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docdivakar
@mtripoli: you bring up some good points! How ever, it looks we missed a major ...
phoenixdave
With the new color tablets and readers on or soon coming to the market, I think ...
E-ink unveils color ePaper
R Colin Johnson
11/9/2010 6:40 PM EST
PORTLAND, Ore.—E-Ink Corp. unveiled its long anticipated color version of its ePaper displays called Trition Imaging Film. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can used the new color film for eBooks, eReaders and other ePaper applications such as color signage.
Like its monochrome ePaper, the new Triton film used reflects light for easy reading where ever normal paper is easy to read, such as in bright sunlight. The display also continues its ultra low power tradition by only consuming energy when a page is turned.
Triton achieves color by adding subpixels with color filters above them, providing 16-levels of grayscale for each subpixel that together are capable of displaying thousands of color. E-Ink also claims the new display is 20 percent faster than its monochrome film, fast enough for simple animations but not video.
Like its monochrome ePaper, the new Triton film used reflects light for easy reading where ever normal paper is easy to read, such as in bright sunlight. The display also continues its ultra low power tradition by only consuming energy when a page is turned.
Triton achieves color by adding subpixels with color filters above them, providing 16-levels of grayscale for each subpixel that together are capable of displaying thousands of color. E-Ink also claims the new display is 20 percent faster than its monochrome film, fast enough for simple animations but not video.
E-Ink unveiled its long-anticipated color version of its low power ePaper displays that use filters to impart color it its paper-white films.
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BalaLak
11/10/2010 12:25 AM EST
This is fantastic news. E-paper is ideal for any display other than video and for such applications, consumes way much less power than other display technologies. E-book readers no doubt will seek this technology.
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t.alex
11/10/2010 12:35 AM EST
Great news. Anticipating colour ebook reader in the market soon.
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Frank Eory
11/10/2010 12:27 PM EST
Perhaps this will help increase the appeal of e-book readers for textbooks.
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kdboyce
11/11/2010 12:41 AM EST
There is definitely a place for this new color e-ink paper, but I wonder if the lack of video speed and color depth capability will tip the e-reader market more to iPad like devices. For outdoor use, the e-ink solution has proven to be very acceptable and popular. But for older people who may be more home bound, I'm thinking the more vibrant colors of an iPad type device makes reading books as well as magazines, etc easier for them. I am aware of the many pro/con arguments about various forms of e-readers, but for these type of people, I don't believe the downsides of an iPad type device would be particularly harmful compared to the better experience received.
Comments?
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prabhakar_deosthali
11/11/2010 1:57 AM EST
This e-paper technology is certainly promising and appealing. Someday it will surely replace the paper if this e-paper is made flexible and fold-able like an ordinary newspaper. If not physically then the MEMS support can be used to design e-paper where pages can be turned back and forth by the users thumb action
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mtripoli
11/11/2010 11:01 AM EST
There are a few things that get "over looked" when talking about e-ink and it's implementation. The first that comes to mind (for those without Kindles or Nooks); you can't display "graphics" with it. If you, like so many others got any kind of "ebook" that contained graphics in the text, it doesn't display. Try looking at a book about Da Vinci without graphics. Secondly, it's not back-lit (or side lit or any other "lit"). You have to have an external light dangling over the "page" in your face. Sorry, that's not progress. You can argue that LCD's wash out in direct sunlight, but honestly, how many times have you ever really felt the need to bring an electronic device with you to the beach (if you are, you're going to to the beach for the wrong reason). If the "color e-ink" is anything like the existing stuff ("flash black before going white" everytime you turn a page) then we'll be seeing all sorts of colors everytime you turn the page. I'll take a proper LCD...
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pixies
11/11/2010 9:49 PM EST
I wander how long will it take before this technology hits the market. I am looking forward to the future generations of Kindles.
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R_Colin_Johnson
11/15/2010 9:39 PM EST
After the introduction of the iPad, E-Ink redoubled its efforts to bring out color--fast. My guess is that we will see color eReader early in 2011, with perhaps an announcement or two as soon as Christmas!
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phoenixdave
11/15/2010 11:17 PM EST
With the new color tablets and readers on or soon coming to the market, I think this was a very good competitive move and the timing is right. The benefits of E-ink are recognized, but many (including myself) have felt the the B&W was lacking in usability. Should be a real plus for the eReader market.
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docdivakar
12/6/2010 9:32 PM EST
@mtripoli: you bring up some good points! How ever, it looks we missed a major point about this, the article quotes "Triton achieves color by adding subpixels with color filters above them..."
It turns out the attenuation of light due to filtering can be as much as 60% which makes these types of displays unattractive for eBook reading.
There is a Silicon Valley company, SiPix, that makes dual mode displays using ePaper that eliminates this problem without using the colour filters.
In any event, the printed electronics industry (ePapers included) are targeting high volume consumer applications including text books for K-12 and college. Not having good colour display capabilities is a serious limitation for that market.
Dr. MP Divakar
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