Author Topic: E-ink devices  (Read 2078 times)

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VomKriege

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E-ink devices
« on: October 21, 2017, 09:56:19 AM »
So I've recently taken in interest in e-ink technology (the one used in e-readers). There's some phones boosting dual screens (classic backlight and e-ink) like the russian Yotaphone : it's pretty cool but a bit of a novelty. So following that I wondered if there was something like a digital notepad with a pen. To my surprise there's only really large devices readily available (one from Sony) closer to A4 format at no small price -600 to 800$-.

I know smartphones do all that shit but personally I find taking small notes super cumbersome, even with the voice assistant. Pens are still the best form factor for this, at least to me. The idea of a notepad / moleskine sized device would be very appealing to me. I guess some of the current limitations (reactivity / lag is still an issue) on top of a narrow market (I'm sure millenials are just doing fine with the iphone) are to blame for this ?

Anyone can shed a light here ? Are smaller devices maybe coming ? Or is Samsung Note and al. the most reasonable compromise ?
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desert punk

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Re: E-ink devices
« Reply #1 on: October 21, 2017, 12:01:48 PM »
I was wondering that myself. Due to medical issues I'm prone to forget a lot of things so in order to counter this I started making lots of small notes throughout the day. But yeah, no matter how big my smartphone is, typing is still rather inconvenient for me so I'd rather take a pen. I'm not using voice recognition because other than taking calls or such, I'm too weird to talk to my phone :P

But even if there were such a device, the thought of carrying another gadget with me that has to be charged is rather unappealing to me, so I guess I have to wait until smartphones get better at this.

VomKriege

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Re: E-ink devices
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2017, 12:15:33 PM »
The idea of a separate device is probably why it's niche.
Apparently Samsung patented a phone case with an e-ink screen cover. I guess it may take off within mobile phones when multiscreen will be more of a thing (Samsung, still, has a foldable touchscreen prototype).
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Cryo

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Re: E-ink devices
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2017, 09:18:32 PM »
thread is relevant to my interests, are there any companies making good devices that are similarly sized to the OG kindles? I'm awful at remembering to take breaks when using computers and all the reading I have to do these days would work a lot better on an e-ink device.

Rise

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Re: E-ink devices
« Reply #4 on: October 21, 2017, 09:43:35 PM »
There aren't any small e-ink devices with writing abilities. There's the Sony A4 thing, the Onyx Boox devices, and the reMarkable.

If you want a small e-reader with no handwriting there was the Kobo Mini though.

I just bought a Kobo Aura One to replace my aging and semi-lost 2012 Kindle. 300dpi + hardcover/large paperback screen size should be a nice jump... I was tempted by the new Oasis but 7" is still smaller than the Aura One and I don't really like the way Amazon does business and their typography engine is super limited compared to Kobo. Can't wait to actually get it.

VomKriege

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Re: E-ink devices
« Reply #5 on: October 21, 2017, 09:54:20 PM »
Quote
There aren't any small e-ink devices with writing abilities.

Any idea why ? Tech limits or lack of a market ?
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Rise

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Re: E-ink devices
« Reply #6 on: October 21, 2017, 09:55:13 PM »
Quote
There aren't any small e-ink devices with writing abilities.

Any idea why ? Tech limits or lack of a market ?
Lack of market. All these writable e-ink devices are huge because they're meant for marking up technical documents and stuff.

hampster

  • Senior Member
Re: E-ink devices
« Reply #7 on: October 22, 2017, 01:15:11 AM »
Anyone use a smart pen ??? I've wanted to try one since it seems like a simple way to take notes and get them on my phone
Zzz

VomKriege

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Re: E-ink devices
« Reply #8 on: October 22, 2017, 05:55:35 AM »
Anyone use a smart pen ??? I've wanted to try one since it seems like a simple way to take notes and get them on my phone

Yeah I remember a kickstarter for a wireless israeli pen you could use on any surface and link to your device. Sounded cool. Should probably look that up...

