Colour e-readers set for 2011 release

boxcorner · 01-18-2011, 12:19 PM

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online (Tuesday, 18 January 2011)

Croker · 01-18-2011, 12:29 PM

Nice. This is a big step forward, I think, particularly for those of us who don't want to use a backlit screen for reading.

I haven't missed having colour in the 3 or 4 years I've had an eReader, but it'd be nice to have.

SleepyBob · 01-18-2011, 01:09 PM

Yes, I think this is one of the next big steps in e-reader technology. Hopefully the price differential will shrink quickly.

The other shift that I would expect is probably having more touch-responsive screens (like Sony) in the next 5 years. Neither a keyboard nor a separate touchscreen works consistently better in a range of circumstances.

kevinp · 01-18-2011, 10:03 PM

I'll believe it when I see it.

injapan · 01-19-2011, 02:48 AM

Yes, I heard that this was coming, a logical step

JeremyR · 01-19-2011, 03:24 AM

Meh. I think it's completely pointless. Unless you read comics or magazines, color simply doesn't matter, and if you want those, get a tablet, since those don't take very long to read.

Yes, there are exceptions. Coffee table books. Travel guides. Some textbooks. But those are likely better off staying in book form.

CTH · 01-19-2011, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyR

Meh. I think it's completely pointless. Unless you read comics or magazines, color simply doesn't matter, and if you want those, get a tablet, since those don't take very long to read.

Yes, there are exceptions. Coffee table books. Travel guides. Some textbooks. But those are likely better off staying in book form.

But what if you enjoy reading both normal novels and comics? I think it is a nice progression and would not mind having a color reader even though I would not need the color most of the time.

tubemonkey · 01-19-2011, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTH

But what if you enjoy reading both normal novels and comics? I think it is a nice progression and would not mind having a color reader even though I would not need the color most of the time.

Kindle for novels and nookcolor for comics.

pdurrant · 01-19-2011, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxcorner

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online (Tuesday, 18 January 2011)

That particular device in that video seems to have a small nice at best. Only 4096 colours (i.e. 12 bit, 4 bit per colour - 16x16x16), 1/4 second refresh rate, and contrast only as good as current B&W eInk screens.

What is interesting is that to get that contrast ratio with a colour filter in front has required doubling the contrast compared to the older screens, and also doubling the resolution of the screen.

So a black and white version of that screen would have a contrast ratio and resolution approaching that of a 300dpi laser on white paper.

I'd really like to see that in an ebook reader.

OtterBooks · 01-19-2011, 12:31 PM

If it's also better at simulating text on paper than the current screens, due to higher dpi or whatever, then that is a good thing. However, it's only that quality I'll consider when deciding whether to buy it and at what price.

I didn't buy an e-ink reader out of my love for grayscale. I got it for the similarity to paper. I don't read comics but many people do, so I wouldn't say that the look of paper should be less important for them as it is for me, if a paper-like experience is what they seek. An LCD tablet does not accomplish that any more than it does for text.

jocampo · 01-19-2011, 02:46 PM

Because the low refreshing rate of electrons (needed to change from black to white or color in this hypothetical case) I would not see eink color as a suitable solution for games or color applications; you need high refresh rates for those. With no doubt, an LCD screen is the only choice right now for that type of apps.

Having said that, I think there is a nice market and sales opportunities here anyway.

Novels, some technical books and bestsellers, are the same with color or not, because they are mainly text. But magazines, photography manuals even ads are not for a Kindle, Sony or whatever uses eink, no sir. If eink is coming in color, reading such kind of documents would be amazing, a step forward, because the battery usage will be a positive factor for sure and you can take full advantage of the color screen.

Bricorn · 01-19-2011, 04:26 PM

It could make magazine subscriptions worthwhile. In grayscale most aren't worth the trouble.

MikeFromHC · 01-20-2011, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jocampo

Because the low refreshing rate of electrons (needed to change from black to white or color in this hypothetical case) I would not see eink color as a suitable solution for games or color applications; you need high refresh rates for those. With no doubt, an LCD screen is the only choice right now for that type of apps.

Having said that, I think there is a nice market and sales opportunities here anyway.

Novels, some technical books and bestsellers, are the same with color or not, because they are mainly text. But magazines, photography manuals even ads are not for a Kindle, Sony or whatever uses eink, no sir. If eink is coming in color, reading such kind of documents would be amazing, a step forward, because the battery usage will be a positive factor for sure and you can take full advantage of the color screen.

Electrons don't have a low refresh rate and are not teh basis for e-ink.

There are several viable methods of having good color, high refresh, and low power consumption that are close to market now.
electrowetting is the term to look for and after todays announcement I'm betting it will beat Mirasol to market.

