Engadget

Plastic Logic shutters US offices, gets out of making its own e-readers

Jon Fingas — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:11:00 EST

Plastic Logic has something of a rollercoaster history, having had to drop the QUE proReader before it even shipped and getting a $700 million cash injection that ultimately swung its attention to Russian schoolchildren. Unfortunately, the UK company's dreams of a self-branded e-reader are closing down along with its US branch. About 40 jobs are being cut in Mountain View, California, along with a smaller amount at its still-active British, German and Russian offices. The reduced headcount swings the focus to supplying e-paper screens to other companies, several of which are currently in talks. We're never fans of job cuts, but there is a silver lining to this cloud: the company's new flexible color e-reader screen could show up in more devices than it would have otherwise.

Plastic Logic shutters US offices, gets out of making its own e-readers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 May 2012 01:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic demoes flexible color display for e-readers (video)

Sarah Silbert — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:29:00 EST

Plastic Logic has getting by with some eastern love since last year, when RUSNANO's $700 million investment helped the e-reader maker land its Plastic Logic 100 in Russian schools. The latest fruit of that partnership is a prototype of its first flexible color e-reader display, which delivers 4,000-plus hues at a resolution of 75 ppi. The screen contains some 1.2 million plastic transistors, and it's able to bend without distorting images thanks to a top filter and a 150-ppi display below that flex at the same rate. Skip past the break for a demo clip of the tech in action, appropriately featuring some Matryoshka dolls.

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Plastic Logic demoes flexible color display for e-readers (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic 100 unveiled, set to bring e-textbooks to Russian schools

Terrence O'Brien — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 01:47:00 EST

Well, it's certainly not much in the looks department, but Plastic Logic finally has a product out the door that will at least get some use. The Plastic Logic 100 is the shatterproof descendant of the canceled Que, which will be arriving in Russian classrooms later this month. Underneath is soft-touch plastic exterior is 4GB of storage and an 800MHz processor pushing Windows CE. There's no wireless connectivity to speak of (loading texts on it is accomplished via microUSB), but it does sport a 10.7-inch, 1280 x 960 capacitive screen with a touch-based UI. There's even a software keyboard for making notes and highlighting passages. But, at 12,000 Russian Rubles (just shy of $400) we can't help but think the Kremlin might as well have picked up a bunch of cheaper Kindle DXs. Check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading Plastic Logic 100 unveiled, set to bring e-textbooks to Russian schools

Plastic Logic 100 unveiled, set to bring e-textbooks to Russian schools originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 01:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic granted a second life, scores trial in Russian schools

Terrence O'Brien — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:32:00 EST

Poor Plastic Logic, one of the early innovators and hype builders in the e-reader race, has never been able to get its act together. But, following an initial investment of $150 million from Russian firm Rusnano in January, it seems the company has finally found a home for its beleaguered readers. After demoing the units for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the new investors secured a deal for 1,000 of the Que descendents to be given a trial in Russian schools. Perhaps redemption will come for Plastic Logic by succeeding where the Kindle was deemed such an absolute failure.

Plastic Logic granted a second life, scores trial in Russian schools originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic receives massive $700 million Russian investment

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 04:26:00 EST

Who can forget the Plastic Logic Que proReader -- a textbook study on the vaporous gadget. Start with an incredible (but truthful) claim to have developed plastic semiconductors that could be used to fabricate flexible e-reader displays. Then follow up the breakthrough with the all-important consumer tease: an amazing (for the time) 8.5 x 11-inch e-reader with a gesture-based UI that would launch in the first half of 2009. Unfortunately, the Que never shipped and was ultimately canceled, partly because of reliability issues associated with manufacturing those early Que displays and partly because of the launch of a rather disruptive Apple tablet you might have read about. Fast forward to today and we've got the state-owned Russian Corporation of Nanotechnologies (Rusnano) announcing a $700 million investment in the US-based Plastic Logic Inc. Why? Are you listening? Plastics. Here's how this "unprecedented" investment was described by Georgy Kolpachev, Rusnano's managing director:

"Flexible plastic electronic displays will provide another major milestone in how people process information. Entering this new disruptive segment at the stage of its inception gives Russia a chance to win a leading position in global market of future electronics."

The investment will be used to pay off Plastic Logic's debt including a $50 million loan the company took out after approaching financial collapse. The rest will be used for a second plastic electronics factory in Russia (a sister to the Dresden Germany plant) which is expected to start production in 2013 or 2014.

Update: Press release added after the break offering more details on the "world's largest commercial plastic electronics factory" that will be capable of producing hundreds of thousands of "next-generation plastic electronics displays" per month.

Continue reading Plastic Logic receives massive $700 million Russian investment

Plastic Logic receives massive $700 million Russian investment originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 04:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget Podcast 208 - 08.13.2010

Trent Wolbe — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:38:00 EST

It's the Engadget Podcast....to go! Would you like a little Joanna Stern with that? Easy on the Ziegler, buddy - and 86 the Paul, please. All that plus a special toy for kids ten and under that manage to listen all the way to the end.

