Samsung brings E Ink to smartphones

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 12 May 2009 at 15:20

Samsung has launched the Alias 2 smartphone, featuring an E Ink keyboard.

The Alias 2 is the successor to Samsung's original Alias text-messaging phone, and attempts to distinguish itself from the competition with a dual-hinge design and "transforming" E-Ink keypad.

In practice that means the Alias can either be flipped open and used like a traditional smartphone, or held horizontally for easier texting.

This is where the E Ink keyboard comes in. Depending on which way the smartphone is being held the keyboard will change, displaying numerical keys when held vertically and a full Qwerty layout when held horizontally.

However, according to Samsung there's no reason why the keys can't be programmed to display icons, and there's the possibility it will allow users to create custom layouts.

Unfortunately, beyond the E Ink keyboard the smartphone is fairly run of the mill. There's a 2.6in, 240 x 320 screen, two megapixel camera and support for Wi-Fi, 3G and Bluetooth.

The smartphone is available in the US, though there's no word on a UK release or pricing.