This and :

Quote:

As electrowetting can be manufactured by modifying existing LCD production lines,...

is going to give Pixel Qi nightmares.

OtterBooks · 01-21-2011, 02:23 AM

I'll enjoying seeing book covers in color, I think. I know you can't see the cover while reading but it's nice to glance at beforehand.

boxcorner · 01-21-2011, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

I'll enjoying seeing book covers in color, I think. I know you can't see the cover while reading but it's nice to glance at beforehand.

With the Sony PRS-650, in addition to the thumbnails displayed in the list of books, while reading a book, book details can be displayed: OPTIONS -> Info. It would be nice if this Info page included the cover thumbnail, and nicer still if it was in colour. Also, I often download newspapers and magazines, and news from websites for my reader, using Calibre, so I would welcome colour for those cases, too. For example, today, BBC News contains an article about Comics in the Congo. Comics just aren't the same when they are displayed in black and white.

Addendum
While on the subject of cartoons better displayed in colour, I have just discovered the Washington Post Cartoons news feed - politicians lampooned in cartoons - thanks to Calibre. They fit my reader's screen almost perfectly.

01-18-2011, 12:19 PM	#1
boxcorner »(°±°)« Posts: 826 Karma: 775629 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: divisive reader	Colour e-readers set for 2011 release news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online (Tuesday, 18 January 2011)

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01-18-2011, 12:29 PM	#2
Croker Connoisseur Posts: 92 Karma: 630 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle Voyage, obv.	Nice. This is a big step forward, I think, particularly for those of us who don't want to use a backlit screen for reading. I haven't missed having colour in the 3 or 4 years I've had an eReader, but it'd be nice to have.

01-18-2011, 01:09 PM	#3
SleepyBob Evangelist Posts: 420 Karma: 8522810 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Wisconsin, USA Device: Kindle PW3	Yes, I think this is one of the next big steps in e-reader technology. Hopefully the price differential will shrink quickly. The other shift that I would expect is probably having more touch-responsive screens (like Sony) in the next 5 years. Neither a keyboard nor a separate touchscreen works consistently better in a range of circumstances.

01-18-2011, 10:03 PM	#4
kevinp Fanatic Posts: 580 Karma: 3549018 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Michigan Device: Kindle Scribe, Kindle PW (10th & 11th gen); Fire HD 10	I'll believe it when I see it.

01-19-2011, 02:48 AM	#5
injapan Addict Posts: 228 Karma: 1030816 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Japan Device: iPhone 11, Kobo Arua 2 and iPad Air 3	Yes, I heard that this was coming, a logical step

01-19-2011, 03:24 AM	#6
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	Meh. I think it's completely pointless. Unless you read comics or magazines, color simply doesn't matter, and if you want those, get a tablet, since those don't take very long to read. Yes, there are exceptions. Coffee table books. Travel guides. Some textbooks. But those are likely better off staying in book form.

01-19-2011, 12:31 PM	#10
OtterBooks Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 2979086 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 4, iPad Mini/Retina	If it's also better at simulating text on paper than the current screens, due to higher dpi or whatever, then that is a good thing. However, it's only that quality I'll consider when deciding whether to buy it and at what price. I didn't buy an e-ink reader out of my love for grayscale. I got it for the similarity to paper. I don't read comics but many people do, so I wouldn't say that the look of paper should be less important for them as it is for me, if a paper-like experience is what they seek. An LCD tablet does not accomplish that any more than it does for text.

01-19-2011, 02:46 PM	#11
jocampo Layback feline Posts: 3,034 Karma: 6980745 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Oasis 2nd gen, Sony DPTS1, iPad Pro 10.5"	Because the low refreshing rate of electrons (needed to change from black to white or color in this hypothetical case) I would not see eink color as a suitable solution for games or color applications; you need high refresh rates for those. With no doubt, an LCD screen is the only choice right now for that type of apps. Having said that, I think there is a nice market and sales opportunities here anyway. Novels, some technical books and bestsellers, are the same with color or not, because they are mainly text. But magazines, photography manuals even ads are not for a Kindle, Sony or whatever uses eink, no sir. If eink is coming in color, reading such kind of documents would be amazing, a step forward, because the battery usage will be a positive factor for sure and you can take full advantage of the color screen.

01-19-2011, 04:26 PM	#12
Bricorn Addict Posts: 289 Karma: 7788748 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fun Town, Thailand Device: Kindle DXG	It could make magazine subscriptions worthwhile. In grayscale most aren't worth the trouble.

01-21-2011, 02:23 AM	#14
OtterBooks Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 2979086 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 4, iPad Mini/Retina	I'll enjoying seeing book covers in color, I think. I know you can't see the cover while reading but it's nice to glance at beforehand.

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