E Ink launches next-gen electronic ink: Vizplex

Alexander Turcic · 05-09-2007, 01:47 PM

Ladies and gentlemen, E Ink is busting out a new version of their electronic ink technology which has me drifting on a heavenly cloud of bliss. It's called Vizplex and its tech specs are way superior to the previous E Ink imaging film technologies we've seen.

Typical Switch Speed: 740 ms (previous: 1200 ms)
Peak Switch Speed (monochrome): 260 ms (previous: 500 ms)
Brightness (reflectance): 40% (previous: 32-35%)
Greyscale levels: 8 (previous: 4)

According to the press release, PrimeView International will manufacture the TFT modules based on Vizplex with the first displays to come out this summer. Diagonal sizes will include 1.9", 5", 6", 8" and 9.7" (previous: only 6").

Ok, time to place your bets when the first Vizplex e-reader hits the stores.

Thanks to Jason for the tip!

NatCh · 05-09-2007, 01:59 PM

Nope, right now it's time to rejoice!

NatCh · 05-09-2007, 02:42 PM

The press release doesn't mention it, but on this page it comments that they've removed a number of the more expensive manufacturing steps, and I think I'm inferring that the actual volume of the manufacturing can increase with it. Either or both of those developments ought to translate to lower prices for e-ink.

I find the current stuff so impressive that I just can't wait to see this newest generation in action!

jimmyzou · 05-09-2007, 03:09 PM

Great!
Let's see what happen in the 2nd half of 2007

CommanderROR · 05-09-2007, 06:04 PM

I'm not sure how long it'll take for this to reach the market, but if it's better than the curent eink, then I'll gladly take it...^^

scotty1024 · 05-09-2007, 07:55 PM

So that's $4000 + unsolder driver chip from iLiad = 9.7" ebook reader with 16 grey scales and suspend?

NatCh · 05-09-2007, 07:57 PM

Um, you lost me with that one, scotty1024.

Leaping Gnome · 05-09-2007, 09:03 PM

Very nice. If it's plug and play with existing screens it should be pretty easy for Sony to push one into the current Reader, and if they're cheaper Sony can give us an upgrade, keep the same price point and make more profit. Good deal all around.

wallcraft · 05-09-2007, 09:24 PM

By my calculations, the pixels are not quite square on the 5"and 8" versions:

Code:

5"   600x800   185x194 ppi
6"   600x800   168x166 ppi
8"   768x1024  152x158 ppi
9.7" 825x1200  147x148 ppi

For comparison, the typical UMPC color LCD screen has about 133 pixels per inch, although the new Samsung Q1U has 170 ppi on a 7"screen and the Nokia 700/N800 has about 225 ppi on a 4.1" screen.

NatCh · 05-10-2007, 12:37 AM

Makes sense, they're not not square on the current generation either.

Dave Berk · 05-10-2007, 02:56 AM

That's great. But what we need is a better, whiter background, not more shades of gray. Still, it is an improvement. Now all we need is to eliminate that annoying switch and we've got a perfect device.

BACbKA · 05-10-2007, 05:34 AM

isn't the "brightness (reflectance)" increase the thing that says you've got a whiter b/g?

Alexander Turcic · 05-10-2007, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BACbKA

isn't the "brightness (reflectance)" increase the thing that says you've got a whiter b/g?

That's how I interpret it, too. I think the new film will deliver a "whiter" background.

Ebook lover · 05-10-2007, 08:35 AM

I believe that the only source to get the new panel is from PVI.

NatCh · 05-10-2007, 09:41 AM

That squares with what e-ink's release says, Ebook lover. The only other folks in the world making e-ink panels at all are the ones iRex makes for their own use.

05-09-2007, 01:47 PM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	E Ink launches next-gen electronic ink: Vizplex Ladies and gentlemen, E Ink is busting out a new version of their electronic ink technology which has me drifting on a heavenly cloud of bliss. It's called Vizplex and its tech specs are way superior to the previous E Ink imaging film technologies we've seen. Typical Switch Speed: 740 ms (previous: 1200 ms) Peak Switch Speed (monochrome): 260 ms (previous: 500 ms) Brightness (reflectance): 40% (previous: 32-35%) Greyscale levels: 8 (previous: 4) According to the press release, PrimeView International will manufacture the TFT modules based on Vizplex with the first displays to come out this summer. Diagonal sizes will include 1.9", 5", 6", 8" and 9.7" (previous: only 6"). Ok, time to place your bets when the first Vizplex e-reader hits the stores. Thanks to Jason for the tip! Attached Thumbnails

05-09-2007, 09:24 PM	#9
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,975 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	By my calculations, the pixels are not quite square on the 5"and 8" versions: Code: 5" 600x800 185x194 ppi 6" 600x800 168x166 ppi 8" 768x1024 152x158 ppi 9.7" 825x1200 147x148 ppi For comparison, the typical UMPC color LCD screen has about 133 pixels per inch, although the new Samsung Q1U has 170 ppi on a 7"screen and the Nokia 700/N800 has about 225 ppi on a 4.1" screen.

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05-09-2007, 01:59 PM	#2
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Nope, right now it's time to rejoice!

05-09-2007, 02:42 PM	#3
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	The press release doesn't mention it, but on this page it comments that they've removed a number of the more expensive manufacturing steps, and I think I'm inferring that the actual volume of the manufacturing can increase with it. Either or both of those developments ought to translate to lower prices for e-ink. I find the current stuff so impressive that I just can't wait to see this newest generation in action!

05-09-2007, 03:09 PM	#4
jimmyzou Connoisseur Posts: 96 Karma: 11 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Montreal Device: Sony Reader; Kobo; Nook color	Great! Let's see what happen in the 2nd half of 2007

05-09-2007, 06:04 PM	#5
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,022 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	I'm not sure how long it'll take for this to reach the market, but if it's better than the curent eink, then I'll gladly take it...^^

05-09-2007, 07:55 PM	#6
scotty1024 Banned Posts: 1,300 Karma: 1479 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peoples Republic of Washington Device: Reader / iPhone / Librie / Kindle	So that's $4000 + unsolder driver chip from iLiad = 9.7" ebook reader with 16 grey scales and suspend?

05-09-2007, 07:57 PM	#7
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Um, you lost me with that one, scotty1024.

05-09-2007, 09:03 PM	#8
Leaping Gnome Evangelist Posts: 490 Karma: 1641 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Louisville Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	Very nice. If it's plug and play with existing screens it should be pretty easy for Sony to push one into the current Reader, and if they're cheaper Sony can give us an upgrade, keep the same price point and make more profit. Good deal all around.

05-10-2007, 12:37 AM	#10
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Makes sense, they're not not square on the current generation either.

05-10-2007, 02:56 AM	#11
Dave Berk Fanatic Posts: 574 Karma: 138556 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PRS505	That's great. But what we need is a better, whiter background, not more shades of gray. Still, it is an improvement. Now all we need is to eliminate that annoying switch and we've got a perfect device.

05-10-2007, 05:34 AM	#12
BACbKA мокрец Posts: 52 Karma: 28 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Israel Device: palm, iliad	isn't the "brightness (reflectance)" increase the thing that says you've got a whiter b/g?

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05-10-2007, 08:35 AM	#14
Ebook lover NUUT, Cybook Device Posts: 49 Karma: 11 Join Date: Aug 2006 Device: O2	I believe that the only source to get the new panel is from PVI.

05-10-2007, 09:41 AM	#15
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	That squares with what e-ink's release says, Ebook lover. The only other folks in the world making e-ink panels at all are the ones iRex makes for their own use.