Polymer Vision’s Readius
The Readius is a fascinating phone; it has a 5 inch foldable screen designed for reading books, emails and other text, which could make my tube trips less painful. It has no numberpad (it takes phone numbers from your synced Outlook contacts) and no internet browser so all content is downloaded through UMTS/HSDPA connectivity. The black and white screen has some nifty powersaving features and is surprisingly compact. I don’t know that I’d have it as my primary phone, but I’ll have till mid-this year to decide if I want to ditch bringing my book with me on the tube or to splash out on this.
Modu
Modu is a nifty little phone that slots into a variety of different handsets, or “jackets”, which change the style and functionality of the phone. For example, you can add a fashion jacket, a jacket that suits children or elderly users, a QWERTY keyboard-enabled business jacket as well as being compatible with laptops, car radios and other personal electronics. Jackets will apparently be available at around $40 US, which is quite reasonable considering how much mobile phone covers retail for in today’s market. I can understand the functionality and coolness of having different jackets for different occasions, but I think the Modu’s biggest challenge will be taking on the new generation of touch-screen phones that have all of Modu’s portfolio of options in one handset.
Modu Mobile Blog
http://modu-mobile.blogspot.com
Thanks
I’ve heard about those e-ink pads before, and i guess it was only a matter of time before they integrate into a phone.
Personally i think the attempts to replace the paper back are unecisary, and also undesirable. I wouldn’t mind it for reading papers or journals i guess.
The option to have a one-stop device where you can get news updates, check emails and read books is appealing and very necessary, especially when you are on the move and your bag is already full of laptop, documents etc. I wouldn’t stop buying books for this however, as I’m too vain with regard to having well-stocked bookshelves…
You would certainly have to read alot of books on your readius before the end of it’s life cycle in order to justify it’s environmental footprint too. Especially since books are rarely thrown out when purchased and have a very long life cycle.
But i can see the advantages of being able to read electronic documents on the trot without taking out your lap top.