| E-reader boasts 6-inch EPD display, Windows CE |
May 13, 2008
 Astak has announced a Windows CE 5.0-based e-reader that also plays MP3 audio files. The "Mentor" features a 6-inch "E Ink" touchscreen display with four gray scales, 800 x 600 pixel resolution, WiFi, Bluetooth, and an SD expansion slot, according to the company.
(Click here for a larger view of Astak's Mentor)
Like a growing number of devices, including the Linux-based Amazon Kindle, the Mentor uses an electro-phloresecent display (EPD), sourced in both cases from E Ink Corporation. Electronic paper offers a bright, high-contrast, thin, lightweight display technology that remains legible under "any lighting condition" -- much like newsprint. Once an image has been "printed," no power is needed to hold it, reducing energy requirements by 99 percent compared to LCDs, E Ink claims.
E Ink's electronic paper requires no power to hold images
Source: E Ink Corporation
The Mentor's six-inch display is the same size as the Kindle's, offers four shades of gray, and is designed to be viewed by ambient light (there is no backlighting). As a result, up to 8000 pages can be read on a single charge of the device's little 1000mAh battery, according to Astak.
The Mentor is controlled via touchscreen, a five-way controller, and hardware buttons for accessing menus and changing volume. Users can turn pages, zoom in and out, add bookmarks, delete files, or jump to a certain part of a book.
The device supports TXT, PDF, RTF, and HTML documents, along with BMP, JPG, GIF, and PNG graphics. Possible languages are English, Spanish, German, French, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. The Mentor also plays music in MP3 or AAC formats, and is equipped with a 3.5-mm headphone jack for that purpose.
Documents may be loaded onto the device via its miniUSB port, Bluetooth, or its 802.11b/g wireless interface. In addition, an SD slot provides for data transfer or up to 4GB of added storage.
Owners will, however, be unlikely to use the Mentor's WiFi connection to browse the web. A web browser is not specified by Astak, nor is the device apparently designed for installation of third-party Windows CE applications.
Features and specifications cited by Astak for the Mentor include:- Processor -- Samsung S3C2443 processor clocked at 400MHz
- Memory -- 64MB RAM, 4GB flash
- Display -- 6-inch E Ink screen with 170dpi, 4 grayscales, and 800 x 600 pixel resolution
- Wireless networking:
- Other I/O:
- 2 x USB 2.0
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Expansion -- SD card, supports up to 2GB
- Battery -- 1000mAh lithium-ion battery offers up to 8000 continuous page turns; recharges in 4 hours via AC adapter or 6 hours via USB
- Operating temperature -- 0 to 50 deg. C
- Dimensions -- 7.5 x 4.75 x 0.4 inches
 In related news, E Ink announced last week that it is offering its electronic paper technology in segmented display cells (SDCs). Shown at right in a new key fob design from Delphi Electronics, the SDCs are intended for simple digital, iconic, and alphanumeric displays. Flexible and viewable in bright sunlight, they target consumer electronics, capacity indicators, electronic shelf labels, signage, and communications applications, according to the company.
Further information
Astak did not provide pricing or availability information for the Mentor, but more information may become available from its website, here. Also listed there is a 9.7-inch e-reader that appears identical to the Netronix EB-100, covered by WindowsForDevices.com in March.
More information on E Ink displays is available from that company's website, here.
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