Onyx International prototype e-ink smartphone video surfaces
updated 01:13 pm EDT, Mon October 22, 2012
E-ink display allows for claimed week-long battery life
Video of a prototype Android smartphone with an e-ink display has been put online. The Onyx International EINK smartphone uses an e-ink display instead of a normal handset screen, which allows the phone to not only be viewable in direct sunlight, but can also run for up to a week on a single battery charge.
The prototype weighs less than 100 grams (3.5 ounces) and is powered by an ARM Cortex-A5 processor. Though the video by ARMdevices shows it as running on a non-customized version of Android, typically designed for use with LCD screens, a customized version for an e-ink screen would likely improve the visuals for a monochrome display, as well as increase the batter life further.
Although it is apparently a working prototype, it is not likely to emerge onto the market for a considerable amount of time. E-ink has already been used in phones, with the Samsung Alias 2 using the technology on the keypad, allowing the buttons to change the key labels on the fly.
