Apple Exploring E-Ink/Video Hybrid Displays for iPhone?

[BC2009]

Yay, for once Apple might be putting something I find useful into the istuff.

Yeah... now if only the iPhone could double as a glide-on stick deodorant -- then that would be really useful, right?

I sure wish Apple was more innovative and made things people found useful.

 

[BC2009]

This would be killer for the iPad... iPhone... no... iPad yes.

But they should also have a retina only option for the iPad. I would not care about e-ink. But I know many who love their Kindles would so they could read in the sun.

Michael

Keep in mind that the patent application was made before the iPad was announced, hence none of the drawings show an iPad doing this since they did not need a "tablet" example to help communicate the claims of their patent. Makes you wonder how long Apple has been thinking about this for iPad?

 

[johnnyturbouk]

this feature would be a lot more beneficial for the ipad compared to the iphone

 

[jonnysods]

The iPad IPS display is extraordinary and spectacular. But I don't read books on it because it is hard on the eyes for reading.

I'm very interested in this tech, if it's possible.

 

[Hastings101]

Yeah, they have nothing that is any good.

Are you from Mars, Uranus or other planets? Can't be from earth with this comment.

They have nothing that makes them any better than other devices.

 

[toddybody]

I understand LCD and e-ink tech respectively...but how can they be layered over each other? It sounds wonderful

 

[caspersoong]

That would mean real iBooks purchases on my iPod.

 

[MattInOz]

I wonder if they are looking at LED with LCD and do a Cmyk glossy paper like screen.

 

[2 Replies]

Doesn't this technology seem better suited for the iPad?

I see where you (and all the others who voiced that thought) are coming from, but think in terms of DPI.
eInk rivals retina displays in terms of clarity.
And since the main reason there is no retina display iPad is because the astronomical dpi that would be required for art on a retnia display the size of an iPad, it means eInk-hybrid would be ideal/better suited for smaller form factors such as the iPhone.

 

[2 Replies]

I understand LCD and e-ink tech respectively...but how can they be layered over each other? It sounds wonderful

I was thinking the same thing... perhaps the e-ink pigments used in the micro-capsules polarize like liquid-crystals (yet more persistent).
Or perhaps the micro-capsules themselves are engineered in a way as to allow the pigment to be all moved aside allowing the user to view directly through the transparent micro-capsules themselves.

In any way, it'd be an interesting read (how such a hybrid would work).

 

[2 Replies]

Constantly having the e-ink refresh for time changes, notifications, etc. would still drain the battery (of course not as much as the LCD).

E-ink for books would be nice. However, there's still an issue of the glass to worry about. E-ink works well in the sun because of the matte finish.

How about color e-ink hybrid display for the iPod nano?
That would boost it's battery life for actual use as a iWatch...and (as long as seconds weren't displayed) eInk would be pretty useful for a clock-face since it need only refresh 1440 times a day (or LESS if refresh were disabled by adding a proximity sensor).

 

[louis Fashion]

Combo Platter

E Ink + Smart Bezel? I can see the future, and the future is spelled APPL.

 

[maclaptop]

Great idea.

About my only concern is that the clarity would be so good that Apple would cave into it's obsession with thin and small and give us a 2" display.

I see in reading the discussion on display size that many feel the 3.5" is already plenty large. They then go on to say they would like a smaller phone.

Perhaps this is why there us an iPhone Nano rumor.

 

[doobs22]

e-ink looks like it would be a good iPad*3 feature

 

[xIGmanIx]

Nice ideas indeed. I have a kindle and love it

the best application for this would be when the phone is in standby. would be nice to have the clock and perhaps some other data like upcoming iCal items on there in e-ink so there's no battery drain.
and also, obviously, a mode in iBooks to switch to pure e-ink for when reading in the sun, and switch to backlight when reading at night

sounds like a good response to the kindle advert

 

[olternaut]

How is this patentable? There are several companies already working on this.

Tony

How many other companies do you know are working on a hybrid e-ink/lcd that changes modes dynamically in different parts of the screen at the same time?

 

[mrnagrom]

it amazes me that people are even discussing this. this is a speculative patent that apple will use against a company which uses this tech and sues apple for using technology apple actually wants to use.