ink cover - Page 6

astrodad · 09-08-2008, 11:35 AM

Wow, talk about disappointing. All of that effort, cost, and waste, for that? Nice try, but not nice enough, in my opinion.

WillAdams · 09-08-2008, 01:26 PM

A co-worker and I just went and picked up copies --- neat, and pretty cool for $5.99 plus tax, though I wonder if there'll be another, since I wonder how cost-effective the advertising will be for Ford.

William

xianfox · 09-08-2008, 01:32 PM

That's the best use of eink Ford could think of? Wow. Just, wow.

*shakes head*

nekokami · 09-08-2008, 02:51 PM

I'd consider picking one up if anyone has a "homebrew" idea for making an ebook reader from the screens.

After all... 10 inches? Non-fragile? There must be SOMETHING we can do with this.

WillAdams · 09-08-2008, 03:02 PM

Unfortunately, it looks like each display has a limited number of pre-defined regions which can be turned on or off --- the Ford ad just has 4 by my count (semi-abstract shapes --- the two wheels constitute one area), while the Esquire cover has 12:

- The 21st Century
- Begins
- Now ->
8 rectangles
- and the background

There's a coloured overlay over each e-ink display --- probably one could do something interesting by creating new overlays and then either using the chip as it is, or re-programming a new one for a different animation sequence / timing / order --- but I don't think it'd be possible to make an ebook display or PDA using the existing controller, save for the simplest (do an overlay w/ pre-printed appts. &c. on it and backlight them according to a timer), but see my later post for a possible work-around.

William

nekokami · 09-08-2008, 03:06 PM

Well, I suppose pre-defined regions could reduce the production cost, except that you'd have to tool up just to create this particular screen series. Wouldn't that be wasteful? And expensive? I guess I had assumed they had used the same basic stock for the display, but a much simpler controller, perhaps, and I was hoping we could splice in a different controller.

daffy4u · 09-08-2008, 03:09 PM

I can't find it. I went to Borders, Barnes & Noble, local grocery store and local drug store. Where Esquire was available, it was still the September issue. I had the Borders folks check in the back room and they said they hadn't received the new issue yet.

Nate the great · 09-08-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

I can't find it. I went to Borders, Barnes & Noble, local grocery store and local drug store. Where Esquire was available, it was still the September issue. I had the Borders folks check in the back room and they said they hadn't received the new issue yet.

I also checked. I won't be able to get it until Wednesday.

WillAdams · 09-08-2008, 03:21 PM

There're only a couple of lines coming out of each display, fewer for the Ford ad (4, I think, w/ 2 not-connected leads, 6 for the Esquire cover), and the animation works if one plugs in the connector upside down (just in reverse order for the Esquire cover, only 2 regions for the Ford ad).

But, it seems one could by-pass the controller and develop a small board to flip the e-ink particles w/o using the provided controller --- it'd have to be strong enough to work through the metallic backing unless one could delaminate it --- but you could hopefully address a fine enough grid to do something interesting.

William

Faenad · 09-08-2008, 03:22 PM

wow, the cover is all about how we are in the 21st century, and next page Ford put an add for a gas guggling SUV

Madam Broshkina · 09-08-2008, 06:10 PM

I think it is pretty cool. It will be even better when the firmware upgrade comes out. I can't hardly wait!

Patricia · 09-08-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nekokami

I'd consider picking one up if anyone has a "homebrew" idea for making an ebook reader from the screens.

After all... 10 inches? Non-fragile? There must be SOMETHING we can do with this.

I can see this idea as leading to fancy (and rather wasteful) birthday cards.
A few years ago someone developed birthday card which played irritating music when you opened them. I foresee birthday cards with irritating moving images.
(Anyone who develops this idea may feel free to send me a small - or large - donation.)

zelda_pinwheel · 09-08-2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madam Broshkina

I think it is pretty cool. It will be even better when the firmware upgrade comes out. I can't hardly wait!

pfff !!!

nekokami · 09-09-2008, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patricia

I can see this idea as leading to fancy (and rather wasteful) birthday cards.
A few years ago someone developed birthday card which played irritating music when you opened them. I foresee birthday cards with irritating moving images.
(Anyone who develops this idea may feel free to send me a small - or large - donation.)

Oh, absolutely. And mediatronic wrapping paper and chopsticks in frozen meals that have little animated logos on them (see Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age).

When what we really want is A Young Lady's Primer (same source).

