Orange to pilot world's first e-newspaper

The world's first entirely electronic newspapers will go on trial in France next week, offering not only morning headlines but automatic updates every hour throughout the day.

The touch-screen, A5-sized, device uses "ePaper" and "eInk" technology to make it as much like reading normal newsprint as possible. It includes both WiFi and a 3G mobile chip so news can be refreshed every hour during the day, even on the move.

There are already electronic books on the market, notably Amazon's Kindle, which was launched last year but is yet to make it to non-US markets. But Orange's Read&Go is specifically designed to give the same impression as reading a traditional newspaper, including using display technology that paralyses bubbles of ink and is not, like a laptop screen, unreadable in bright sunlight.

The pilot scheme, in partnership with five French newspapers including Le Monde and Les Echos, will run until mid-summer, and could pave the way for a commercial service within a few years.

A key testing ground is the technology itself – including how it stands up to rolling updates from five major content providers and how easy the device is to use.

Orange has also already launched a worldwide call for next-generation flexible electronic paper technology with a view to replacing the rigid tablet being used in the pilot scheme with a more user-friendly format that could potentially be rolled up when not in use.

There are also major questions for the newspapers to answer about how the content is organised compared with a printed paper, and how stories are best laid out or divided according to what works in a smaller, digital format. But Orange insists the device will replicate the printed paper, rather than simply providing mobile access to the paper's online news website.

The business model for a commercial scheme is also under review – including the possibility of a subscription to one or more specific newspapers, or a pay-on-demand account.

But it is the advertising potential that is likely to grab media groups' attention. Printed newspaper circulations have been hard hit by the rise of internet news sites, with ad revenues falling in parallel. And despite considerable investment in websites allied to the national papers, the business model is yet to show a profit. Not only could a successful electronic newspaper device reinvigorate the sector's revenues but it could also open the door to more innovative advertising including interactive or location-sensitive marketing – some of which will be tested by Orange as part of this summer's trial.

Nicki Lyons, an analyst at PricewaterhouseCoopers, said: "Anything that makes content easier to consume will have a significant impact. Newspapers have been quite innovative with the development of content online – they are streets ahead of television companies. There will be a tipping point where that investment starts to pay off."

E-ink annouces next generation segmented display cells

E Ink(R) Corporation, the leading developer and marketer of electronic paper display technology, today announced general availability of its next generation segmented display cells (SDC). The SDC products are simple digit, icon and alpha-numeric displays, offering exceptional readability in a paper-thin form factor that uses minimal
battery power. The new SDCs are 40% thinner with a wider operational temperature range and increased flexibility for repetitive 3-D bends or 2-D conformable solutions. Applications include consumer electronics, PC-accessory, display smartcards, capacity indicators, electronic shelf labels, signage and communications applications. The SDC displays use the same E Ink Vizplex(TM) technology that is shipping in popular electronic book devices such as the Amazon Kindle, SONY Reader and iRex iLiad.

"When you need information to make a decision, an E Ink SDC display lets you see it quickly and clearly from any angle," said Russ Wilcox, President and CEO, E Ink Corporation. "With a paper-thin and flexible plastic display that can be cut to any shape, innovative product designs are limited only by the imagination of the designers."

"After an extensive review of display technologies, Delphi chose E Ink's segmented electronic paper displays for our wireless, bi-directional key fob that has been designed to offer car-to-user and user-to-car communication over an extremely long range," said Joe DiCarlo, Director of Engineering for Controls and Security in North America, Delphi. "The groundbreaking fob offers packaging flexibility and does not consume much power. Because it provides drivers valuable vehicle information and control, it is imperative that its display can be read in bright sunlight. Thanks to E Ink, that is possible."

"E Ink has enabled us to offer superior display solutions to the world's leading producers of smart cards for bank card and OTC token applications" said George Ou, CEO of Smart Displayer. "E Ink's displays are flexible, extremely thin, sunlight readable and consume very little power."

High Performance Rugged Displays

Thinner, more flexible and wider operation ranges all highlight the performance increase of the latest generation of E Ink SDCs. Three height levels are available, depending on backplane configuration: thin PET 330 microns, PET 380 microns, or PI 375 microns. PET options provide 200 micron design rules for the art work or space and trace of 8 mils by 8 mils. The finer pitch PI option uses 100 micron design rules for 4 mils by 4 mils. Increased temperature ranges with operations from -10(degree)C to 60(degree)C, and storage from -25(degree)C to 75(degree)C.

