2012: The age of enlightenment

Bookeen Story: Chapter 6

2012 brings the most important innovation since the introduction of the first e-ink readers, in 2007. E-ink’s major advantage is its supremely comfortable paper-like display, for a reading experience comparable to a paper book, a vast improvement over backlit screens such as those of tablets or smartphones. And, like a paper book, these displays need an external light source. An e-ink reader is unbeatable in bright sunlight, but unreadable in the dark! Along with colour displays, integrated lighting is one of the most requested features by readers, eager to find a reading solution suitable for all circumstances.

Cybook Odyssey HD Frontlight

In response to this constraint, Bookeen adds a transparent film over the screen, which diffuses light from integrated leds. This light is sent towards the screen, just like that of a traditional lamp, rather than being emitted by the screen and sent towards the eyes. Bookeen calls this technology FrontLight; it allows for optimised contrast in dim lighting conditions, and even to read in total darkness, without sacrificing the legendary comfort of the e-ink display.

In January 2012, Bookeen decides to pair this technology with a high-definition screen to even further improve the display quality, and will be one of three brands in Europe to introduce this revolutionary technology at Christmas 2012.

Along with this technical development, spring brings an acceleration in Bookeen’s partnerships. A partnership with TEA, for the bookstores integrated in the Cybooks at Cultura and Decitre, then in June with the leading Swedish bookseller Adlibris, and Thalia with their 300 bookstores in Germany, Austria, Switzerland… along with many others like Le Furet du Nord, Orell Füssli in Switzerland…

In all these partnerships, Bookeen brings to the table our experience, technical know-how and solutions for developing ebook offers, while reinforcing the relationship between our partners and their clients. It’s with this independent and open mindset and focus on providing solutions, that Bookeen ends 2012 with the Cybook Odyssey HD FrontLight as a best seller in numerous countries.

Our enthusiasm just as strong as in our early days, we’re enormously happy to measure the recent growth of the ebook market, and to see the many Bookeeners from around the world who have joined our community of readers, on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. We’re thrilled to see the lively discussions and shared love of reading. Whether you’re a Bookeen novice or have been with us from the beginning (users of Cybook first generations, we’re looking at you!) we’d like to thank all of you for being a part of this adventure with us; after these first ten years we look forward to many more!