Phosphor intros new line of curved E-Ink watches

Yes, e-books and phones are awesome -- but there are plenty of other applications for E-Ink tech out there, and Phosphor has been selling its analog / digital combo E-Ink wristwatches for a while now. The company's now adding to that stable with a line of curved-display models available in your choice of leather, rubber, and stainless steel bracelets and one of two faces; one can be toggled between a large digit and graphical view of the time, while the other offers an always-on monthly calendar and a smaller time display up top. Prices start at $175 for the new designs and hit streets now -- and stay tuned, because we'll be giving away a few of 'em!

We've had a chance to play with the watches, and the displays are as clear and crisp as E-Ink units we've seen; ultimately, we'd like to see what they could do with a matrix display, but segmented is a welcome first step. The models feel solid and well-built (the stainless steel versions, in particular, are pleasantly weighty on the wrist) and we get the impression that you could pass them off in virtually any social situation without the awkward "holy cow, you're a geek of epic proportion" moments. Click on through to the gallery to see both face styles and all four bracelets in action.

Gallery: Phosphor intros new line of curved E-Ink watches

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[mxc1090 @ May 18th 2009 8:45PM]

hmmm...420

[MrFairladyz @ May 18th 2009 8:52PM]

*high five*

radical DUDE!!!!

[cjwild @ May 18th 2009 8:58PM]

:) flick your bic

[Wiigee @ May 18th 2009 9:08PM]

just what i was thinking. wanna match a bowl?

[Madoc @ May 18th 2009 9:54PM]

I dunno about these. Don't they make you look a tad...uh..."special"?

[crawdad689 @ May 18th 2009 10:22PM]

Ziegler, you pothead

[Bootleg Zani @ May 18th 2009 10:25PM]

4:20 indeed.

[fistpittingnork @ May 18th 2009 11:03PM]

Expand your imagination, bro. WEEEEEEEEEWW!

[Brucie B @ May 19th 2009 8:06AM]

Looks like the Right Time for me!!

[Schweppes @ May 18th 2009 8:48PM]

Thats more like a big hunk of metal.. I'll pass on this one...

I had the original Casio wrist camera watch... that was cool... thus this thing shoudl have waaaay more functionality that just telling time and date...

Cool to have but I would not pay more than $30 seeing as this was just slapped together... Make it 10x thinner and you have something...

F-U!

[adobochicken @ May 18th 2009 8:52PM]

at least they tell you the time right away not those dots u have to figure out

[letstakeawalk @ May 18th 2009 10:07PM]

Yeah, not everybody's smart enough to learn binary, LOL

(love my 01)

[Ron @ May 18th 2009 8:52PM]

I usually prefer analog automatic watches but this watch looks awesome, love the style.

The one with the black/red leather band is the nicest.

[Twitchy @ May 19th 2009 3:22AM]

Coming to TokyoFlash soon?!?

[a2jmac @ May 18th 2009 9:00PM]

very cool i would love one of those

[Firewall @ May 18th 2009 9:10PM]

Hmmm... I looks forward to the day when the Omega from Minority Report is a reality. Don't think I'll be picking up a watch until then.

[bryan @ May 18th 2009 9:11PM]

Very very nice. I haven't worn a watch in over a year, but for this I would definitely reverse that trend.

[hofstetm @ May 18th 2009 9:17PM]

Really neat watches, I will have to look in to them. To me, considering they cannot do much but tell the time and possible date, I believe the price point is a little high. Still really classy none-the-less.

[VedicHymn @ May 18th 2009 9:18PM]

These look fantastic. I'll have to put one on my wishlist. :)

[Mattvega @ May 18th 2009 9:32PM]

It's a long time till Christmas boy!

[endoplasmic @ May 18th 2009 9:22PM]

Is there some sort of back-lighting on these? I love me the watches, but I'm curious how the display handles in the night.

[Clay @ May 20th 2009 8:38AM]

E-Ink is supposed to look basically like real printed paper. Presumably, a backlight would not be needed for daylight, but I don't know about low-light situations.

[Mike @ May 21st 2009 3:11AM]

you can't backlight e-ink, you have to front or side light it.