Think Outside the Rectangle

Organic non-rectangular unique shapes are possible, including holes, curves, and other non-standard designs. Additionally, E Ink's SDC platform provides viewable angle of nearly 180(degree) and can be viewed under a variety of lighting conditions from direct sun to low-level ambient light. E Ink's Vizplex based electronic paper solutions are bistable, reflective displays which enable the image to remain for over a year with zero power.

Custom Design to Mass Production

Custom rapid product development is easy with E Ink's SDC "Design to Mass Production" program. Starting from a customer-supplied CAD file, E Ink typically can supply production-ready samples within eight weeks after artwork approval and enter mass production within twelve weeks. E Ink has partnered with several chip suppliers, including Dialog Semiconductor, Epson Semiconductor, Solomon-Systech, and Citizen who have developed compatible segmented display driver ICs.

Standard SDC Products

E Ink is now offering six standard SDC designs for fast prototyping and application specific solutions. Standard parts include stacked 10-bar, graduated 5-bar, 100%, MB/GB, 8-digit and 6-digit SDCs.

About E Ink Corporation

E Ink Corporation is the world's leading supplier of electronic paper display (EPD) technologies. E Ink's technology is ideal for many consumer and industrial applications spanning handheld devices, eBooks, PC-accessories, watches, clocks, and public information displays and promotional signs. E Ink is a private corporation that includes among its investors and strategic partners TOPPAN Printing Company, The Hearst Corporation, Intel Capital, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., and Motorola, Inc. E Ink news can be found at: www.eink.com.

Worldwide ART Technology, Funkwerk Information Technologies Karlsfeld (FITK) GmbH, Lexar Media, Motorola, Qwizdom, Seiko-Epson, Smart Displayer, and UPM have shipped products powered by E Ink's segmented ePaper technology.

Thinner, wider operational temp range, rugged ePaper SDCs enable
displays to go where none have gone before

New Chip from Epson promises new capabilities for e-ink displays

Epson and its subsidiary, Epson Electronics America, have joined hands with E Ink, a developer of Electronic Paper Display (EPD) technology, to jointly develop display controller IC. This new controller has been designed to bring new capabilities for E Ink's Vizplex-enabled electronic paper displays.

EPD low-power consumption screen technology is driving new mobile applications like eBooks, eNewspapers, tablet PCs, laptop secondary displays, eNotebooks, and eDictionaries.

The new EPD controller IC (part number S1D13521B) combines technologies from both Epson and E Ink. It will be offered in production quantities by Epson and as part of E Ink's upcoming AM300 Broadsheet prototype kit.


It promises to speed up the user interface of EPDs via better navigation, drop down/popup menus, responsive cursors, and real-time keyboard entry. The controller enables the display to perform up to 16 tasks in parallel, and supports pen input devices for annotations and sketches.

E Ink claims future devices using this chip could offer a fast menu interface, simple animations, higher grayscale levels, and user input through typing and touch.

Samples of the Epson S1D13521B will be available in May 2008. Production quantities will be available in August 2008. Sample price is US $18.

E-Ink is also offering a Broadsheet AM300 prototype kit for engineers to develop next generation ePaper products. Compatible with different sizes of active matrix displays, it allows users to create functional, low profile product mock-ups.

The AM300 will be shipping in June. It can be pre-ordered at E Ink's website.


Via CXOtoday Staff

Epson and E Ink Announce Breakthrough Controller IC for Electronic Paper Displays

New chip enables faster navigation, multi-tasking, and real-time pen/keyboard input.

Seiko Epson Corporation ("Epson"), a global supplier of semiconductor solutions, its subsidiary Epson Electronics America Inc., and E Ink Corporation, the leading developer and marketer of electronic paper display (EPD) technology, today announced a jointly developed display controller IC enabling new capabilities for E Ink’s Vizplex enabled electronic paper displays. EPD low-power consumption screen technology is driving an emerging class of new mobile applications, such as eBooks, eNewspapers, tablet PCs, laptop secondary displays, eNotebooks, and eDictionaries.

The new EPD controller IC (part number S1D13521B) was developed by combining technologies from both Epson and E Ink. It will be offered in production quantities by Epson and as part of E Ink’s upcoming AM300 Broadsheet prototype kit.


The Epson display controller will bring greater functionality to EPDs using E Ink technology by speeding up the user interface via seamless navigation, drop down/popup menus, responsive cursors and real-time keyboard entry. The controller enables the display to perform up to 16 tasks in parallel, and supports smooth and responsive pen input devices for annotations and sketches.

