In 2019 Sony released the DPT-CP1 color Digital Paper A5 device, and now the company is set to release a new version, called (at least for now) the DPT-CP1 Version 2.

The main new feature uses E Ink's upgraded color display (Kaleido 2.5), which features a thinner gap between the display and the color filters which enables the improved performance. The new display features a 1404x1872 resolution and faster refresh.

E Ink Holdings say that demand for e-readers and electronic shelf labels improved in the last quarter, and the company expects a small growth in revenues. EIH says that Coronavirus outbreak is having only a minor impact on its operations.

In fact, EIH already said earlier this month that remote work and school projects are increasing demand for e-notebooks, and now the company says that the outbreak also increases demand for e-readers, ESLs and medical devices, especially in China. The company does see a slowdown in actual installations of ESLs projects in Europe and US where cities are in lockdown.

E Ink announced a new color e-paper technology, which they call Print-Color E Ink, which is intended for the smart education and retail markets. It can also be used in e-readers or e-notebooks, though.

E Ink did not provide much details, but says that Print-Color E Ink panels are produced on plastic substrates and are utilizing a different technology than E Ink Advanced-Color ePaper (AcEP) - which seems to be of higher quality and as such targets different applications. The company is working with partners to "launch color electronic paper application products as soon as possible".

As Expected, E Ink Holdings (EIH) returned to profitability in Q2 2019 thanks to strong demand for e-paper displays for electronic shelf labels, e-readers and e-notebooks. Revenues in June totaled $45.67 million - up 19% from May but down 16.7% from June 2018.

EIH expects that the strong sales will continue in Q3 (fueled by peak-season demand).

E Ink Holdings is positive about the company's sales and earnings in 2019, and expects to return to profitability in Q2 2019 following a $3.4 million operational loss in Q1 2019. In the second quarter EIH saw increased shipments of e-paper displays for electronic shelf label (ESL),e-readers and e-notebooks.

In 2019 EIH managed to sign up more than 20 new customers in the education sector and is expecting to increase its e-reader and e-notebook sales to expand in H2 2019 and 2020 as well.

E Ink Holdings announced that its net profit increased 25.48% to $84.6 million in 2018 as demand for high-margin electronic shelf labels (ESL) more than compenstated the lower demand for e-reader displays

E Ink Holdings is confident that its business will continue to be strong in 2019. Demand for e-readers will remain weak in H1 2019, which will result in a single-digit drop in total revenues.

The Likebook Mars is now shipping for $239 (note: affiliate link to Amazon.com). This is a high-spec e-reader/tablet that features a 7.8" 1404x1872 (300 PPI) E Ink display, an octa-core RK3368 chipset, 2GB of RAM, 16 GB of storage, microSD and a modified Android OS.

The Likebook Mars is now shipping for $239.

E Ink Holdings estimates that its 2018 revenues will be little changed from its 2017 revenues (of about $495 million) as growth in ESL and e-notebook revenues will offset the decline in e-reader demand.

E Ink says that its e-reader customers are "adjusting their product portfolios to changing demand" in 2018 - which reduces demand for new devices and thus demand for its e-reader E Ink displays. Next year, however, e-reader market growth is expected to resume.

E Ink Holdings' president, Johnson Lee, says that demand for electronic shelf labels (ESL) displays is high - and in 2018 the company expects ESL displays to surpass e-reader displays in terms of area shipments.

This is very good news for EIH as the e-reader market has stagnated for years - and it is rather surprising for many as we have all been used to consider e-readers to be the main market for e-paper displays.