On March 18th this year, Fujitsu Ftontech Ltd and Fujitsu Labs Ltd annnounced the consumer sales operation of the first colour ebook reader, in the world. How long will we in the UK have to wait though before we see the arrival of the next generation of ebook readers? We haven’t even got our mits on the Kindle yet!

Fujitsu Frontech and Fujitsu Laboratories announced the launch of the proprietary ‘color e-paper’ back in 2007 after trailing it out in the field with a selection of corporate  participants. Since then, the FLEPia has been modified and improved with 1.5 times higher contrast and brightness, Bluetooth to accompany the high-speed wireless capability, and a quicker re-draw speed.

The Fujitsu FLEPia is the first ever mobile ereading device to feature a electronic paper with colour. Aside from the colour, undoubtedly the biggest shift forward in ebook reader devices, the FLEPia is a amazing looking device. Lightweight and thin at just 385 grams and 12.5 mm thick, the device has a large 8 inch diagonal display screen that can show up to an impressive 260,000 colours in high-def. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled, the FLEPia power from full charge can last 40 hours and, like e-ink technology. It doesn’t need power to display a static page. The screen is touch screen and comes with a stylus that enables easy navigation and control along with the 6 fucniton buttons and scroll key.

 

Fujitsu FLEPia Specifications:

Weight and dimensions:158mm (Width) × 240mm (Height) × 12.5mm (Depth. Thinnest section: 11.3mm) , Weight: 385g

Screen Size:8 inch. 123.6mm x 164.8mm

Colours: Currently avilable in White or Black

Resolution: 768 x 1024 (XGA)

Displayable colours: 260,000 (3 scans), 4,096 (2 scans), 64 colours (1 scan)

Re-draw speed: 1.8 seconds (1scan), 5 seconds (2scans), 8 seconds (3scans)

Wireless LAN (embedded): IEEE802.11b/g (11/54mbps)

Bluetooth: Bluetooth Ver2.0+EDR

Memory: SD card (max up to 4gb)

USB connection: USB 2.0 (480mbs) miniB connector

Audio: Stereo speakers embedded plus headphone connector.

Power: Lithium polymer embedded battery, AC adaptor.

Power duration: 40 continuous hours (display of 2,400 pages@ 1 per minute per page at 64 colours.

Storage: 5000 books (average 300 pages long / 600kb per book)

Security: 128 bit AES

Software: FLEPia application. Currently Japanese version of MS windows CE5.0, Japanese ebook readers: Bunkviewer (XMDF) and T-TIme (.book)

CPU: X-scale RISC CPU embedded

Environmental operating conditions: Operation- Temperature range: 5 to 35 degrees Celsius, Humidity – 20 to 80% RH,
Storage – Temperature range: – 10 to 50 degrees Celsius, Humidity – 20 to 80% RH