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New e-reader chip brings page layout to the (E Ink) screen
One of the issues many newspaper readers have with the current crop of e-readers (growing by the day) is that they don't do page layout very well. On a newspaper page, changes in text position and point size subtly give signals about which stories are less or more important, while on an E Ink screen headlines are generally all given equal value.
That's changing with the introduction of a new kind of e-reader processor. Chipmaker Marvell recently unveiled its Armada 166E processor, which integrates the e-paper display controller into the chip itself. It created the chip in partnership with E Ink, the company behind the display technology of pretty much every e-reader on the market. Part of the package: FirstPaper software, which supports larger screens, graphics and flexible page layout. One of the first e-readers with the Armada will be the Entourage Edge.
What does this mean to you? Expect even more e-readers at cheaper prices and better technology in the coming year. With technology changing so rapidly in this category, does it make much sense to buy a Nook or IREX reader now, or hold out for a few months?
Via Marvell
By Mr. Gumsandals at 6:09 PM ON 11/02/09
Hold out.
By emilio at 9:57 PM ON 11/02/09
I think you are not giving First Paper enough credit here. Some great minds there are responsible for the hardware also.
By roshinobi at 4:47 PM ON 11/03/09
Good, e-readers need to advance rapidly so I can get something cool whenever my kindle2 battery dies in a few years and I'm stuck with a E-paperweight
By George at 2:04 AM ON 11/05/09
Yet another demonstration of "what tf is wrong with a laptop", seeing as how a laptop reads html (aka the world's most universal document format which, er.. includes different layouts) and er... does it all in color, and er... does everything else as well and er... isn't expensive
By Jason at 12:41 AM ON 11/09/09
That laptop is great for everything but what an eReader is made for: reading for hours upon hours. Unless you like the heat of your laptop in your hands, the short battery life, and only reading inside, eReaders offer their users an alternative. The Kindle has a two week battery life, no glare, and no heat. Now, that being said, if you need your color pictures for your book to be complete, they are not for you, but for those of us who would like our vision at age 50, we're gonna stick with our eReaders.
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Jason:
That laptop is great for everything but what an eReader is made for: reading for hours upon hours. Unless you like...More »