DMcCunney · 09-09-2008, 12:13 PM

Esquire's E-Ink Display Dismantled. Result: Hackable
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/0...res-e-ink.html
______
Dennis

09-08-2008, 03:02 PM	#80
WillAdams Wizard Posts: 1,234 Karma: 3350652 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (300ppi), Samsung Galaxy Book 12	Unfortunately, it looks like each display has a limited number of pre-defined regions which can be turned on or off --- the Ford ad just has 4 by my count (semi-abstract shapes --- the two wheels constitute one area), while the Esquire cover has 12: - The 21st Century - Begins - Now -> 8 rectangles - and the background There's a coloured overlay over each e-ink display --- probably one could do something interesting by creating new overlays and then either using the chip as it is, or re-programming a new one for a different animation sequence / timing / order --- but I don't think it'd be possible to make an ebook display or PDA using the existing controller, save for the simplest (do an overlay w/ pre-printed appts. &c. on it and backlight them according to a timer), but see my later post for a possible work-around. William Last edited by WillAdams; 09-09-2008 at 07:49 AM. Reason: figured out how many areas the Ford ad really has

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09-08-2008, 11:35 AM	#76
astrodad Guru Posts: 962 Karma: 568242 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Oasis 3, Kindle Paperwhite 1, iPad, iPhone	Wow, talk about disappointing. All of that effort, cost, and waste, for that? Nice try, but not nice enough, in my opinion.

09-08-2008, 01:26 PM	#77
WillAdams Wizard Posts: 1,234 Karma: 3350652 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (300ppi), Samsung Galaxy Book 12	A co-worker and I just went and picked up copies --- neat, and pretty cool for $5.99 plus tax, though I wonder if there'll be another, since I wonder how cost-effective the advertising will be for Ford. William

09-08-2008, 01:32 PM	#78
xianfox Ebook Addict Posts: 225 Karma: 2136 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Appleton, Wisconsin, USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition	That's the best use of eink Ford could think of? Wow. Just, wow. shakes head

09-08-2008, 02:51 PM	#79
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	I'd consider picking one up if anyone has a "homebrew" idea for making an ebook reader from the screens. After all... 10 inches? Non-fragile? There must be SOMETHING we can do with this.

09-08-2008, 03:06 PM	#81
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Well, I suppose pre-defined regions could reduce the production cost, except that you'd have to tool up just to create this particular screen series. Wouldn't that be wasteful? And expensive? I guess I had assumed they had used the same basic stock for the display, but a much simpler controller, perhaps, and I was hoping we could splice in a different controller.

09-08-2008, 03:09 PM	#82
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	I can't find it. I went to Borders, Barnes & Noble, local grocery store and local drug store. Where Esquire was available, it was still the September issue. I had the Borders folks check in the back room and they said they hadn't received the new issue yet.

09-08-2008, 03:21 PM	#84
WillAdams Wizard Posts: 1,234 Karma: 3350652 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (300ppi), Samsung Galaxy Book 12	There're only a couple of lines coming out of each display, fewer for the Ford ad (4, I think, w/ 2 not-connected leads, 6 for the Esquire cover), and the animation works if one plugs in the connector upside down (just in reverse order for the Esquire cover, only 2 regions for the Ford ad). But, it seems one could by-pass the controller and develop a small board to flip the e-ink particles w/o using the provided controller --- it'd have to be strong enough to work through the metallic backing unless one could delaminate it --- but you could hopefully address a fine enough grid to do something interesting. William

09-08-2008, 03:22 PM	#85
Faenad Ad astra per aspera Posts: 347 Karma: 724 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mexico Device: PRS-505, PRS-300 & HTC HD2	wow, the cover is all about how we are in the 21st century, and next page Ford put an add for a gas guggling SUV

09-08-2008, 06:10 PM	#86
Madam Broshkina Manic Do Fuse Posts: 2,312 Karma: 3325462 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony 500, 505, 350, Kindle 3, DXG, nook, Irex DR800SG, iPad	I think it is pretty cool. It will be even better when the firmware upgrade comes out. I can't hardly wait!

09-09-2008, 12:13 PM	#90
DMcCunney New York Editor Posts: 6,384 Karma: 16540415 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: PalmTX, Pocket eDGe, Alcatel Fierce 4, RCA Viking Pro 10, Nexus 7	Esquire's E-Ink Display Dismantled. Result: Hackable http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/0...res-e-ink.html ______ Dennis

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