[Agent .25i @ May 18th 2009 9:22PM]

"holy cow, you're a geek of epic proportion"

I live for moments like that.

[Plothole @ May 18th 2009 9:27PM]

To be honest I haven't worn a watch for as long as I've had a cell phone. It just seems a bit redundant. The only problem is that it's kinda hard to see the numbers outdoors, so an eInk watch is somewhat tempting. Not for that price though.

[Mattvega @ May 18th 2009 9:32PM]

Fancy!

[Templarian @ May 18th 2009 9:32PM]

I want to play pong on it.

[Mattvega @ May 18th 2009 9:35PM]

Make your own! http://www.maushammer.com/systems/Watch/Introduction.html

[Templarian @ May 18th 2009 9:58PM]

Impressive, but not as nice on power.

[Elisha A. @ May 18th 2009 10:12PM]

someone needs to shave :)

nice watches, though

[Chris Ziegler @ May 18th 2009 10:16PM]

What men shave their hands? I mean seriously.

[melloncollie @ May 18th 2009 10:26PM]

You shave your arms and hands?
What is wrong with you?

[SHANE @ May 19th 2009 12:43AM]

Why would a guy shave his arms? Maybe you need to shave something???

[shravan @ May 18th 2009 11:41PM]

eh ? Are u a girl (don't know, just your user name makes me think so) ?
Flash News : Men don't shave hands !

[Elisha A. @ May 20th 2009 2:37PM]

It's called a joke

[Marc-O @ May 18th 2009 10:36PM]

Pretty sweet timepieces !

[John @ May 18th 2009 10:37PM]

So... in order to know the time and date you have to wear both the watch AND the calendar? Pass.

[Plothole @ May 18th 2009 11:26PM]

"An oversized time display and graphical calendar insure you always know the time and date with this watch."

[Alienicecooler @ May 18th 2009 10:41PM]

why does engadget seem to think its funny to tease people with that kinda crap? Okay you guys stop smoking too much grass cuz now you all are allowing it to filter to your website 4:20 all over them watches haha not planned haha yea right haha!!!!

[BrianMadsen @ May 18th 2009 10:43PM]

I love it!!

now, how do we get our hands on this cool watch and more importantly - giving away a few!!! tell us!

i don't mind being seen as a "geek" (or even "special") if i had one of those on my wrist!

[Bobby @ May 18th 2009 10:52PM]

looks cool

[Greeneyedggirl @ May 18th 2009 11:16PM]

I'm sorry, but this looks like something right off Ed Stryker wrist in "UFO" all those years ago. How can anyone think something so limited, and well, forgive me here, but UGLY, could be worth 175 dollars?

I wouldn't wear, or even use a watch that looked like that unless someone paid me stupid amounts of money. As to geek points? My only thought upon seeing this on some poor guys wrist would be "Oh that poor man, someone has taken his meds away and all he got was that ugly watch." I mean hell I'd rather wear a prison monitoring bracelet than that thing.

But that's just me.

[KEROLiUKAS @ May 18th 2009 11:51PM]

That's the probem with most nerds/geeks. They got no fucking sense of style.


Sir, this is stylish, you just don't have any style yourself ;)

[superhobo @ May 19th 2009 6:25AM]

Must...look...like...everyone else...
must...conform...

[Mark @ May 18th 2009 11:13PM]

"Someone needs to shave" LOL LOL

[SHANE @ May 18th 2009 11:58PM]

Ummmm....No!

[Mvpsanto @ May 18th 2009 11:34PM]

I want one!!!

[AndrewNoNumbers @ May 18th 2009 11:40PM]

Dynamism sells a bunch of hot Japanese watches.

[BobbyDigital @ May 19th 2009 12:31AM]

I have a fascination with unique/nerdy watches. Anyone remember those watches that played a mini game of Mario Bros? Back then, I thought they were so technologically advanced.

[danotoriousb @ May 19th 2009 1:19AM]

As cool as those displays look, wearing a watch in this style to the club/bar is like broadcasting that you arent interested in getting laid tonight.