Update: If you've been unable to download the podcast in iTunes or Zune, it's because we had a naming issue -- it's since been fixed and should download properly once the cache breaks. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel
Guests: Joanna Stern, Chris Ziegler
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: California Gurls

00:01:30 - The Engadget Show - 011: Peter Molyneux, Fable III, Milo, BlackBerry Torch, Windows Phone 7
00:01:40 - BlackBerry Torch review
00:12:48 - Exclusive: Sony Ericsson to introduce Android 3.0 gaming platform and PSP Go-like smartphone
00:18:38 - Microsoft to open mobile games studio, develop and incubate Windows Phone 7 titles
00:24:42 - Exclusive: Upcoming Apple TV loses 1080p playback, gains apps... and will be renamed iTV
00:36:10 - iPod touch coming in a 'few weeks' with dual cameras and Retina Display, suggests John Gruber
00:39:49 - CDMA iPhone in engineering tests, may arrive in January, says John Gruber
00:43:05 - Plastic Logic kills QUE, 'shifts focus' to second-generation ProReader
00:43:56 - Notion Ink Adam delayed, this time investors are to blame (updated!)
01:47:00 - Notion Ink Adam priced at $498, lives up to promise of being below $499
00:50:20 - Dell Streak on sale August 13 for $300 on AT&T contract, $550 without
00:51:14 - Off-contract Dell Streak is still SIM-locked to AT&T, wrongs still being done in the world
00:52:40 - Exclusive: Dell Thunder prototype rumbles into the wild (video)
00:57:05 - Motorola Droid 2 (and R2-D2 edition!) finally official: Android 2.2, Swype, $200 on contract
00:57:50 - Droid 2 R2-D2 edition spied in the wild, ready to repair your X-wing
00:58:30 - Motorola's Droid 2 in the wild, looking as blue as ever
01:04:18 - Motorola's Jha says MOTOBLUR brand will fade from view
01:05:22 - Epic 4G coming August 31st for $249.99 on contract (updated)
01:06:14 - HP CEO Mark Hurd resigns over sexual harassment investigation (updated with liveblog!)
01:07:35 - Former HP CEO Mark Hurd rewarded with a $40m severance after being forced to resign over fraudulent expense reports
01:09:42 - HP tells employees webOS tablet coming Q1 2011
01:11:20 - Pre designer Peter Skillman latest to leave Palm, entire senior staff now in exodus
01:14:56 - Google and Verizon announcing something policy-related at 1:30PM ET -- we're liveblogging right here
01:16:00 - Google and Verizon publish joint policy proposal for 'an open internet'
01:17:00 - Google and Verizon's net neutrality proposal explained

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Engadget Podcast 208 - 08.13.2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic kills QUE, 'shifts focus' to second-generation ProReader

Darren Murph — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:34:00 EST

And just like that, with the swing of a virtual axe, she's all dead and buried. Plastic Logic has been stuck in a world of perpetual delays ever since wowing the universe with its QUE ProReader at CES, and rather than delaying it again, the company is simply cutting its losses and moving on. To quote CEO Richard Archuleta: "We recognize the market has dramatically changed, and with the product delays we have experienced, it no longer make sense for us to move forward with our first generation electronic reading product." To that end, the company plans to "shift its focus to bring to market a second-generation ProReader plastic electronics-based product," but absolutely no details regarding form factor, pricing or an estimated ship date are given. Wilder still, those rumors about a company sale have coincidentally (or not?) flared up again, with the Financial Times stating this go 'round that Plastic Logic could sell a "significant stake" of itself to Rusnano, a Russian state-owned nanotechnology corporation. We're told that the two are currently "in discussions," and that if a deal is reached, Plastic Logic's production facility for this elusive next-gen product would have to be based in Russia. We can't say we're completely shocked at the outcome here, but we're man enough to shed a tear at our loss. Rest easy, QUE -- at least we had our times.

Continue reading Plastic Logic kills QUE, 'shifts focus' to second-generation ProReader

Plastic Logic kills QUE, 'shifts focus' to second-generation ProReader originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic delays QUE proReader 'a bit longer,' cancels pre-orders

Tim Stevens — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 09:38:00 EST

Not good news for those looking for a different e-reader. Back in April, Plastic Logic told those who pre-ordered its QUE proReader that they'd have to wait until June 24 -- after already having been delayed to April. Now that device is being delayed again, and while the company has wizened up and not actually given a new estimated date this time, it also took the unfortunate and ominous move of canceling all pre-orders. In the e-mail sent to those affected (which is after the break) the company says it has "decided that delaying the device a bit longer will result in a better product for you." Hopefully it results in a cheaper product, too, as we're not sure how a $800 reader is going to fare in a world where both the Kindle and nook are available for less than $200.

