Notion Ink’s new smartpad, which is powered by PixelQi multi-mode screens, is hard to categorize i.e.
It’s neither a dedicated eReader like the Kindle, nor is it a LCD screen multi-purpose device.
It changes the game totally.
So far we’ve had to choose between -
- Dedicated eReaders that are great for reading, with screens that work in sunlight and don’t hurt the eyes. However, they can’t really do much apart from reading.
- Multiple-purpose devices that are ‘good enough’ for reading. They might not specialize in reading but they do a lot of other things.
It’s been a clear demarcation. Now, with Pixel Qi screens we suddenly have a whole new category.
Let’s consider the impact.
Screen suited for reading books
Consider the Pixel Qi screen in eReader mode -
Reflective Black and white (64 shades of grayscale).
The screen has a lot of pluses -
- Black and white with 64 shades of grayscale sounds intriguing – current eReaders have black and white with 16 shades of gray.
- It’s reflective so it works in sunshine.
- It uses very little battery power in black and white mode (as compared to color LCD screens).
- You can watch video in reflective mode – something that eInk probably won’t get for at least 2 years.
Take a look at this video which shows both the black and white mode and the screen in sunlight –
We’ll have to see what the screen really looks like in actual devices. However, the first prototypes look very promising.
Has Pixel Qi done a minor miracle and matched all the strengths of eInk in LCD?
Multiple Uses and suitability for each.
There’s a second really interesting question -
How good is the Pixel Qi screen for normal LCD functions?
The full-color mode of Pixel Qi screens is like a LCD screen -
- You also get slightly better battery life with the promise of future improvements.
- You can watch videos and see photos in full color and more.
- You get everything you get with a LCD screen.
A PixelQi screen powered device lets you do everything you would with your laptop.
Pixel Qi is promising a lot
Look at this chart on Pixel Qi’s blog.
PixelQi aren’t shy about claiming they’ve revolutionized screen technology.
They might have.
They are promising -
- The LCD mode performs as well as a LCD screen.
- The Black and White mode performs almost as well as eInk.
- There’s a third transflective LCD mode.
A third mode - What’s this about a third screen mode?
The Mysterious Transflective LCD Mode
In addition to the full-color and black and white modes, there is a third mode – transflective LCD panel.
There’s not much information on this – However, it probably has some specific benefits.
At this point it sounds really good. Pixel Qi screens have a lot going for them.
Are there any downsides at all?
Unitasking and wondering if Multi-Mode Screens have downsides
Read about all the Pixel Qi screen capabilities and there’s one obvious question that comes up -
Will the availability of so many options, and the aim of doing so much, interfere with the ability to be a great eReader?
There are two aspects to this -
- In the attempt to do everything – Are there any design decisions being made that take away from the ability to be a great eReader?
- Will reading still be possible with so many distractions?
Design Decisions that aren’t best for Reading
Consider the first PixelQi device, Notion Ink’s smartpad -
HD video, camera, accelerometer, water sensor.
You have to wonder -
- How many of these features and hardware components are relevant to reading?
- What design sacrifices (in terms of reading) were made to fit these in?
One obvious design sacrifice is weight – The device is 1.7 pounds. That rules out holding it and reading it for a long time, one handed reading, and anyone with arthritis and perhaps even its use by young kids.
What other downsides do we get?
The Death of Unitasking
If there are 20 things you can do i.e.
- Play an accelerometer based driving game.
- Watch YouTube videos.
- Browse through photos on Facebook.
- Read a book.
- Twitter.
How often will reading a book win out?
It almost comes down to the question that multi-purpose devices bring up -
Do you want a dedicated eBook Reader OR do you want a device that you can also read on?
However, this time the question has a twist.
People might not comprehend the lack of unitasking and the design sacrifices.
PixelQi Screens have no visible disadvantages
With an eInk mode and a LCD mode you suddenly get both the benefits of eInk and of LCD.
People can’t complain about -
- Lack of color.
- Lack of video.
- Screen refresh speed.
Nor can they complain about -
- Lack of visibility in sunlight.
- Bad battery life.
- Inadequate screen resolution.
Not only are PixelQi screens a big step forward, the disadvantages (i.e. design sacrifices, lack of unitasking) are things that are difficult to quantify and often invisible.
There’s little doubt about it – Pixel Qi screens are probably going to transform eReading and a lot more.
Filed under: eBook Reader Devices Tagged: | kindle unitasking, pixelqi
Clearly you don’t remember the days of reflective LCD screens in laptops in the 90′s. Everyone HATED the reflective LCDs, despite their much better battery life, and when the active LCD screens came out people clamored for those, and then for the color ones, to the point that any model featuring them was sold out for months after its release despite poor battery life.
The whole POINT of e-ink is to make a reflective screen that’s pleasant to read, the opposite of those darned reflective LCD screens.
[...] Kindle Review, one of the most gung-ho K-boosters, has discoveried the possibilities of Pixel Qi—perhaps nudged along by the fact that the first hardware company with a firm commitment to [...]
I observe that the color mode is very pastel looking, sort of the way my pictures show up on the Kindle, very low key. They don’t have the snap that an active LCD screen has. This might be OK for kiddies but I think the comment that one could work on Photoshop is pretty weak.
Well, fair enough. I don’t really work with Photoshop so didn’t notice that distinction – will edit that out.
The first generation of this screen has been available for a couple of years now in the XO-1 laptop from One Laptop Per Child. If you haven’t seen one, go to a local OLPC meetup or find a friend who owns one.
I own an XO-1, and use it for note-taking (using Zim, an excellent personal wiki/outlining tool), web browsing, email reading, and e-book reading. The screen is highly readable, very bright and crisp. The colors are not very vibrant, true, but I actually don’t notice it day-to-day, because the screen is very legible. Most screens where lack of vibrancy is bothersome is because the ENTIRE screen is washed out and hard to read. Here, everything’s very crisp, just not as intensely colored.
I usually dim the backlight to 20% indoors, which creates a paper-like, low-contrast effect. The XO-1 really can’t be used indoors with the backlight completely off, although the new 3Qi model can. Outdoors, however, the reflective LCD is fabulous. The brighter the light, the better. The B&W screen is 200dpi, and once you get used to how sharp it looks, going back to color, with its much more standard 96dpi is actually a bit of a disappointment.
I’m really looking forward to the 3qi. The first generation of the screen is so impressive, I can’t wait to see the next. Bring it on, Mary Lou!