Taiwanese company Readmoo is making waves with the announcement of their upcoming MooInk V, a foldable e-reader co-developed with E Ink.

Featuring an 8" E Ink Gallery 3 screen that bends in the middle for ultimate portability, this device aims to revolutionize the e-reader landscape.

According to Readmoo, the MooInk V is the result of 9 years of development and has endured over 200,000 bending tests.

The MooInk V boasts a Gallery 3 screen for richer color representation compared to traditional Kaleido 3 screens. The device features an aluminum-magnesium alloy casing with a matte finish, and weighs in at 255 grams.

However, the MooInk V reportedly lacks a frontlight. There is also no word on pricing or availability yet, and initial distribution is expected to be limited to China.

Foldable E-Reader Hype: We've Been Here Before

The promise of a foldable e-reader isn't entirely new. Several years ago, this brand made similar pronouncements about releasing their own bendable device. Yet, years went by and the product never materialized.

Picture: the first folding e-reader from Readmoo/MooInk

This raises a critical question: is the MooInk V a genuine innovation, or a carefully crafted mirage?

In a market dominated by larger screens, the focus on portability has waned. Major players aren't exactly rushing to shrink their devices. The fact that this e-reader brand never released it's foldable e-reader, raises the question: Is there really a demand for foldable screens, especially considering the likely premium price tag?

A Ploy for Investors?

Picture: this picture is a fake and is only here to illustrate this article. All other pictures have been provided by Readmoo

Could the announcement of the MooInk V be more about securing investment than delivering a revolutionary product? The e-reader market is competitive, and a splashy announcement of a novel product could entice investors to pour capital into Readmoo, allowing them to continue their e-reader production.

Or it could also be for E Ink to get new patents on electronic ink and e-paper (see here for an insider view on this).

The lack of concrete details surrounding pricing, availability, and even the presence of a frontlight, raises concerns. Could the MooInk V be a showcase piece designed to impress, rather than a commercially viable product ready for mass production?

Only time will tell if the MooInk V lives up to the hype or fades into the realm of vaporware.

For now, potential consumers and investors should approach this announcement with cautious optimism, remembering the broken promises of foldable e-readers past.

A new French study reveals a significant decline in book reading among the French population. This once-cherished pastime seems to be losing its appeal, potentially leading to serious consequences.

Fresh data from a survey conducted by the Centre national du livre (CNL) has been released, and it paints a concerning picture: the French are increasingly abandoning reading.

The Centre national du livre (CNL), or National Book Centre in English, is a French public administrative institution (établissement public à caractère administratif) operating under the authority of the French Ministry of Culture (Ministère de la Culture). Its primary mission is to support and promote the book industry and reading in France and abroad.

Worrying Results: The French Just Don't Want to Read Anymore!

In short, the study shows that reading is declining across the board in France, with the exception of those aged 65 and over.

For keen observers, this isn't exactly breaking news.

The most significant drop is observed in the 50-64 age group (-13 points, a massive shift!) and the 35-49 age group (-8 points).

Unsurprisingly, younger French people are also reading less, although manga remains popular.

Another interesting statistic: 15% of French people read in digital format (either exclusively or in combination with physical books). As for audiobooks, 32% have listened to one at some point.

Here's how the study was conducted:

• 1001 individuals aged 15 and over were interviewed between January 21st and February 4th, 2025.
• The sample was selected based on the following variables: gender, age, region, urban area size, and profession.
• Source of the study: https://centrenationaldulivre.fr/donnees-cles/les-francais-et-la-lecture-en-2025

The conclusion of this study is very pessimistic:

> In a world full of constant stimuli and in a context where all signs are alarming, only clear, determined actions can help safeguard a space favorable to the pleasure, reflection, and tranquility that books and reading fundamentally bring us.

Why Is This Happening? Doomscrolling, Netflix, YouTube, Instagram, Video Games, etc.

If the French aren't reading, how are they entertaining themselves?

Predictably, they're spending more time in front of screens.

This explains why the 50-64 age group is reading less. Just a few years ago, people in this age bracket (born from 1975 onwards) were still holding out. It's important to remember that they didn't get mobile phones and internet access until they were 25-40 years old. So, it took time for their screen consumption habits to change, but it's now happening!