Any Samsung Note user can give some feedback on it as far as the whole pen uses ?
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Optimus

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Re: E-ink devices
« Reply #9 on: October 22, 2017, 09:03:33 AM »
My problem with e-ink is that most models are 6" which is imo goddamn tiny and anything above that costs a fortune. Kobo Aura ONE for example costs $230, it's just not worth it.

Rise

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Re: E-ink devices
« Reply #10 on: October 22, 2017, 05:41:47 PM »
kobo's midrange models are 6.8" but yeah I wish the Aura One size would be more standard and affordable. I never used my Kindle that much unless I just couldn't find a book at my library because the pocket paperback size isn't something I really enjoy.

I read enough to justify my Aura One purchase to myself though  :-[

EarthBound64

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Re: E-ink devices
« Reply #11 on: October 22, 2017, 07:01:03 PM »
personally I find taking small notes super cumbersome, even with the voice assistant. Pens are still the best form factor for this, at least to me. The idea of a notepad / moleskine sized device would be very appealing to me. I guess some of the current limitations (reactivity / lag is still an issue) on top of a narrow market (I'm sure millenials are just doing fine with the iphone) are to blame for this ?

Anyone can shed a light here ? Are smaller devices maybe coming ? Or is Samsung Note and al. the most reasonable compromise ?


Kurt Russell

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Re: E-ink devices
« Reply #12 on: October 22, 2017, 08:20:26 PM »
I had a Pebble Watch - the E-Ink display was incredible. Also could get a week out of a charge.

woke

VomKriege

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Re: E-ink devices
« Reply #13 on: October 22, 2017, 08:27:14 PM »
personally I find taking small notes super cumbersome, even with the voice assistant. Pens are still the best form factor for this, at least to me. The idea of a notepad / moleskine sized device would be very appealing to me. I guess some of the current limitations (reactivity / lag is still an issue) on top of a narrow market (I'm sure millenials are just doing fine with the iphone) are to blame for this ?

Anyone can shed a light here ? Are smaller devices maybe coming ? Or is Samsung Note and al. the most reasonable compromise ?

(Image removed from quote.)

Care to elaborate a bit ? I like physical keyboards but it's still less efficient and quick to write a note than with a pen. From the product ref. I gather it's a specialty case for Samsung phones ?
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EarthBound64

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Re: E-ink devices
« Reply #14 on: October 22, 2017, 09:31:34 PM »
personally I find taking small notes super cumbersome, even with the voice assistant. Pens are still the best form factor for this, at least to me. The idea of a notepad / moleskine sized device would be very appealing to me. I guess some of the current limitations (reactivity / lag is still an issue) on top of a narrow market (I'm sure millenials are just doing fine with the iphone) are to blame for this ?

Anyone can shed a light here ? Are smaller devices maybe coming ? Or is Samsung Note and al. the most reasonable compromise ?

(Image removed from quote.)

Care to elaborate a bit ? I like physical keyboards but it's still less efficient and quick to write a note than with a pen. From the product ref. I gather it's a specialty case for Samsung phones ?

Yeah, it's a keyboard for the Samsung S8, that snaps onto the front of the screen - and, importantly, resizes the screen so that the keyboard isn't covering anything - which you can use to type. And if you don't want the keyboard and want more screen space, you can just pop the keyboard off and snap it onto the back for safekeeping until you want it again. And when you want to type more, just pull it off the back, pop it back onto the front, and type more.

It's pretty much the next-best thing to a BlackBerry.
And, I definitely type far faster than I write.

altright

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Re: E-ink devices
« Reply #15 on: October 24, 2017, 01:23:29 PM »
My problem with e-ink is that most models are 6" which is imo goddamn tiny and anything above that costs a fortune. Kobo Aura ONE for example costs $230, it's just not worth it.

I have the cheap Kobo and the size is almost perfect for me. It fits in my pocket and I read whenever there is any downtime. I only read books on it. If I want to read comics I have a tablet and a 2 in 1.