RSS Feeds
Gadgets
Electronic Newspapers Get Closer: Plastic Logic E-Newspaper To Be Unveiled
Posted by Kit Eaton at 9:31 PM on September 8, 2008
Forget namby-pamby flickering e-ink displays: if Plastic Logic's upcoming electronic paper tech is any good it might actually be the way of the future for newspapers. Due to be unveiled today, Plastic Logic's unnamed device is the size of a sheet of copier paper, about two and half times the screen real-estate of Amazon's Kindle, and is actually aimed at a business environment. But "newspapers is what everyone asks for" says Plastic Logic's CEO: and this makes great sense since the size of the screen would give it a more "authentic" newspapery feel. The plastic-screened gizmo weighs 57 grams more than the Kindle, and yet is one third its thickness (as you can see from the image—it's on the left.) We'll have to see how capable the device is when it's revealed... and, more importantly, find out how much it costs. Update: some more data has surfaced.
According to Ubergizmo, the device will measure in at 21.6 x 27.9cm, and is capable of browsing docments in PDF format as well as Word, Excel and PowerPoint files. As well as packing a battery that lasts "days not hours," the device has wireless connectivity, though Plastic Logic is quiet about exactly what type.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
binkyje
Posted 10:23 PM 8/9/08
Cool, esp like the Plastic Logic device... I have wanted this for ages as a replacement for the large reams of paper that you have to take into meetings..
Oh and an Idea... wouldn't it be cool if you could make the boring backs of laptops from e-ink... then you could do the "you have mail" stuff "battery level is" oh and really cool stuff like personalise your laptop case.
binkyje
lldsandsll
Posted 10:55 PM 8/9/08
@PollockRoc: yes, but no sodoku
lldsandsll
PollockRoc
Posted 10:53 PM 8/9/08
Can I still do the Jumble on it?
PollockRoc
WMyers
Posted 10:44 PM 8/9/08
Actually, my first thought was that this could revolutionize those urinal newspaper displays.
WMyers
araddatz
Posted 11:13 PM 8/9/08
@binkyje: Yes, I like where you're going with that... Could have a different laptop cover design or art whenever you wanted to change it. Password-protect it so it always shows your name (for theft deterrence) or something...
araddatz
BaileyJ
Posted 11:07 PM 8/9/08
Ohhhh, this is what I've been waiting for; I could store my entire RPG collection on it.
BaileyJ
ps61318
Posted 11:40 PM 8/9/08
@PollockRoc: @lldsandsll: Well, you jest, but it does raise an interesting question: can you annotate it? That would be awesome - make this a multi-touch capable device that could do highlighting and notetaking, with maybe SD or the like to save pages on...
Read-only would be cool, too, but r/w would really be revolutionary.
ps61318
CubFan81
Posted 11:32 PM 8/9/08
Please let this not be a disappointment. My recycle bin can't handle more than 3 weeks of daily newspaper deliveries and the only pick it up once a month. It would theoretically help newpapers survive by eliminating massive costs for paper and delivery if you could setup a daily email or download and just have the device check every morning at 3:30 over your home Wi-Fi.
CubFan81
Oranges w/ Cheese
Posted 11:53 PM 8/9/08
I think the only cool thing in the entire movie "Babylon AD" was the electronic maps. Once they can do that with newspapers and books, it will be awesome.
Oranges w/ Cheese
Noobs-R-Us
Posted 11:52 PM 8/9/08
I would get it only if it worked with Amazon.
Noobs-R-Us
B1663R
Posted 12:11 AM 9/9/08
unless i can curl it up like a magazine or newspaper and not worry about dropping it on the ground and stepping on it then its a no-go for me.
B1663R
FredicvsMaximvs
Posted 1:01 AM 9/9/08
I'm a bit surprised at how excited I am over this. I don't even care about the wireless connectivity - keep it simple! Data and charge via USB, a bunch of storage, view documents, update feeds automatically whenever you plug it in. Simple + useful = big seller.
I do like the touch idea, though. That'd be pretty useful for note-taking.
FredicvsMaximvs
ice2032
Posted 1:01 AM 9/9/08
(as you can see from the image-it's on the left.)
Isn't it on the right?
ice2032
FredicvsMaximvs
Posted 12:57 AM 9/9/08
@B1663R: For me, it doesn't even have to roll up that tightly, but I *would* want it to be flexible enough that I could throw it in my messenger bag without worrying about breaking it.
FredicvsMaximvs
godwhacker
Posted 12:54 AM 9/9/08
newspapers, oh yeah, i remember them. people used to read them for news and stuff. back in the day. when they were relevant. not like now when you can get news when it breaks from multiple sources.
i do like the top of the laptop idea. that has potential to be a real device to let people know what you are up to at any moment.
godwhacker
maven2k
Posted 1:17 AM 9/9/08
@PollockRoc: Just use a dry erase marker on it, heh. Hell you can write on damn near anything with one of those and they smell really good, too.
maven2k
ripfire
Posted 1:15 AM 9/9/08
Would you still call it a newspaper even though it's not really on paper?
I agree with Noobs. Why couldn't they just do this on Kindle or Sony Reader? I agree with annotation as well. It would be nice to select a block and create a bookmark/link, and export that to a text file.
ripfire
MrSophistication
Posted 1:49 AM 9/9/08
Yes, coolest part of Babylon A.D.
MrSophistication
reddingofish
Posted 2:16 AM 9/9/08
Here they come. Dancing cereal box art.
reddingofish
Eminy
Posted 2:48 AM 9/9/08
Someone should remind them that the REST OF THE WORLD uses A4 size paper in their copier...just saying.
Eminy
gizboro
Posted 4:21 AM 9/9/08
@Eminy:
So that's how you print! You put that thing on a copier - it's just as easy! Then you can read your papers as usual.
gizboro
gizboro
Posted 4:11 AM 9/9/08
So that's how printing works? You put that thing on a copier - it's just that easy! And then you can read your papers as usual.
gizboro
quen
Posted 9:42 AM 9/9/08
@Eminy: The company appears to be (at least initially) British - it's a Cambridge University spinoff according to their site.
Whether or not that means the screen is actually 210x297 (A4) I don't know...
quen
OMG! Ponies!
Posted 10:28 AM 9/9/08
And I will still continue to be an asshole by doing the crossword in pen on it.
OMG! Ponies!