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PopSlate, an E ink case for your iPhone

popslate.com

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Re: PopSlate, an E ink case for your iPhone

#11

Post by ddeck »

pjc50 wrote: post #3
Tepix wrote: post #2

Popslate is pretty cool, I saw it at MWC 2013 in February of 2013. I guess it never took off because it was too expensive. Guess what - it's gotten more expensive ($129 now). Bummer.

I came here to wonder about the price, and there's the answer. It's a pity that eInk is a great technology that remains horribly expensive. Not sure why; manufacturing yield? Rare inputs? Small volumes?

I'm sure volumes have a lot to do with it, but I doubt it's the display that is driving the cost here.

I recently bought a replacement 6" E Ink screen for my kindle at it cost $30. This device has a 4" screen, not sure on the relative resolutions.

Re: PopSlate, an E ink case for your iPhone

#12

Post by arethuza »

caractacus wrote: post #9
arethuza wrote: post #7

I was standing behind someone in a queue for boarding a flight whose phone died from lack of charge as they were about to hand it over to be scanned - so having your boarding pass on an e-ink display might actually be a pretty good idea...

Is it really worth $129 so that you don't have to print out a paper copy of your boarding pass when your battery is low?

Well, that's only one scenario - it's definitely useful - would be nice to have it built into the back of a phone.

Re: PopSlate, an E ink case for your iPhone

#13

Post by vertex-four »

caractacus wrote: post #9
arethuza wrote: post #7

I was standing behind someone in a queue for boarding a flight whose phone died from lack of charge as they were about to hand it over to be scanned - so having your boarding pass on an e-ink display might actually be a pretty good idea...

Is it really worth $129 so that you don't have to print out a paper copy of your boarding pass when your battery is low?

A lot of people no longer have printers, or at least working ones. They'd have to find an Internet cafe and brave the risk of keyloggers, print things off at work, or get a document printing company to do it.

Re: PopSlate, an E ink case for your iPhone

#14

Post by madeofpalk »

nolk100 wrote: post #5

I used to wear a Pebble watch every day and found it useful but not overly so. That needed charging every 5-7 days, and this claims to last a week on a single charge. I don't wear the pebble watch any more because as lazy as it sounds, I kept forgetting to charge it when it ran out of battery, and there were days where I was walking around with a dead watch, which was at that point essentially an expensive wristband.…

> That needed charging every 5-7 days, and this claims to last a week on a single charge. I don't wear the pebble watch any more because as lazy as it sounds, I kept forgetting to charge it when it ran out of battery.

Personally, I think this is why Apple will aim for a one day battery life for the Apple Watch. It's much easier to remember to put you watch on to charge every night, than to remember every 3 or 4 days.

Re: PopSlate, an E ink case for your iPhone

#15

Post by RBerenguel »

Tepix wrote: post #2

Popslate is pretty cool, I saw it at MWC 2013 in February of 2013. I guess it never took off because it was too expensive. Guess what - it's gotten more expensive ($129 now). Bummer.

I missed them at MWC2013 but saw them in 2014 (or was it a ripoff of them?.) Although I found them nice and interesting, they didn't feel "that" groundbreaking.

Re: PopSlate, an E ink case for your iPhone

#16

Post by philippnagel »

madeofpalk wrote: post #14
nolk100 wrote: post #5

I used to wear a Pebble watch every day and found it useful but not overly so. That needed charging every 5-7 days, and this claims to last a week on a single charge. I don't wear the pebble watch any more because as lazy as it sounds, I kept forgetting to charge it when it ran out of battery, and there were days where I was walking around with a dead watch, which was at that point essentially an expensive wristband.…

> That needed charging every 5-7 days, and this claims to last a week on a single charge. I don't wear the pebble watch any more because as lazy as it sounds, I kept forgetting to charge it when it ran out of battery. Personally, I think this is why Apple will aim for a one day battery life for the Apple Watch. It's much easier to remember to put you watch on to charge every night, than to remember every 3 or 4 days.

You are implying they could have built a watch that lasts longer but didn't?

Re: PopSlate, an E ink case for your iPhone

#18

Post by madeofpalk »

philippnagel wrote: post #16
madeofpalk wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> That needed charging every 5-7 days, and this claims to last a week on a single charge. I don't wear the pebble watch any more because as lazy as it sounds, I kept forgetting to charge it when it ran out of battery. Personally, I think this is why Apple will aim for a one day battery life for the Apple Watch. It's much easier to remember to put you watch on to charge every night, than to remember every 3 or 4 days.

You are implying they could have built a watch that lasts longer but didn't?

Definitely not - I'm saying that an Apple Watch with a one day battery life would not be a failure and would (IMO) be preferable over a 2 or 3 day battery life (regardless of whether they could make it now or in the future).

As many have pointed out Apple (and others) seem to 'solve for X' in regards to battery life. One day seems like an ideal 'X' for a smart watch.

Re: PopSlate, an E ink case for your iPhone

#20

Post by wastedhours »

nolk100 wrote: post #5

I used to wear a Pebble watch every day and found it useful but not overly so. That needed charging every 5-7 days, and this claims to last a week on a single charge. I don't wear the pebble watch any more because as lazy as it sounds, I kept forgetting to charge it when it ran out of battery, and there were days where I was walking around with a dead watch, which was at that point essentially an expensive wristband.…

I know what you mean about habit forming - I have a G Watch and the battery lasts 36 hours, at first it was a case of charging it at home, seeing it not moaning about low battery at night, then having it die at work the next day. I've had it nigh on 6 months, but have only just adapted to putting it on to charge every night with my phone.
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