Alcatel launched a 6-inch smartphone called the Hero in 2013. The company is now using CES to show off a paired device, a 4-inch E Ink display.
It’s called Magic Flip and is designed to read information from your smartphone, as long as it is static text (it doesn't seem to support moving images and the like, yet). It connects to the phone via Bluetooth and means your smartphone can stay in your pocket whilst you check the information you want. Another advantage to E Ink, of course, is its low power consumption, but it's not clear whether, as a peripheral accessory, the display will have any positive impact on battery life.
The device can read standard e-book formats which will make it a great help to people on the commute who don’t want a fully blown tablet to read from. Some are even comparing the E Ink screen to a mini Kindle Paperwhite.
The tech only works with the 6-inch Hero smartphone from Alcatel though. Currently there's no word on price, availability or a release date. Could we start to see a bunch of miniature E Ink displays hitting the market as accessories? It could take off if they’re introduced at the right price, the price of an accessory and not a fully blown tablet.
Devices like this could also be useful for other situations such as note taking, shopping lists and for information to refer back to in meetings. It’s certainly an interesting idea.
by jamesp via Featured Articles
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