E Ink just announced its next-generation color ePaper panel, a major update to the emerging technology. On top of that, the company has significantly reduced update times. Its new E Ink Gallery 3 panel offers three color modes, including a “fast” mode that refreshes the panel in 500 milliseconds.
For optimal color, the update takes 1.5 seconds. Black and white update times have also improved, with Gallery 3 able to transition between monochrome pages in under 350 milliseconds. Resolution has also been improved, with the Gallery 3 offering a pixel density of 300ppi, up from 150ppi on the previous model.
The panel also supports up to 30 milliseconds of black and white and some color stylus input. E Ink also outfitted the panel with new ComfortGaze headlights, which the company claims “provides a blue light-safe viewing experience.” Finally, the panels can operate in temperatures up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
We don’t yet know when the device with the new panel will start reaching consumers. We also don’t know if companies like Amazon and Kobo plan to use it for the next generation of e-readers. That said, E Ink’s Gallery 3 is a major step forward in color e-paper. The technology needs to continue to improve before it reaches mainstream devices. Meanwhile, E Ink plans to show the Gallery 3 at California Showcase Week, which begins May 10.
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