Gajah is starting to sell InkCase Plus this month. The device, which Medgadgets has already written about on its blog, is a universal case with an E-ink display. The display connects wirelessly to a smartphone, and any information can be displayed on it while the main display is turned off.
In addition, InkCase Plus can be used as a standalone reader. In a recently completed fundraising campaign, the device raised more than $200 thousand, which is enough to launch the device into mass production in October.
The cost of the InkCase Plus + FitCase kit (universal case) can be purchased for $139 (pre-order on the same Kickstarter could be done for $79). The company plans to release 10 models of cases for the most popular Android smartphones, including Google Nexus 5, Samsung Galaxy S5, S4, S3, and Note 3, as well as HTC One M7 and M8.
In addition, there is a universal case that is compatible with all other phone models.
Why is this necessary?
The E-ink display is positioned not so much as an e-reader, but as a means to save phone battery power: all the necessary information can be displayed on the secondary display, while the main display of the phone is turned off. The resolution of InkCase Plus is 360*600 pixels. Like all E-ink devices, energy is consumed only when the image on the screen changes. At the same time, InkCase Plus has its own battery, its capacity is 400 mAh. This is approximately 5 days of battery life.
How does it work?
The device is connected via Bluetooth using a special application for InkCase Plus. The developers rightly point out that most applications that smartphone users work with every day do not require a color display.
This could be an application for a fitness bracelet, e-reader, email and other applications.
Gajah International has started mass sales of InkCase. The main difference between these products and other similar cases is the presence on the rear panel of an additional display using E-Ink electronic ink. In addition, the new product is equipped with its own battery.
Gajah's InkCase can be used to provide online information about events in in social networks, currency exchange quotes, weather and other interactive indicators. In addition, you can assign a photo to the rear display or use it to read, process photos and send them to social networks.
To ensure autonomy, the case has its own battery with a capacity of 500 mAh, which is enough to work in constantly active mode for up to 4 hours. To synchronize with a smartphone, a Bluetooth wireless connection is used. InkCase is compatible with smartphones running iOS and Android OS.
It is reported that the case will be created for all the most popular models. It is equipped with grayscale, and has 10 artistic filters. In particular, today the official distributor’s website offers options for Iphone 5 (InkCase i5) and Galaxy Note 2 (InkCase N2). The cost in both cases is 129 USD.
Let us recall that last year the Russian smartphone YotaPhone was presented with two displays, one of which (the rear one) also runs on liquid ink. This solution makes it possible to reduce eye strain, relieve the flagship battery and significantly reduce energy consumption, but doubles the overall thickness of the devices.
Official distributor:
oaxis.com/product_detail.php?id=10
The 4.5 mm thick InkCase, weighing 80 g, will save fans of reading on readers with E-Ink displays from the need to carry another device. It will turn the back of your iPhone into a small e-reader.
In the version of the case for iPhone 7, users receive an additional screen with a diagonal of 4.3 inches and a resolution of 480 × 800. In the version for iPhone 7 Plus, there is a 5.2-inch screen with a resolution of 540 × 960. In both cases, the pixel density per inch is 217 ppi, which is quite enough to display anti-aliased fonts.
The reading process itself is no different from that on readers like the Amazon Kindle. Books are uploaded to InkCase via Bluetooth via a mobile app. EPUB, TXT and PDF formats are supported, as well as delivery of content from delayed reading services. There are three touch buttons and one mechanical button for control.
The benefits of a second screen are not limited to just comfortable reading. In addition, it allows you to output useful information such as weather, upcoming calendar events, reminders, as well as the user's physical activities and other data.
InkCase will also help you take a selfie with the main iPhone camera, displaying a preview of the frame in real time. The captured photos or any other images can be used as wallpaper. The mobile application allows you to load several pictures into the case at once and easily switch them using the control buttons.
The case has a protruding frame that protects both the secondary screen and the display of the iPhone itself. In addition, InkCase is shock and even water resistant, allowing it to be used in a variety of situations, on the beach or in the pool. The built-in battery of the case lasts for five days, and it is charged using a convenient cable with a magnetic connector.
The amount required to launch mass production has already been collected on Kickstarter. The first cases will go to their new owners next month. The InkCase for iPhone 7 is priced at $99, and the iPhone 7 Plus version is already sold out.
06
October
2014
The Californian company OAXIS has started implementing an interesting development - the InkCase Plus universal case for smartphones, which allows you to transfer images from a mobile device to the additional screen of a protective accessory. The display of the new product is made using electronic ink technology, which will allow smartphone owners to save battery power on their devices while reading books and viewing various content.
Initially, the search for funds for the implementation of the project was carried out using the Kickstarter website, on which the authors of the idea managed to raise $206 thousand. this moment InkCase Plus has successfully passed FCC certification, revealing details of its parameters to the public, and is now ready to hit the market soon.
InkCase Plus is a case with a built-in 3.5-inch E Ink screen with a resolution of 360x600 pixels. The device is designed to work in tandem with Android smartphones Google Nexus 5, Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, S5, Note 3, as well as two models from HTC - One M7 and M8. However this list This does not mean that the accessory is not suitable for other mobile devices with similar dimensions. By the way, the dimensions of the InkCase Plus itself are quite compact and equal to 127.3 × 61.8 × 13.6 mm with a weight of only 50 g.
The “reader” that complements the accessory works due to a 400 mAh rechargeable battery built into the design of the case. The manufacturer promises up to five days of battery life with regular use of the reader.
Thanks to the specially developed InkCaseEpiReader application for Android OS, owners of at least the smartphones listed above will be able to transfer the content of e-books to the InkCase Plus screen, and the InkCase Photo program will provide the ability to view photographs on a 3.5-inch monochrome display. To synchronize your smartphone and reader, you will need to establish a Bluetooth connection using InkCase Companion.
The InkCase Sports application will allow you to generate and display information about the distance covered, time spent, calories burned and other relevant fitness parameters.
The functionality of the software will even allow you to display notifications from your smartphone on the much less power-intensive display of the case, as well as receive incoming calls through it. InkCase Plus will be available this month and retails for $79.
