READ IT AND REAP ADDED BENEFITS
These electronic paper devices offer more than your standard e-reader
THESE days we’re all familiar with the standard use for electronic paper that uses e–ink technology – e-readers.
The usual suspects – largely Kindle or Kobo devices – allow users to carry thousands of books in a single e-reader, which they can read on the paper-like display.
But electronic paper is not just confined to book-reading devices – it can be used anywhere text and graphics are displayed, for a much nicer reading experience…
Here are three devices there are not only good for reading, but have a host of other uses as well.
Boox Palma
Boox, as the name might suggest, is a company that makes many e-readers – the standard ones that compete with the Kindle. But they also make a device called the Palma, which is a little different.
In design, it looks very much like a standard mobile phone – but instead of a colour display, it has a beautiful 6.13in monochrome e-ink display.
A powerful octa-core processor and 6GB of RAM allow it to run many of your standard Android apps.
So, as well as operating as a small and portable e-book reader, you can also have services like Gmail and Google Calendar at your fingertips. It’s also great for listening to music and podcasts.
Not only that, supported widgets allow you to create a customisable home screen with info and controls and your fingertips.
It even has a 16MP camera, which allows users to take scans of documents to store electronically.
There is a catch, though – while the Palma looks very much like a mobile phone with an electronic paper screen, that’s one thing it is not.
The only connectivity to the outside world is via wi-fi or Bluetooth – there’s no mobile connectivity.
That might be a good thing if you don’t always want to be connected. And it will certainly keep your interaction with the contents of the device distraction-free when you’re off grid.
■ Cost: £260 at euroshop.boox.com
remarkable 2
Now on its second iteration, the remarkable is essentially a big reusable notepad in which you can store thousands of handwritten notebooks, PDFS, and ebooks.
The 8GB of memory will be difficult to fill, but if and when you do, the latest remarkable software, out this month, allows offloading and archiving onto cloud-based storage to free up on-device space.
The remarkable sports a lovely 10.3in electronic paper display which has been designed from
the ground-up for note-taking.
That means incredibly low latency when using the included stylus, and a feel like writing on paper that not many other devices can get close to.
The resolution is 226DPI (higher than the printed page you’re reading now) so text is crisp and clear.
There are also some fantastic cover options to further personalise your device and keep everything safe, including a couple of simple case options and a folio that includes a keyboard so you can type as well as write.
There’s a companion app for your computer, too, which allows you to access, convert and share anything you make on remarkable.
The latest software update also adds the handwriting-to-type conversion feature to the desktop app for even more flexibility.
■ Cost: From £379 at remarkable.com
The Minimal Phone
As I write, the Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to make the Minimal Phone a reality has surged past 90% well on towards its £396,366 target.
By the time you read this, I have no doubt it will have passed its target and work will be under way to get the things made and out to customers later in the summer. The Minimal Phone is, as its name suggests, an actual real-life mobile that allows connectivity to the world wide web wherever there is data cell service.
It’s also a fully functioning Android phone, and you can install any app you like on it from the Google Play Store. To do that, though, would miss the point – the electronic paper display isn’t really made for social scrolling and short form video.
The whole idea is that utilising the e-ink technology limits the capabilities of the phone to the things that kind of technology is perfect for – it slows everything down.
In addition to the electronic paper screen, the Minimal Phone also sports something you rarely see these days – an actual physical keyboard. It looks very much like an old-school Blackberry.
Cost: Backers on Indiegogo could pre-order a Minimal Phone for £277, but prices will increase when the phone goes on general sale later this year – visit tryminimal.com for more details