The Onyx Boox Typewriter is a laptop device that uses a 9.7" E Ink display. This is an interesting design that may appeal to writers and many others if it is executed correctly.
The Onyx Boox Typewriter is not official yet, but this interesting device was spotted in an official company brochure.
E Ink and Sony Semiconductor Solutions announced a joint venture with an aim to develop, manufacture and market products that use e-paper displays. Sony and E Ink Holdings will have about 70% of the shares in the new JV, while the rest will be owned by venture capital companies.
Sony has been using E Ink displays since 2004, first with its e-reader devices (it is still offering its large 13.3" flexible E Ink based reader, but the smaller ones are no longer in production) and later with wearables and other unique products.
E Ink Holdings reported its financial results for 2016, with the first operating profit in five years. The company was still profitable, due to royalty earnings, but now its operations are profitable too - in 2016 operating income was NT$61 million ($2 million USD).
The company's chairman says that the improvement stems from a better product mix, enhanced productivity - and the company's new asset-light policy and divestment from unprofitable business. E Ink quite the LCD market to focus on its e-paper technologies. New sales drivers are e-paper displays, electronic shelf labels and electronic signages. Demand from e-reader remains stable and E Ink actually expects annual growth in that market.
E Ink iPhone case developer PopSlate announced that the company has entered into the legal process for dissolution of the company, and current customers that ordered its PopSlate 2 case will not get their products or be issued a refund
In early 2016 PopSlate raised $1.1 million in a crowd funding campaign to develop the PopSlate 2 - which was supposed to offer a 4.7" 800x450 E Ink display for the back of your phone.
In March 2016 Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) announced a strategic partnership with E Ink to co-develop and co-market products that use E Ink displays - mainly targeting the retail market and also security cards and smartcards.
E Ink Holdings now says that the two companies will launch a point-of-purchase (POP) interactive advertising display next month. The POP solution will be based on E Ink's Prism color-variable e-paper technology. The system can "sense consumers' shopping behavior" and display responsive colors and patterns "in line with the sensed behavior". The idea is that such a display will make products more visible and attractive to consumers.
The Oaxis InkCase IVY is a smart iPhone 7 case that offers a 2.13" E Ink display that can display the time, notifications, to-do lists and calendar reminders. It can also be customized to show an image so to enhance the style of your iPhone case. The IVY can last up to two months between charges, and protects your phone using BubblePro drop protection tech.
The IVY will ship soon and is ready for pre-order at $49 for the black and white version and $52 for the wood finish model (these prices are lower than the price after launch).
MaterCall is an innovating parking solution that uses NFC/QR and a small numeric e-Paper (E Ink) display to show driver phone numbers. The idea is that people can leave their phone number to the car owner via a simple application.
The MaterCall is launching for the Korean market, mostly targeting rental cars. It is available in 'card-type' or 'case type' which is a bit larger but more affordable. For more information click here.