[Thanks, Don; spider photo courtesy of mrpbps]

Continue reading Plastic Logic delays QUE proReader 'a bit longer,' cancels pre-orders

Plastic Logic delays QUE proReader 'a bit longer,' cancels pre-orders originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic plans 2012 launch for color e-paper display

Darren Murph — Thu, 13 May 2010 12:55:00 EST

E-readers as a whole best be watching their backs (or planning a wave of new functions, one), but it's safe to say that having color displays would give 'em a leg-up on the retina-killing, battery-draining LCD-based alternatives. Plastic Logic is still working to get its first e-reader (the decidedly not color QUE, for those curious) into the paws of consumers, but already the outfit is planning for the next big thing. Achim Neu, Director SCM, recently spoke at the International Electronics Forum, reportedly stating that his company is aiming to "have a manufacturable color display by the end of 2011 and move it into volume production in 2012." Details beyond that were scarce, but still, 2012 seems a long ways out -- if Qualcomm can get its color Mirasol panel into shipping products, there's a better than average chance that none of this will matter.

Plastic Logic plans 2012 launch for color e-paper display originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 May 2010 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic expects to ship QUE proReader in June

Paul Miller — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:16:00 EST

So, Plastic Logic perhaps isn't for sale, but what about that long-awaited QUE proReader of theirs? Well, we just got an update on that front. A hapless tipster who pre-ordered the devices way back on January 9th just got an email from Plastic Logic saying they should expect a June 24th ship date now. Pre-orderers at least have the opportunity to confirm or deny that they still want the device, and won't be charged until it ships. So, will it be worth the wait? And more importantly: what color will your hovercar be?

[Thanks, Shane B.]

Plastic Logic expects to ship QUE proReader in June originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic up for sale even though its QUE proReader isn't? (Updated: Investor confirms neither are for sale)

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 06:42:00 EST

While you can't buy a QUE proReader until summer it seems that you can buy the company. Well, maybe not you but someone with a few hundred million in the bank. At least that's the way the Financial Times is framing a piece focused on UK investor Hermann Hauser, whose venture capital firm has a stake in Plastic Logic. According to Hauser, "We're in very interesting negotiations with ... well, that would be a separate interview, you will hopefully hear [more] about this in the autumn."

Why would anybody want to buy this offshoot from the University of Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory? After all, dedicated monochrome E-Ink devices are on their last legs, right? Chips made from plastic, not silicon, that's why -- intellectual property that could revolutionize integrated circuits and the entire computing industry. For the moment, however, Plastic Logic is only manufacturing the simple plastic transistors found inside its QUE proReader display that switch each pixel on or off -- a far cry from PCBs loaded with plastic integrated circuits. And as the FT acknowledges, any potential buyer might end up with an e-reader company and nothing more. Not exactly where you want to be at the dawn of the second coming of tablet computers.

Updated: We heard from Plastic Logic investor Hermann Hauser who firmly says the company is not for sale. Apparently his comments were taken out of context. That still doesn't answer our question of when we will be able to get our hands on a QUE proReader.

[Thanks, Charlie]

Plastic Logic up for sale even though its QUE proReader isn't? (Updated: Investor confirms neither are for sale) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 06:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic QUE proReader pre-orders halted?

Joshua Topolsky — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:13:00 EST

We're not going to engage in too much wild speculation on this piece of information, but there are certainly a few raised eyebrows in Engadget-land right now. Apparently Plastic Logic is no longer offering pre-orders of its QUE proReader, as a tipster of ours discovered while trying to push through his order of the $799.99, 8GB / 3G version of the large-screen device. According to the order page "Pre-orders are sold out. QUE will be available online and in select Barnes & Noble stores this summer." This of course comes on the heels of news that the company would be further delaying the ship date from mid-April to summer related to "fine-tuning" and "enhancing the overall product experience." So our minds aren't exactly at ease, as we're trying to understand why a company wouldn't just caveat pre-orders by letting people know there's been a run on supply -- though it's possible that Plastic Logic is doing separate batches for mail order and in-store, and just needs to pace themselves. We've reached out to the company for comment, and we'll let you know as soon as we hear back.

[Thanks, Clive]

Plastic Logic QUE proReader pre-orders halted? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic QUE proReader delayed: time to reevaluate that pre-order?

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:53:00 EST

Did you by any chance get in on the early QUE proReader pre-order? Well, we've got news for you that might be good or bad depending upon your perspective. A pre-orderer just forwarded us an email received from Richard Archuleta, CEO of Plastic Logic, detailing a shipment delay from mid-April to sometime in the summer, a date echoed by the QUE product site at Barnes & Noble. According to the email, the delay is due to a desire to "fine-tune the features and enhance the overall product experience." Now the good news: credit cards have not been charged leaving disgruntled hopefuls either $649 (for the 4GB WiFi model) or $799 (for the 8GB WiFi + 3G model) to spend on something else. There are certainly more e-reader choices available now than when the QUE proReader went up for pre-order on January 7th -- though not with the same sophisticated business-use approach or big 10.5-inch display... for that, you'll have to wait for Skiff to ship. Or maybe you'd prefer a full color LCD tablet instead? Regardless, you do have choices. Full email after the break.

