ePaper weather forecast

Cambridge, January 5, 2006 - Two innovative MIT offshoots have joined forces to make a simple household device that reliably forecasts the local weather. Ambient Devices and E Ink today announced the Weather Wizard, which uses electronic paper to continuously display 5-day weather forecasts, broadcast in real time over Ambient’s nationwide wireless network.

The Weather Wizard is the size of a postcard and can easily stand on a dresser or hang on a refrigerator door. The customer simply enters a zip code and the product then shows the latest local weather forecast at all times. By combining Ambient’s energy-efficient wireless technology with E Ink’s low-power display technology, the Weather Wizard can operate continuously for two years on just two AAA batteries, so it is always accurate and does not require any cords or cables.

“As consumer products have become increasingly complex, the Weather Wizard signals a shift to simplicity,” says David Rose, Ambient’s president, “The E Ink displays are perfect for any low-power application and moreover they are beautiful. The contrast is like paper from any viewing angle and the image is crisp and clear.”

Russ Wilcox, E Ink president said “We are delighted to support Ambient because their network coverage is ubiquitous, and they continuously broadcast weather, stock, traffic, and other real-time information that people care about. With a reliable wireless technology that runs on a small battery, they can add intelligence to common objects in a magical way.”

Ambient’s nationwide wireless network and low-cost chipset technology provides the leading solution for embedding online information in weather stations, clock radios, car dashboards — and now pieces of paper. Compared to Microsoft’s MSN Direct technology, Ambient’s network coverage is broader, at a lower cost and 120 times longer battery life.

E Ink segmented display cell for the Weather Wizard is based on its novel electronic ink technology that uses 99% less energy than a liquid crystal display of the same size. Electronic ink works by using electricity to rearrange black and white particles similar to bits of ink and paper and it achieves the same clarity as printed text. The cell is made of flexible plastic, so it is paper-thin and lightweight.

Sony Reader

Ground-breaking Technology, Seamless Service and a Broad Range of Available Content Combine to Revolutionize Reading

LAS VEGAS (CES Booth #14200), Jan. 4, 2006 _ Destined to transform the electronic reading experience, the lightweight Sony® Reader is expected to bring a whole new meaning to "book smart."

Coupling an innovative electronic paper display with precise one-handed navigation and a stylish, durable design, the Sony Reader will allow active readers to carry as much as they want to read whether they are traveling on the road or just around the corner.

Roughly the size of a paperback novel, but thinner than most (about .5 inches thin), the device can store hundreds of books in internal memory with the addition of an optional Memory Stick® or Secure Digital (SD) flash memory card.

The Reader can also store and display personal documents in Adobe PDF format, favorite web content like blogs or news feeds, and JPEG photos. With a seemingly limitless battery life equivalent to roughly 7,500 page turns, avid readers can devour a dozen bestsellers plus War and Peace without ever having to recharge.

"In recent years millions of people have become comfortable downloading and enjoying digital media, including eBooks. But until now, there has not been a good device on which to read," said Ron Hawkins, senior vice president of Personal Reader Systems marketing at Sony Electronics. "Our research has shown that people are looking for a device designed exclusively for immersive reading. The Sony Reader with its electronic paper display, thin format and extraordinary battery life fits the bill."

Paper-Like Display
Part of the magic behind the Reader's viewing experience is the high-resolution electronic paper display technology, which delivers a realistic print look that rivals traditional paper. The result is readable text and graphics from a variety of viewing angles, even outdoors in bright sunlight. Since there is no backlight, readers will not experience the fatigue associated with long term reading on an LCD. And, as the technology renders each page as a static image, there is no flicker or constant screen refresh to add to eyestrain.

Users with impaired or limited eyesight will enjoy the Reader's fully adjustable text size, which can be magnified or reduced on demand.

Connect to Thousands of Titles
Sony Connect® will support the launch of the Sony Reader by providing an online store integrated into an easy-to-use desktop application called the Connect Reader. The software will allow users to search and browse through thousands of downloadable eBooks, manage purchased eBooks and easily transfer them to the Sony Reader device. At the outset, the Connect Store will offer a broad selection of fiction and non-fiction, bestsellers, well-known authors, classics and more, with rich descriptive content in the form of author biographies, expert book reviews and reader commentary.

Additionally, the Connect Store will offer online content sourced via RSS (Really Simple Syndication).

"Reading books is a vital part of the overall reading experience, which also increasingly consists of written content from online news sources, blogs and other forms of web content," said Lee Ali Shirani, vice president of Sony Connect. "Connect will allow users to take eBooks, news feeds and other online media and enjoy that portably, thereby making the Reader the portable device for all things text."

Major Support from Publishers
Booklovers will applaud the broad selection of eBooks already available for purchase and download to the Reader device. Many of the world's leading book publishers, including Random House, HarperCollins Publishers, Penguin-Putnam, Simon & Schuster and Time Warner Book Group will support Sony's e-reading initiative.

Many independent and specialty publishers will also have eBook titles available for purchase and download to the Sony Reader. Manga comics and graphic novels from innovative houses such as TOKYOPOP are rendered beautifully on the device and will also be available for download.

The Sony Reader will be available in the U.S. this spring and can be purchased at select retailers, online at SonyStyle.com or at SonyStyle® stores (www.sonystyle.com/retail) in high-end fashion malls around the country. More information about Sony Reader is available at www.sony.com/reader.

ePaper storage capacity meter

Las Vegas, January 3, 2006 - Lexar Media, Inc. (NASDAQ: LEXR), a leader in advanced digital media and accessories, today announced plans to add a unique storage capacity meter to its popular USB flash drives by integrating an innovative electronic paper display from E Ink Corporation. The E Ink display is a paper-thin, shatter proof, easy to read meter that does not rely on power to show the capacity information when disconnected from the computer. On display at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Lexar JumpDrive® Mercury will be the first USB flash drive to feature the on-board non-volatile smart capacity meter that will let customers easily monitor their available storage capacity.

“E Ink's display products are paper-thin, low-power and ideal for a wide range of products from smart mobile devices to simple indicators such as those offered by Lexar,” said Darren Bischoff, E Ink Senior Marketing Manager. “Lexar's JumpDrive is a great example of a product truly capable of leveraging all the benefits of our E Ink On DisplayTM solution. With this widespread commercial implementation of our technology, Lexar will be the highest volume provider of products with electronic paper displays.”

Thinner than a credit card at less than 0.7mm, E Ink's rugged bar graph display is an all-plastic construction that does not require a battery to maintain the display of the available storage capacity on the JumpDrive. This makes it possible for Lexar to add the benefit of an exterior gauge, without sacrificing the light, durable and portable design of its products. In addition, the integrated capacity meter on JumpDrive Mercury will be a fully contained solution that automatically discovers the available capacity and updates the display without involving any host software.

“Innovation continues to be the dominate focus for Lexar's popular line of USB flash drives, which helps us offer customers cool features based on revolutionary technologies like the On Display solution from E Ink,” said Steffen Hellmold, vice president and general manager USB flash drive and OEM products business unit, Lexar. “JumpDrive Mercury will be the first product in Lexar's line that demonstrates the results of our partnership with E Ink.”

E Ink's display technology uses black and white particles that are contained in tiny clear capsules. Once set to an image, the display reflects light just like ordinary paper. This makes it readable even in difficult conditions such as direct sunlight and is perfect for those trying to catch a glimpse of their remaining storage on the go