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Re:A flexible E Ink screen that could be in the 2014 Kindle by zokier on Friday August 30, 2013 @09:23AM (#6301547)
eInk has been one of the most disappointing tech developments in recent history. First mass-market devices came in 2006-2007 iirc, and there has barely been any evolution in the display tech since. The screens are still small, slow, 16level grayscale, low-contrast, and low-resolution. eInk really had a lot of promise and hype when it was new, but these days it seems just stagnated.
Re:A flexible E Ink screen that could be in the 2014 Kindle by davidw on Friday August 30, 2013 @10:14AM (#6301828)
Maybe it hasn't progressed as quickly as one might like, but I think it's a brilliant development: it's very good for actually reading books without notifications and beeps and whistles and all kinds of other crap popping up on the screen. Also, the devices have fantastic, stress-free battery life, weigh very little, and don't bother your eyes like LCD.

In other words,"most disappointing" seems a bit exaggerated.

Re:A flexible E Ink screen that could be in the 2014 Kindle by venomsnake on Friday August 30, 2013 @12:42PM (#6302718)
I have Kindle 3rd gen and it is awesome device (I think it blows away both kindle 4 and Paperwhite) but I am thinking about getting something with Nexus 7 2013 display if it kicks the bucket. The display in the nexus seems like it can give the kindle a run for the money for comfortable reading.
Re:A flexible E Ink screen that could be in the 2014 Kindle by davidw on Friday August 30, 2013 @04:41PM (#6304089)
I have a Kindle and a Nexus 7. Both are nice devices, but serve very different purposes. You can certainly read on the Nexus 7, but it's an LCD screen: eye strain. Also, there are continuous distractions, and sites like this one are just a few taps away.

Taken all together, this means the Kindle is way better for just reading - you can really lose yourself in the book, something that I can't do at all with a regular tablet.

Re:A flexible E Ink screen that could be in the 2014 Kindle by zokier on Friday August 30, 2013 @06:17PM (#6304566)
That's where the disappointment stems from; the first gen devices were so nice and promising, but the tech didn't "go anywhere" from that.
Re:A flexible E Ink screen that could be in the 2014 Kindle by smackfu on Friday August 30, 2013 @09:53AM (#6301707)
They've definitely improved the contrast and resolution over the years, and the screens are small for business reasons, not technical ones. Compare a 1st Gen Kindle against a Paperwhite, and it's pretty impressive. I think people are just spoiled by semiconductors, where things get twice as good every other year. Real products don't work like that.
Re:A flexible E Ink screen that could be in the 2014 Kindle by bane on Friday August 30, 2013 @10:30AM (#6301936)
It's great tech in specific niches, but it seems to improve at a glacial pace...leaving it in that niche.

The original work was in 1996! Hard to imagine that it isn't far better than it is by now.

Re:A flexible E Ink screen that could be in the 2014 Kindle by Sprint on Friday August 30, 2013 @09:35AM (#6301604)
I honestly wonder if that is due to patents.
Re:A flexible E Ink screen that could be in the 2014 Kindle by pdjstone on Friday August 30, 2013 @09:56AM (#6301731)
It seems that eInk technology has reached it's limits in terms of contrast. I was disappointed when I compared the new Kindle Paperwhite to my Kindle Keyboard. With the Paperwhite's backlight off, the contrast seemed a little worse - blacks were a little more grey.