[Thanks, Anonymous Tipster]

Continue reading Plastic Logic QUE proReader delayed: time to reevaluate that pre-order?

Plastic Logic QUE proReader delayed: time to reevaluate that pre-order? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Engadget Show - 005: Google's Erick Tseng, CES wrap-up, WiDi, AR.Drone, and more!

Chad Mumm — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:05:00 EST

Well it's been a wild couple of weeks here at Engadget. Between CES 2010 (our biggest show ever), the Nexus One launch, forthcoming Apple announcements (and loads of Apple rumors), it's unlikely we'll forget the start of our new decade anytime soon. Still, amidst all the craziness we had time to sit down for another Engadget Show -- and what a show it was. Grab a loved one and a tasty beverage of your choosing and settle in to watch our in-depth interview with Erick Tseng, a wrap-up of all things CES, plus fascinating demos of Intel's new Wireless Display, Parrot's crazy AR.Drone, the Plastic Logic QUE, Alienware's M11X, and so much more. Tune in now -- you'll kick yourself if you miss this.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Paul Miller, Nilay Patel
Special guest: Erick Tseng
Produced and Directed by: Chad Mumm
Executive Producer: Joshua Fruhlinger
Edited by: Michael Slavens
Music by: Glomag
Visuals by: Dan Winckler
Opening titles by: Julien Nantiec

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Continue reading The Engadget Show - 005: Google's Erick Tseng, CES wrap-up, WiDi, AR.Drone, and more!

The Engadget Show - 005: Google's Erick Tseng, CES wrap-up, WiDi, AR.Drone, and more! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic QUE proReader hits the FCC, torn down with its warning labels showing

Tim Stevens — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:49:00 EST

Sure, we've shown you plenty of pictures of the outside of PlasticLogic's QUE proReader, but we all know that it's what's inside that counts. The device has done its civic duty at the FCC and bared everything to the world, showing off the location of an FCC warning label that was not "aesthetically desirable" on the outside of this device with its "unique enclosure finish and form factor," so it was instead moved inside near the battery -- the big blue thing that someone has thoughtfully written "FULL" on. (If only recharging it were that easy.) Beyond that no shocking bits of information were revealed, but now there should be nothing standing in the way of this thing's planned April release at a Barnes & Noble near you.

Plastic Logic QUE proReader hits the FCC, torn down with its warning labels showing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget Podcast 177: CES 2010 Day 3 - 01.08.2010

Trent Wolbe — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:45:00 EST

It took every bit of geeky fortitude we had left in our bodies to tear ourselves away from @LadyGaga's tweeterfeed for an hour and produce this podcast for you, but we did it. Feel appreciative?

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Song: Bad Romance

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01:40 - Live from Palm's CES 2010 press event
03:25 - Palm swings open doors to App Catalog's innards
03:35 - Palm gets serious about 3D gaming on webOS
04:00 - Video recording coming to all webOS devices in February (updated: Flash, too!)
04:10 - Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus first hands-on (video)!
04:40 - Palm introduces Palm Pre Plus: 16GB, coming to Verizon on January 25th
06:30 - Palm Pixi Plus: WiFi-equipped and heading to Verizon
23:10 - Palm intros Mobile Hotspot app, guaranteed to make your router jealous
25:47 - Live from Dell's CES 2010 press event
26:42 - Alienware M11X netbook gets official, costs less than a grand
26:55 - Alienware M11x hands-on
27:20 - Dell teases the Streak?
29:00 - Dell slate (secret) hands-on
30:00 - Dell 5-inch slate press pics want you to study them
30:30 - Dell Mini 3 lightning hands-on
33:17 - Live from NVIDIA's CES press event
33:35 - NVIDIA announces Tegra 2, tablets en route
35:00 - Plastic Logic QUE proReader in-depth video hands-on
38:20 - Live from Paul Otellini's Intel CES keynote
39:50 - Intel launches AppUp Center app store for Atom-powered devices (updated with hands-on impressions)
40:25 - Intel announces WiDi HD wireless display technology
43:27 - LG GW990 hands-on video
48:12 - Spring Design announces partnership with Borders, lowers price on Alex reader
49:35 - Notion Ink Adam prototype hands-on: it looks nothing like the render, but it's still pretty wild
52:32 - Boxee Box confirmed to have Tegra 2, Boxee Beta now open to all

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Engadget Podcast 177: CES 2010 Day 3 - 01.08.2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic QUE proReader in-depth video hands-on

Paul Miller — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:34:00 EST

Our time this morning with the QUE proReader was all too short, so we took another pass at the device -- this time armed to the teeth with our very best touchscreen gestures. We have to say, the more we play with it, the more we like it. The interface is very well thought out, the touchscreen keyboard is very responsive (though a little awkward to type on in landscape mode) and the general functionality is just about perfect for this sort of device. It's not going to change the world, and the price means it'll be only for a very select sort of user, but we have a sneaky feeling that those users are going to be pretty smug folks once this thing starts shipping. Check out the video after the break.

