Thursday 11 November 2010

E-ink + mobile phone = death of the e-reader?

Because the paper-mimicking qualities (and long battery life) of e-ink displays are just about the only thing that make dedicated e-readers worth having. Now that e-ink is being incorporated into mobile phone displays, I can't help thinking that this is the beginning of the end for e-book-specific devices. Samsung's Alias 2 and the new Samsung Zeal (http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/36688/samsung-zeal-e-ink-phone), for example, are starting to use e-ink powered keypads. And with a new colour e-ink e-reader just launched (http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20022237-93.html), how long before we see this technology in mobile phones? And who will want to cart around an e-reader when a mobile phone will be capable of doing everything the e-reader does and more?

Of course, we're not quite there yet, and, as the capabilities of different devices converge, I wonder whether we'll see a series of hybrids, with consumers opting for whichever reflects their primary use. Do you want a mobile phone for e-books or an e-reader on which you can make phone calls?

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