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Russian startup to release a smartphone with e-ink display on the back [video]

89 points| corporalagumbo | 13 years ago |news.bbc.co.uk

61 comments

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[+] diziet|13 years ago|reply
It seems bbc did not link the company's website: http://www.yotaphone.com/

I always wondered why a concept like this never made it to a device -- e-ink displays are pretty incredible with battery life, and my phones usually last quite a long time without the screen turned on. The specs look quite compatible to current-generation top end phones, so it'll be interesting to see this device in action.

I also recall Pixel QI (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixel_Qi) working on a hybrid e-ink and lcd display, hybrid in the sense that they used current lcd manufacturing technology to have a display operate in two power modes, with and without the backlight on, with different resolutions too, but I haven't seen any of their displays make it to a really main-stream product yet.

[+] piqufoh|13 years ago|reply
"It seems bbc did not link the company's website"

The Beeb has to remain non-partisan commercially (in the UK at least) as they are tax payer funded - I guess inclusion of a link could constitute some form of advertising and might upset other companies.

A pure e-ink device might not appeal to users expecting a nokia/apple/samsung like screen response ("wot? No colours?") which I imagine would eliminate it from market. [I would love such a device]

[+] throwmeaway33|13 years ago|reply
"my phones usually last quite a long time without the screen turned on."

It's important to remember that this isn't just because the display is off - it's also because the device is in a low power state. Try having an app running with the screen turned off - it also doesn't last too long.

It's be interesting to see what % of the battery usage is due to JUST the screen. If anyone has any stats, please post!

[+] Tycho|13 years ago|reply
Finally. I've been suggesting this for years. Companies who want to really compete with apple should be trying radical designs. Tragic lack of tinkering on the hardware front.
[+] rimantas|13 years ago|reply
Companies who want to compete with Apple should try to understand what their customers would like better than the customers themselves. E.g. initial reaction to iPad and its success. Alas "radical design" usually ends up with UI astronautics and gimmicks which may be cool to show off once, but not really useable.
[+] adventured|13 years ago|reply
I agree with the tragic lack of tinkering, however, Samsung hasn't had to do anything radical on the design front to print crazy sums of profits successfully competing with Apple. They did of course have to produce great products.
[+] corporalagumbo|13 years ago|reply
Indeed. Seeing this really makes me feel even less sympathy for Microsoft's failure to gain traction with windows phone. They're just not doing anything particularly exciting.
[+] dhughes|13 years ago|reply
When phones started being sealed i.e. battery not removable I thought wouldn't it be interesting to have a phone with displays on the front and back.

Not eInk but full displays on each side, don't ask me why.

[+] Meai|13 years ago|reply
I would love all my displays to be e-ink, meaning: My 24inch displays for programming, my phones, everything. Android would need to provide an e-ink mode, but that shouldn't be too hard to do. I honestly don't need that much animation or color, so I would be more than fine with switching to it completely. I can still use my old display if I ever really want to do some multimedia use, but for day to day use e-ink should be perfect.
[+] JunkDNA|13 years ago|reply
Have you ever tried scrolling with an e-ink display? Maybe the absolute latest ones are better but using the kindle web browser on my 2 year old kindle is an unpleasant experience.
[+] borplk|13 years ago|reply
Same here. If they could improve the responsiveness of e-ink displays I really love a large e-ink display.
[+] garagemc2|13 years ago|reply
The use cases / problems the device solves as mentioned by the CEO are multiple in nature. But I'm not sure which will realistically be the one that gets consumers to buy.

For me a phone with e-ink is amazing because it allows me to read stuff with hurting my eyes. You can also use it in the sunlight.

What does everyone else think?

[+] nanidin|13 years ago|reply
I think it's a brilliant idea - as long as the screen is sufficiently protected. I am on my second Kindle. I'm not particularly rough on gadgets but I travel a lot and even the second one is starting to show a lot of wear whereas my iPhone shows almost none.
[+] corporalagumbo|13 years ago|reply
I think it sounds like a great idea, and its awesome to see a small upstart challenging the big players with something really fresh.
[+] heyitsnick|13 years ago|reply
Seems inspired to Popslate, who's crowd-sourced fundraising is still going on on Indiegogo: http://www.indiegogo.com/popslate

It reached its target to bring an iPhone 5 case with eink on the back; it received pretty wide coverage (and raised eyebrows) back in late November.

[+] legutierr|13 years ago|reply
In the interview the gentleman says that they have been working in it for two years, and they handle a working phone. I don't know what the lead time is to manufacture a new phone, but the timing indicates to me that they were conceived of independently.
[+] brador|13 years ago|reply
That's the downside of crowdfunding. You have to release your idea into the wild and hope no one copies before you can get a saleable product out.
[+] ovidiu|13 years ago|reply
Maybe it would also be interesting to have phones with e-ink displays on its sides, for things such as notifications, weather conditions and phone status.
[+] stcredzero|13 years ago|reply
The form factor that makes the most sense for notifications is a watch. It's a lot easier to look at a watch than it is to dig out a cell phone.
[+] DanBC|13 years ago|reply
I'd be happy with something small (like the HTC Wildfire S) with just an e-ink screen. Or as the e-ink screen as primary with a tiny OLED for alerts.
[+] matthiasb|13 years ago|reply
What content would you like to see on your phone/tablet e-Ink backscreen?

The video shows a weather app as an example. It implies we would leave our phone the e-Ink screen up. I find it interesting because it changes the way we are using our devices today.

[+] netcan|13 years ago|reply
Most of what I do on a phone could be done with e-ink.

Calling/skype, various messaging apps, podcasts, music, weather, bus app, email, calendar, chess clock. There are some things that wouldn't work (games, video). These are fairly low priority for me. Some things that might sorta work, especially if they were re-made for e-ink (eg maps/navigation apps). These I want on my phone.

An e-ink phone might not be a bad idea if it could carry other advantages too. A $200 smartphone with 3 day batteries that runs 80% of apps might be appealing to a lot of people.

[+] riffraff|13 years ago|reply
It may seem crazy, but I often read on my phone, I'd be way happier to have an eink screen there.
[+] corporalagumbo|13 years ago|reply
At the very least, you can now have a new rear cover wallpaper whenever you want. Other than that - I could definitely imagine games that involve switching between the two sides to solve puzzles. Flash card apps would be fun!
[+] rtcoms|13 years ago|reply
It can be used for saving battery also. Minimum functionality like calling, messaging can be provided on on e-ink screen and you can have battery life of around 30 days something.
[+] swah|13 years ago|reply
Next event in huge font ?
[+] silasb|13 years ago|reply
I like it, but I want the screens to be stacked. When you turn of the LCD screen I would like to then be able to view the e-ink display.
[+] chinmoy|13 years ago|reply
This is simply brilliant!I would be buying this for sure when it comes out.
[+] akos|13 years ago|reply
The ad on the video is quite annoying!