Gallery: Plastic Logic QUE proReader hands-on part two

Continue reading Plastic Logic QUE proReader in-depth video hands-on

Plastic Logic QUE proReader in-depth video hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic QUE proReader first hands-on (with video!)

Paul Miller — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:48:00 EST

We just got to hold the new crazy-thin QUE proReader, and it's pretty much all that and a bag of chips. The touchscreen seems resistive, but it's plenty sensitive, and the 1 second-ish page refresh rate makes it pretty usable. They weren't lying about the device feeling and looking like plastic, but we really do mean that in the nicest way possible. There's USB and a power button on the bottom, but looking at it straight on the device is about as minimal as could be. We'll have to really play with one before we can comment on usability, but from first glance the interface looks intuitive, well laid-out and surprisingly packed with functionality.

Update: We've got video up now as well. Look at all that sexy!

Gallery: Plastic Logic QUE proReader first hands-on

Continue reading Plastic Logic QUE proReader first hands-on (with video!)

Plastic Logic QUE proReader first hands-on (with video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic debuts QUE proReader, shows off truVue publications

Paul Miller — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:59:00 EST

We're at Plastic Logic's CES press event, where they're at last showing off the finalized, market-ready QUE e-reader. The idea is to create a whole "new" device type for business professionals. There's a fullscreen touchscreen interface, with no touchscreen, and the device can work with email, calendar (including Outlook support) and other information outside of documents. "We're not just developing an e-reader, we're developing a complete solution space." The device design was based on the look of black and white print, and wanted to avoid metal in materials to drive home the "plastic" element. It's supposed to look like a glass container with ink. The only physical button on the frame the home button on the top right corner. The device controls with taps but also gestures. You can "swipe" through calendar days, for instance, and screen refreshes look very fast. The device can view and annotate Powerpoint, Word, Excel and PDF documents. You can create your own pre-defined searches for sorting devices, and the interface looks closer to an AJAXY website than an e-reader. With a finger you can draw directly on the screen for annotations, but while there's a touchscreen keyboard for annotations, it looks slow as sin. As previously announced, the device uses the Barnes & Noble web and device-based e-book store for a business-target selection of titles (and regular books as well), and B&N claims the QUE is a complementary and differentiated product from its own Nook -- and it's hard to disagree.

One surprise of the presser is the new truVue format for publications that Plastic Logic supports. The standard was developed in conjunction with Adobe, and it preserves some of the style and layout (though certainly not all) of a print publication, with publishers such as Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Huffington Post, Thompson Reuters and more on board.. To get documents onto the device you can print to a "QUE it" printer, as well as drag and drop documents to a "QUE it" droplet on the desktop for automagical document transfers. There's also a QUE application for the BlackBerry, which can bump any email or attachment from the BlackBerry to the QUE over Bluetooth. QUE has partnered with Good for "QUE Mail" and "QUE Calendar," with support for Exchange, Gmail, Windows Live and other email accounts. The device has Bluetooth, WiFi and 3G under the hood, with AT&T providing the wireless data.

The proReader ships in mid-April, with pre-orders starting today. The 4GB model without 3G goes for $649, while the 8GB model retails with the AT&T onboard is $799. Wowsa. Naturally, this is just the start for Plastic Logic, and we should be seeing plenty more devices from the company, and PL also promises to extend the functionality of the proReader on an ongoing basis. There's full PR after the break.

Gallery: Plastic Logic QUE proReader press shots

Continue reading Plastic Logic debuts QUE proReader, shows off truVue publications

Plastic Logic debuts QUE proReader, shows off truVue publications originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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QUE proReader hitting Barnes & Noble retail stores in 2010

Darren Murph — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:09:00 EST

In a rather odd unfolding of events, it seems as if Barnes & Noble is finally clearing up the mystery behind that Plastic Logic e-reader slated to hit its retail locations by Spring of 2010. After making said announcement, the book seller then went out and introduced an e-book reader of its very own in the Nook, and only now are we learning that the Plastic Logic-built QUE proReader will also be splashing down at the outfit sometime next year. In a brief release posted today, we're told that the recently teased big-screen reader ~~(8.5- x 11-inches)~~ 10.5-inch will be sold throughout B&N's retail footprint and on its website; makes sense given that B&N is powering the proReader's online e-book store, but the fact that it'll be placed prominently near the outfit's own (somewhat competing) device is certainly interesting. We're expecting to see more come CES 2010, and seriously, with the rate at which these readers are hitting brick-and-mortar locations, Amazon might want to consider implementing some kind of physical trial in order to not go overlooked in its corner of the web.

