Shipment Plan Update, Product Optimization Update & FQA

Dear Customers,


As you guessed, the shipment is delayed again. We feel so sorry about this and fully understand your disappointment and doubts about us. We are trying to promote mass production, and we will definitely complete the delivery, please keep confidence in us.


Taking into account screen delivery, R&D, testing, trial production, mass production, and some possible unexpected situations, and after careful discussions and trade-offs between us and our partners, in the absence of a recurrence of the epidemic, we expect to be able to start shipping in batches from June.


Although the latest shipping time is many months behind the original plan, it also gives us more time to perfect the product. If you have any suggestions for software interaction and use functions, please feel free to leave a message in the comment area or email us. We believe that R1 will become a satisfactory product with our joint efforts.

 

 

Here are some of the hardware updates, software updates, and FQA content:

 

Hardware Updates

As we all know, electronic ink screens are more fragile than LCD screens. And the DES screen is slightly more fragile than the E-Ink screen. In order to improve the compression resistance and service life of the DES screen, we have made some optimizations to the hardware.

 

  • Touch Cover Material Replacement

We replaced the original composite touch cover with tempered glass. It can reduce the probability of screen breakage and improve the pressure resistance of the DES slurry color ink screen and the scratch resistance of the touch screen surface.

 

  • Adding a Buffer EVA Layer
Pressing hard on the electronic ink screens will produce black shadows or even break the screen when handwriting, and long-term pressing will also reduce the service life of the electronic ink screens.
After analysis and testing by the Reinkstone R&D team, we decided to add a layer of EVA buffer layer and a floating avoidance position between the bottom of the DES paste color ink screen and the metal middle frame.
This can effectively protect the DES color ink screen, improve its service life and use experience, and reduce the risk of screen breakage.

 

  • Internal Structure Reinforcement
Unlike ordinary tablet computers, e-readers do not have a backlight module for back structural support. Therefore, the electronic ink screen naturally lacks a layer of support and is more susceptible to back impacts.
To solve this problem, we reinforced the back structure of R1 to protect the DES screen.
1. Motherboard Protective Back Cover
Industrial grade stainless steel back cover with 19 fixed holes can give strong support to the screen and motherboard.
2. Electromagnetic Drive Board Protective Back Cover
Industrial grade stainless steel back cover with 8 fixed holes can give strong support to the electromagnetic drive board, ensuring the stable operation of the electromagnetic drive.
3. Stud Integrated Battery Fixing Method
It keeps the power connection stable, passed the drop test, and is not prone to loosening and causing power outages.

 

The above hardware optimizations can better protect the screen and improve the user experience, but inevitably weaken some advantageous features. Correspondingly, the thickness of the R1's body has increased by 0.7mm, and the weight has also increased to 480g. We can’t have our cake and eat it. Hope you can understand this is the cost of optimization.

 

  • Batteries Have Passed Multiple Certifications

The battery of R1 has passed Japan's PSE certification and EU's EN62133 certification.

 

Software Updates

  • UI optimization

According to the characteristics of the DES screen, we re-design the UI such as handwriting and reading. We will release a demo video of the latest UI weeks later, so stay tuned. Below is a UI schematic for the home page and notes. (The UI of the setting interface is still being optimized)

--Bookshelf

--APP

--Note

--Note-Pen Types

--Note-Line Thickness

--Note-Eraser

--Note-Colors

--Note-Box Select

--Note-Graphic Tools

 

FQA

We have sorted out the frequently asked questions in the comment area and emails and will reply to you in an update.

 

  • What problems did you encounter that caused the delay in shipping?
The biggest hurdle we faced was that DES screens couldn't be delivered on time and in volume. DES screen suppliers are also constantly optimizing screens for better display and durability. We believe that after continuous testing and optimization during this time, RI can become a satisfactory e-paper tablet.
In addition, the recurrence of the epidemic and China's Strict Epidemic Prevention Policy have also greatly affected our work process. Hope that COVID-19 will end soon. And we can be more focused and efficient in solving the production and delivery of R1.
The subsequent product testing and trial production stages may also encounter certain problems and take a certain amount of time. But we believe we can address these issues and try our best to complete the first shipments by June.
If we encounter the worst case and the epidemic breaks out again, our delivery plan will also be affected to a certain extent. But we will update the information in time and try our best to overcome these difficulties. Good luck to us and please prepare for the worst.
  • When do you plan to release the 3rd party API/jar and documentation for lag-free stylus+E-paper?

After completing the first batch of deliveries, we will release the stylus-adapted demo.

  • Why is the R1 battery draining so fast in the update?

This is because the power consumption priority mode of the product is turned off by default when we demonstrate product features. In actual use, the power consumption will not be so fast.

  • Why does handwriting seem to have poor latency?

The handwriting delay in black and white mode is within the normal range. The handwriting delay in color mode will look serious due to the existence of grayscale. We are now optimizing the processing of wave files and the system to fix this problem.

  • Does R1 support importing images into layers?

Sure.

 

Thanks for your support and understanding!

 

Best Regard

Reinkstone Team