A Dutch Company by the name of Polymer Vision is set to release the world's first cell phone that features a fold-out display for viewing email, podcasts, text documents, news, and blogs. This device, called the "Readius", is the size of a typical cell phone and has a large 5-inch screen that folds out from the body of the phone.
5-inch display is half-open in this photo
Having a fold-out display is something new to the cell phone industry, and it allows the cell phone to have a much larger screen without adding very much bulk to the phone itself. The Readius is small enough to fit it your pocket and yet it has a gigantic 5-inch screen. The makers of the Readius say, "You get the large display of e-reading, the super battery life of e-reading, and the high-end connectivity ... and the form factor and weight of a mobile phone". The new Readius is almost like a mix between the Amazon Kindle (electronic book reader) and a normal cell phone. It features a black and white screen, much like the Amazon Kindle, that almost looks like ink and paper from an actual book or newspaper.
Display of the Readius is folded all the way out
This device will be able to update any podcast, blog content, or email account that your subscribed to automatically through the 3G mobile phone network. The 3G network is an ultra-fast data network for cell phones that is a lot like WiFi for a laptop.
Readius is closed in this photo
The Readius is expected to be available in mid-2008, and there is no word yet on pricing although they will probably be priced similarly to other high-end cell phones on the market ($300-$500?). It will be interesting to see if this cell phone/e-reader will be successful in a cell phone market that is currently being dominated by cell phones with Internet connectivity, GPS capabilities, and full-color touch-screen displays. Check back for updates about this device as its release approaches.
Source: Reuters
Photos: Polymer Vision
Joe Eitel's Gadget Blog
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in the mean time
Submitted on January 22nd, 2008 by avagee (not verified)While you wait for the neato foldout screen you can enjoy some quality reading on your existing regular cell phone. Check out http://www.booksinmyphone.com they give away public domain and creative commons books packaged for phones.
video in youtube about readius
Submitted on January 22nd, 2008 by Anonymous (not verified)see it working here
http://www.clipset.net/2008/01/22/readius-de-polymer-vision-epaper-flexi...
Fold-out Phone?
Submitted on January 25th, 2008 by JDoors (not verified)Years ago in the television series "Earth: Final Conflict," the main characters used a phone that looks JUST like that one. Back then I wondered, "How would that work?" Well, now I know!
Seen it on the TV
Submitted on January 25th, 2008 by Anonymous (not verified)It looks exactly like the phones they used in the sci-fi series
Earth Final Conflict
EWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Submitted on April 23rd, 2008 by AnonymousIm sorry but that phone is ugly...I dont think i would ever buy that...
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