Update: Plastic Logic rather dubiously lists "large 8-1/2 x 11-inch shatterproof display" on its specsheet. A bit of digging into the Barnes and Noble listing, however, reveals the following spec "Display (viewable area): 10.5-inch diagonal, 944 x 1264 pixels at 150ppi, 8 gray levels." Sneaky.

Continue reading QUE proReader hitting Barnes & Noble retail stores in 2010

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QUE proReader hitting Barnes & Noble retail stores in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic teases QUE proReader with 8.5 x 11-inch touchscreen

Paul Miller — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:01:00 EST

Details are scarce, since the official launch won't happen until January 7 at CES next year, but Plastic Logic is looking to crash into the "pro" segment of the e-reader market (currently mostly occupied by the Kindle DX) with its upcoming QUE proReader. The unit uses E Ink Vizplex tech in a shatterproof display the size of a regular piece of paper at 8.5 x 11-inches, and has 3G wireless capabilities courtesy of AT&T and a business-centric ebook store at QUEreader.com which will be powered by Barnes & Noble. There's also a touchscreen interface, but it's unclear if that covers the entire display, or is something more akin to the leaked photos we've seen of the Barnes & Noble reader. The device is "less than 1/3-inch thick," and can handle PDF, Word, PowerPoint and Excel documents, including tools for "interacting with and managing the content," which sounds beyond the scope of most e-readers on the market currently. We'll have to wait and see how useful the interface really is, and how much damage (if any) that touchscreen sensor does to readability, but a bit of diversification in the ebook space sounds like a good thing on paper. Full PR is after the break.

Continue reading Plastic Logic teases QUE proReader with 8.5 x 11-inch touchscreen

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Plastic Logic teases QUE proReader with 8.5 x 11-inch touchscreen originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barnes & Noble twin-screen e-reader revealed early?

Darren Murph — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:56:00 EST

At this point, there's little doubt that Barnes & Noble will soon be joining the e-reader game. We've heard whispers through the grapevine, seen FCC documentation and now, renders of what the thing might actually look like. With October 20th rapidly approaching, Gizmodo has secured images that it claims are of the forthcoming device -- and the design certainly jibes with recent happenings. If you'll recall, a B&N-badged representative recently noted that an e-book reader with its logo on it was on track for a Spring 2010 release, and by golly, it would sport a color display. Plastic Logic later stepped forward to deny the claim, but if these images are legit, both parties might actually be correct; the dual-panel device would boast a traditional e-ink display up top with a multitouch panel beneath, the latter of which would undoubtedly lead to all sorts of shenanigans. So, is it Tuesday yet, or what?

Filed under: Displays, Handhelds

Barnes & Noble twin-screen e-reader revealed early? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic deflates dreams, denies Spring 2010 release for color e-reader

Darren Murph — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:21:00 EST

We had a sneaking suspicion that it was too good to be true, and now Plastic Logic has stepped forward to officially kill our pipe dreams. Just days ago, the web was set ablaze when a Barnes & Noble representative mistakenly (or deliberately, for all we know) stated that a Plastic Logic-sourced color e-reader was on track for a Spring 2010 release. Today, the aforesaid outfit has stated that the video report was "inaccurate and the individual (who was apparently filmed while attending a trade show was not an authorized Barnes & Noble spokesperson) was misinformed." Continuing on, we're told that while "color is on Plastic Logic's roadmap, it is not on the map for the Spring of 2010." Welp, that settles that... unfortunately.

[Thanks, Charlie]

Filed under: Displays, Handhelds

Plastic Logic deflates dreams, denies Spring 2010 release for color e-reader originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barnes and Noble 'confirms' color Plastic Logic e-book reader for Spring 2010 (video)

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:52:00 EST

In no uncertain terms, a Barnes & Noble representative at what looks like the CTIA show says that a color (color!) Plastic Logic e-book reader will launch in Spring 2010. Now, we're not sure if Daniel Joresson is authorized to make announcements about its Plastic Logic partner but he did so nonetheless. The Plastic Logic e-reader will feature a color screen about the size of a paperback and runs the "Barnes & Noble e-book reader application." It's not clear, but it sounds like the B&N application will also be available for cellphones including the iPhone, BlackBerry, and Android devices. Right, similar to the Kindle app. So how does this jibe with rumors about a 6-inch Barnes & Noble e-reader from Plastic Logic launching as early as next month? Easy, the first version will be grayscale while a new model featuring a color display will launch in Spring. In fact, Plastic Logic's own web site says that its color reader is "around the corner" and expects to be "first to market with a large, flexible color display" -- take that Sony and Amazon with your PVI built E Ink-based displays. Watch the flirtatious B&N reveal after the break.

