Devices

BME has unveiled a new concept car, called the BMW iX Flow, which is covered with E Ink Prism panels that allows it to change colors from black to white:

BMW developed "intelligent design algorithms" that enables to create a dynamic flow when changing the colors. In addition to personalization, a variable exterior also contributes to the efficiency of the vehicle. By nature, a white exterior on hot days would reflect sunlight and conversely, a black exterior on cold days would absorb the sunlight. This could reduce the amount of energy the vehicle uses for heating and cooling the interior.

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.

Dasung launched the Paperlike - a 13.3" 1600x1200 USB E Ink monitor back in 2015, and it started shipping the displays last month (for $1,049) on Amazon. The company now reports that it is sold out completely - after shipping to customers from 50 countries in the past year.

According to the GoodEReader, Dasung is unlikely to produce more such displays as it is readying on a next-generation 13.3" e-reader / monitor that will function as a secondary display via Bluetooth. The resolution of the new device will be 2200x1650 (207 PPI). Dasung says it will be powered by either Android or Windows 10.

The Triby is Invoxia's new connected speaker. It can play music from your cell phone (or connect to music apps like spotify), make in-group VoIP calls and send messages, on top of being the first non-Amazon device to take advantage of the Alexa Voice Service. The Triby includes a 2.9" active-matrix (296x128, 112 PPI) E Ink panel, and the company was kind enough to send a review unit to E-Ink-Info.

The Triby is a great looking device, with a fun design that can be defined as retro-chic. It actually reminded me of an old-school kitchen radio - which it sort of is, but with a modern twist. The Triby has physical buttons for options like volume control, contact/radio station selection and an Alexa button. A nice touch was a yellow flag that pops out the side of the device to signal receiving a message. After someone reads the message, they can push the flag back in and the sender will get a notification that their message was read.

Dasung launched the Paperlike - a 13.3" 1600x1200 USB E Ink monitor back in 2015, aimed to be a secondary computer display for reading documents. Dasung's monitors have been shipping through IndieGogo and are now finally arriving at Amazon.com, for $1,049.

Last month PopSlate launched a crowdfunding campaign to finalize development and production of their 2nd-gen iPhone case, the PopSlate 2. The campaign was a hug success, and the company raised over $1.1 million.

The PopSlate 2 offers a 4.7" 800x450 E Ink display for the back of your phone. The case adds 4 mm to your phone, and connects to the phone via a Lightning connector that also charges your phone from the PopSlate's battery. The PopSlate 2 supports iPhone 6, 6S, 6 plus and 6S Plus.

Visionect introduces a new meeting room digital door label called Joan Meeting Room Assistant that uses an E Ink panel to provide scheduling solutions. Joan can connect to several standard calendars wirelessly and runs off its battery for up to three months between charges.

The Joan uses a 6" E Ink Pearl panel (used by many e-readers). More information can be found here.

In August 2015 Polyera, a US-based OTFT backplane developer, announced their first product, the Wove Band flexible E Ink smart band, to be released in the second half of 2016. We wanted to learn more about Polyera's technology and business, and the company's Special Projects VP, Brendan Florez, was kind enough to answer a few questions we had.

Brendan has been with Polyera since 2008. Prior to joining Polyera, Brendan was an early employee at Rosetta, a digital marketing agency. Brendan holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University.

Latvian-based Draugiem Group launched a Kickstarter campaign with an aim to develop Displio, small customizable Wi-Fi enabled display. Displio uses a 2.7" E Ink display and can last for a month on a single charge.

Draugiem aims to raise $65,000 (they already have $31,000 committed) and if successful, they aim to ship the first products in Jun 2015.

Archos are showing three new smartwatches. The two budget ones (at $50 and $85) use LCD displays, but the high-end one uses an E Ink panel.

The premium model (which will cost $130) uses a 1.8" curved E Ink display. The battery will last 1.5 weeks. The watch will display the time, notifications from your smartphone and media controls.