Samsung trademarks "SyncPaper" -- e-book reader on the way?

The trademarking sleuths over at Trademork have themselves another doozy. Samsung Electronics just filed a trademark on "SyncPaper" in relation to "electronic ink display devices; computers; MP3 players; mobile telephones; DMB receivers" and more. The "Paper" part of the trademark seems relatively straightforward given that Samsung was showing off a 40-inch E Ink Vizplex display back in May in addition to a bevy of flexible displays over the years. Now if only we could figure out what "Sync" was referring to. A wireless e-book reader like the Kindle perhaps? Samsung -- the number 1 CE brand globally -- is conspicuously absent from the burgeoning e-book reader market after all. What do you think oh gentle, omniscient reader?

[Via Trademork]

[webon @ Jan 15th 2008 4:35AM]

I read Syn Crapper

[JM @ Jan 15th 2008 4:43AM]

Perhaps the Sync part is just a variaton on the SyncMaster brand that already exists for their LCD displays, as opposed to anything fancier?

[z @ Jan 15th 2008 5:26AM]

The 'Sync' part means 'synchronized' which would make sense if the device is online (wifi or else).

[z @ Jan 15th 2008 4:41AM]

I thought they where working on some sort of 'Syncpad'?

[whoiscraig @ Jan 15th 2008 4:48AM]

With Amazon providing ease of access to a huge (relative to what is being offered elsewhere) library of content, I just can't see any companies having a chance. The market for these devices has got to be miniscule compared to the tried and true formula of paper and glue. I'm betting on next gen OLED combined with advances in storage and processing power to have a much larger impact than e-Ink.

[PJK @ Jan 15th 2008 5:11AM]

Its advances in battery life that will be more significant, storage is already more than enough for books.

[scottbirse @ Jan 15th 2008 5:12AM]

I can see uses, I'm a student and most of my reading is academic journals, which are all PDF only, would save me a fortune (potentially) and a lot of paper if I didn’t have to print these off, and a dam sight more pleasant than reading off of a computer screen.

[Garst @ Jan 15th 2008 5:31AM]

Maybe they're developing it for cell phones. It's not like the display changes much on one. And if it's one that only makes calls and maybe an e-book reader, battery life would increase significantly.

[ralf @ Jan 15th 2008 6:55AM]

I hope for an ebook reader for pdf with anotation function at areasonable price.
I even would get an olpc just for that.

[Andrew @ Jan 15th 2008 5:49AM]

But can you wipe your butt with it in an emergencey.

[Perley @ Jan 15th 2008 6:20AM]

Maybe it syncs with special accounts so you can hide Won in it?

[Eddiettr @ Jan 15th 2008 9:18AM]

Didn't Samsung's CRT displays used to be called SyncMaster? I think it's just a blast back to the past.

[Eddiettr @ Jan 15th 2008 9:20AM]

Oops, it's already been said. Sorry guys!