[Thanks, Tom]

Read -- Plastic Logic FAQ (color reader)
Read -- Video

Continue reading Barnes and Noble 'confirms' color Plastic Logic e-book reader for Spring 2010 (video)

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Barnes and Noble 'confirms' color Plastic Logic e-book reader for Spring 2010 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barnes and Noble e-book reader hits the FCC

Ross Miller — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:04:00 EST

Barnes and Noble, the United State's largest book seller has filed with the FCC its own e-book reader, as it's insinuated in the attached Agent Authorization Letter. The dipping of the toes into the digital text industry isn't as peculiar as, say Discovery Communications, since Barnes and Noble already has some known precedence in the e-book reader market, partnering with Plastic Logic as their "exclusive eBookstore provider" -- this may very well be the Plastic Logic reader, but there's no indication one way or another. Chances are it'll be some time before we know, as all external and internal photos are under a confidentiality extension for 180 days as of September 3rd, or about six months from now. See you in Spring 2010!

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Barnes and Noble e-book reader hits the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iRex readying wireless e-reader while Plastic Logic's own snags $299 price point

Darren Murph — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:39:00 EST

Who says the world stopped reading decades ago? With CES 2010 looming ever closer, it looks as if 2010 may end up being the year of the e-book reader. Amazon's got a few Kindles out, Sony's now vying to compete on price, Hearst is doing whatever it's doing, Plastic Logic is jumping in early next year and even iRex is purportedly hoping to issue a consumer-centric alternative. Speaking of those last two, we're hearing that Plastic Logic's long-awaited entrant into the e-book reading world will "be launched in the US at the beginning of next year at a similar price to the Kindle, which starts at $299," while a UK launch is expected in late 2010 or early 2011. As for iRex, the mockup you see above portrays a wireless device with an expansive 8.1-inch display, inbuitl 3G, a full touchscreen and a fall 2009 release date. 'Course, we're also hearing that this one will hover well above the $300 mark, so it's certainly not aimed at the budget-minded bookworms. So many syllables, so little time...

[Thanks, Tom]

Read - iRex reader
Read - Plastic Logic pricing

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iRex readying wireless e-reader while Plastic Logic's own snags $299 price point originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic e-book reader will use AT&T for its 3G needs

Ross Miller — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:17:00 EST

Things seem to really in motion for Plastic Logic, first with news of a partnership with Barnes & Noble and now this. AT&T is announcing that it'll be providing 3G data for the company's upcoming e-reader, the capabilities of which we found out during a noteworthy showing at D7. Still lots of questions up in the air, though, such as if AT&T will charge monthly for the use or provide service gratis like Sprint does with the Kindle. We're also wondering if it'll have access to AT&T's numerous public Wi-Fi hot spots. One bright note is that, unlike Sprint and its CDMA towers, AT&T's GSM network is compatible with carriers worldwide, which makes an international transition theoretically much smoother. Early 2010 can't come soon enough.

[Thanks, Tom]

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Plastic Logic e-book reader will use AT&T for its 3G needs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barnes & Noble partners with Plastic Logic, becomes "exclusive eBookstore provider" for its e-reader

Ross Miller — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:01:00 EST

It's not exactly an e-book reader of its own as previously rumored, but Barnes & Noble's announced an alliance with Plastic Logic in which it'll serve as the "exclusive eBookstore provider" to the long-in-development e-reader, which unless we're playing with semantics here means any and all digital literature you're wanting to purchase on-device will have to come from BN. According to the press release, downloads from Google's public domain archives will also be made available gratis, and as for the enigmatic 8.5 x 11-inch slate, it's still reportedly on track for an early 2010 launch. Much in the vein of Amazon's more recent maneuvers, the ole' brick-and-mortar retailer is taking what it's calling a device-agnostic approach, with apps already available for iPhone and iPod touch, Blackberry, Windows, and OS X. Practice your reading skills with the presser after the break.

Update: A few added details from Barnes & Noble's conference call. The company says it'll be announcing support for other products in the future (not Kindle or Sony e-reader) and that it has no announcements at this point as to whether it'll be selling Plastic Logic e-readers in store, exclusive or otherwise.

Continue reading Barnes & Noble partners with Plastic Logic, becomes "exclusive eBookstore provider" for its e-reader

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Barnes & Noble partners with Plastic Logic, becomes "exclusive eBookstore provider" for its e-reader originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic e-book reader: now with 3G

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:15:00 EST

You're probably wondering what's been happening with that super thin, super sexy Plastic Logic e-book reader that we've seen floating around various tradeshows. Well, the device has landed at D7, and it's got a few new features cooked up -- most notably, built-in 3G data. There's no specifics on what carriers or bands, but besides that WiFi connectivity, you'll be able to go totally nuts out in the real world. Additionally, it looks like the company has seriously tweaked the UI, now providing a simple and clear interface for getting around your documents, and a page-turning gesture (don't mind the green tint in the pic above, the screen is still very much grayscale). The slate is definitely lust-worthy, but we noted a fairly slow screen refresh (way slower than the Kindle), which is kind of a downer -- along with that fairly distant 2010 launch date. Plastic Logic also made an appearance on Fox Business News today, and the video is embedded after the break.