"Epson developed the powerful S1D13521 with E Ink to support new ePaper applications such as electronic newspapers, portable web browsers and industrial tablets" said Russ Wilcox, President and CEO of E Ink. "With the ability to address many screen regions simultaneously, future devices using this chip could offer a fast menu interface, simple animations, higher grayscale levels, and user input through typing and touch"

"Epson has, for many years, been offering various display controllers to the market. With this new controller IC, we are very excited to develop the emerging EPD display market together with E Ink. This new product development reflects our shared commitment to developing electronic solutions that help to conserve energy and natural resources and are friendly to the environment" said Ryuhei Miyagawa, Division Manager for Epson’s Semiconductor Operations Division.

Epson’s controller IC’s functionality is fully enabled when integrated into a display solution utilizing a host controller, tuned waveforms, and E Ink’s Vizplex-enabled active matrix electrophoretic displays. Its ability to perform regional updates contributes to a more responsive screen for both input and output usage. Samples of the Epson S1D13521B will be available in May 2008. Production quantities will be available in August 2008. Sample price is $18.

The Broadsheet AM300 prototype kit being offered by E Ink is the fastest way to start working with E Ink technology using the Epson EPD controller. The Broadsheet kit will enable engineers to rapidly prototype and develop next generation ePaper products. Compatible with 5-in., 6-in., 8-in., and 9.7-in. active matrix displays, the kit allows users to quickly create functional, low-profile product mock-ups using the kit’s modular design. The AM300 will be shipping in June and is available online at www.eink.com for pre-order.

E Ink Announces Major Strides in Its Flexible Display Program

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- E Ink Corporation, the leader in electronic paper display technology, today announced advances in its flexible display program with Dr. Michael McCreary highlighting these advances at the recent USDC symposium.

Partner LG.Philips LCD recently announced the world's highest resolution 14.3-inch flexible color display at the January 2008 CES show. This display utilizes E Ink's Vizplex Imaging Film with LG.Philip's metal foil and plastic substrate backplane. The resulting display is less than 300 micrometers thick with a resolution of 1280 by 800 pixels and is both rollable and bendable, with no image distortion. "The potential applications for this display are incredible and will allow our customers to create new products that are not only convenient to use but also save natural resources. This represents the next generation in display technology." Said Mr. In-Jae Chung, the company's Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President.

Last week, partner Polymer Vision announced plans to mass produce a rollable display device, Readius(TM) aimed at cell phone applications. The rollable display in the Readius also contains E Ink's Vizplex Imaging Film. "People are demanding greater choice and flexibility in having overall instant access to personal content and information" said Karl McGoldrick, CEO of Polymer Vision. "They do not want to be concerned with small screens, not being able to read in sunlight, a dead battery or a device being too bulky to carry in their pocket."

Partner Plastic Logic announced that it had raised $100 Million in funding and was building the first factory to manufacture plastic electronics on a commercial scale. "Our revolutionary flexible displays using E Ink's Vizplex technology will radically change the way the world receives information," said Dr. John Mills, COO of Plastic Logic.

E Ink has worked with these, and other industry leaders including Prime View International, Samsung and Epson, in developing flexible displays for the market and has pioneered a number of "world's firsts" in the display industry. Displays using E Ink Vizplex Imaging Film are ideally suited for flexible display applications due to their thin form factor and inherent flexibility. E Ink's electronic ink is an image stable reflective display technology that uses ultra-low power but is easily read under any lighting condition including direct sunlight. Unlike liquid crystal displays, the image on E Ink displays looks the same from all viewing angles and will not distort when touched or flexed, making electronic ink the ideal display medium for flexible displays and portable devices.

"We believe the flexible display market will grow at the CAGR of over 120% in the next three years and be over $600 Million in 2010, and electrophoretic display will continue to be the lead among all the display technologies for flexible display." said Dr. Jennifer Colegrove, senior analyst of iSuppli Corporation who is the author of iSuppli's Flexible Display report (2008 version).

"E Ink was founded on the vision of Radio Paper(TM), that is, flexible wireless displays," said Dr Michael McCreary, vice president of advanced research and development at E Ink Corporation. "We are excited that our partners are moving forward with electronic solutions that are not dependent on breakable glass substrates, and, together with E Ink Vizplex Imaging Film, enable new applications that require extremely light weight and rugged displays."