Gallery: Plastic Logic ebook reader: now with 3G

Continue reading Plastic Logic e-book reader: now with 3G

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Plastic Logic e-book reader: now with 3G originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 May 2009 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic e-reader not coming until early 2010

Darren Murph — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 19:57:00 EST

If you've been waiting (and waiting) for Plastic Logic's ultra-durable e-reader, you'll have to stick with recycled paper for another dozen months or so. According to a company representative at the outfit's CES kiosk, the device is now scheduled for an "early 2010" release, and as expected, final pricing has yet to be determined. Though, Mr. Joe (seriously, that's his first name) did admit that it would be "competitively priced for rapid adoption" and that the company would be pushing hard to get this into corporations / enterprises. Don't believe us? The full five minute interview is there in the read link.

[Thanks, credo]

Filed under: Displays

Plastic Logic e-reader not coming until early 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic's e-reader vs Amazon Kindle... fight! (updated with video)

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:38:00 EST

The kids at tgdaily have a hands-on video of Plastic Logic's biggie e-reader unveiled at DEMO earlier this week. With it, they've also nabbed a bit more information on this potential subscription-based, Kindle killer. The 7-mm thin reader connects via micro-USB to a PC to charge the unit or transfer documents. Documents can also be transferred over WiFi or Bluetooth (no cellular radio?) -- the reader can even communicate wirelessly with other readers to transfer documents. The 8.5- x 11-inch touchscreen allows for gesture control, as we heard, with the added bonus of quick and easy on-screen annotation of any supported media type such as Word docs, PowerPoint slides, or PDFs. Plastic Logic says they don't plan to compete with Kindle directly, instead, it's targeting business mobile professionals with "a lot of documents already," not those who will get all their content from the Amazon store.

Of course, a variety of leaks have already made it clear that Amazon's not exactly standing still with its Kindle reader with larger and more, eh hem, attractive models in the works. Sony, too, is planning a special Reader-based event next month. So... is 2009 shaping up to be the death of print? Oh hells no -- but it's certainly getting a lot more interesting.

Update: DEMO launch video showing a complete walkthough of a prototype device now posted after the break.

Continue reading Plastic Logic's e-reader vs Amazon Kindle... fight! (updated with video)

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Plastic Logic's e-reader vs Amazon Kindle... fight! (updated with video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic finally ready to launch 'flexible' e-newspaper reader

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:50:00 EST

Later today, Plastic Logic will be showing off its new e-newspaper reader (name, undecided) for the first time. The black and white, E Ink device features a wireless link to download content, room enough to store "hundreds of pages of newspapers, books, and documents," and a display more than twice the size of the wee Kindle while suffering just half the ugly. Better yet, the device is said to use "flexible, lightweight plastic" rather than glass resulting in a reader about one-third the thickness of the Kindle at about the same weight -- the reader itself (pictured left) looks rigid compared to that flexible display Plastic Logic has demonstrated in the past. Expected to go on sale during the first half of 2009 with more details, including which news organizations will feed information to the reader, promised for CES in January.

Update: Announced official with 8.5 x 11-inch display with gesture-based user interface and additional support for MS Office formats as well as PDF. Second picture added after the break.

Continue reading Plastic Logic finally ready to launch 'flexible' e-newspaper reader

Filed under: Displays, Misc. Gadgets

Plastic Logic finally ready to launch 'flexible' e-newspaper reader originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic to build first electronic paper plant

Donald Melanson — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 23:28:00 EST

U.K.-based Plastic Logic has announced that it has secured some $100 million in funding to build the world's first factory dedicated to manufacturing plastic electronics on a commercial scale. More specifically, the factory's set to produce flexible active matrix display modules, aimed at making various electronic reading devices a little more portable and a little less hard on the eyes. According to the company, the plant will be built in Dresden, Germany, with production set to ramp up sometime in 2008 at an initial capacity of more than a million display modules per year.

[Via Slashdot]

Filed under: Displays, Misc. Gadgets

Plastic Logic to build first electronic paper plant originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Jan 2007 23:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plastic Logic bumps their flexible E Ink display to 150ppi

Paul Miller — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 10:21:00 EST

Considering that only one E Ink display has made it into a major device on the US market so far, and virtually zero flexible display devices exist, you wouldn't think there'd be as much crazy competition surrounding the various related technologies to this eensy commercial space. Still, that hasn't stopped us from drooling on these technologies since forever, and Plastic Logic just keeps plugging away at them pixels. They've just upped their flexible active matrix game to 150ppi, nearing on a workable newspaper resolution, but still a fair bit away from truly matching paper and ink for sharpness and contrast. The E Ink-display is just part of long line of prototype displays from Plastic Logic, but a commercial display is still a good bit off -- they're hoping to mass produce a 10-inch 150ppi flexible display in 2008.

[Via MobileRead]

Filed under: Displays

Plastic Logic bumps their flexible E Ink display to 150ppi originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Oct 2006 10:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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