As a result, this generation now has access to services like Netflix (10 million subscribed households in France), Prime Video (9 million), and Disney Plus (5 million), to name just a few (these figures are from 2024).

When you add YouTube, which has over 40 million French users, TikTok (15 million), and Instagram (26 million), it becomes clear that screens are taking up an increasingly large part of French people's lives – source.

There are also video games, with 38.3 million French people aged 10 and over playing video games, at least occasionally, representing 70% of the population – source.

This also explains why seniors aged 65 and over are less affected: they generally consume less digital content and have more traditional entertainment habits: radio, television, and books.

Finally, the recent phenomenon of "doomscrolling" (the practice of endlessly scrolling through social media or news sites to read – often – negative news) makes it easy to understand why the French are reading less.

What Are the Consequences for the French?

The consequences of declining reading are so numerous that they could fill a book!

However, I'm going to skip the economic considerations and instead talk about what it does to you if you stop reading!

No longer reading leads to significant problems for your brain:

• Loss of cognitive abilities, particularly the ability to understand complex texts and ideas.
• Memory atrophy.
• Loss of critical thinking.
• Loss of concentration and attention.
• Lack of knowledge: reading allows us to learn things.
• Loss of the ability to express oneself correctly.

Not reading also has consequences for your health:

• Increased stress and anxiety.
• Increases sleep problems.
• Decreases your empathy.
• You live a shorter life!

Read: all the benefits of reading.

These consequences are unfortunate, but the French are caught in a vicious cycle linked to the overconsumption of social media and alternative entertainment, almost all of which require spending long hours in front of a screen.

There seems to be no escape, and the slow decline of reading in France seems inevitable, especially with the arrival of younger generations who are all reading less than their elders.

The French can always take comfort in the fact that they are not alone in the world, but the decline is no less real!

Original French Article : https://www.liseuses.net/doomscrolling-netflix-et-autres-comment-les-francais-se-detournent-tous-de-la-lecture/

TCL has been working hard for years to bring NXTPAPER screens to its smartphones and tablets. So far, the success has been so-so. But at the Mobile World Congress 2025, TCL announced some interesting new products, like the TCL 60 smartphones and NXTPAPER 11 Plus tablets.

For four years now, this Chinese company has been offering devices with its own NXTPaper screen tech. This tech turns an LCD screen into something that looks like an e-ink screen.

When it was first shown in 2021, it wasn't that impressive.

But TCL hasn't given up! Almost every year, they've made improvements to their products. And this new 2025 line looks much more promising!

In the past, NXTPaper screens struggled with a slow "e-ink" mode. The color "smartphone" mode also wasn't as good as the screens from other brands.

TCL is still using LCD as the base tech, but the new TCL 60 smartphone range seems to have made big improvements in both of these areas.

The color screen looks good (based on videos we've seen). And early reviews praise the quality of the "reflective" mode, which displays in black and white for better reading. It's supposed to be like reading on paper!

TCL's software lets the device and screen work in three different modes:

• "Regular mode": For enjoying color and contrast like a modern smartphone screen.
• "Color Paper mode": A middle ground, like a color E Ink screen such as Kaleido 3.
• "Ink Paper mode": A black and white mode for reading. TCL says the experience is similar to a real e-reader.

It's important to know that TCL doesn't call it "E Ink" because it's a different technology. E Ink is what you find in e-readers like Kindle, Kobo, Pocketbook, or Boox.

The TCL range, which will include smartphones (TCL 60) and tablets (NXTPaper 11 Plus), also runs on Android.

So, you can use your favorite Android reading apps like Kobo, Kindle or Pocketbook to enjoy your ebooks and digital magazines on these TCL devices.

The big question is: Is the screen as good as it sounds?

The reviews out there are from people who cover general tech. So, we're still a bit cautious. But we think this could be a step forward.

If TCL can offer a good alternative to e-readers in a smartphone or tablet, it could create healthy competition.

Right now, major e-reader brands use e-ink screens made by E Ink, which has a monopoly due to patents. This keeps e-reader prices relatively high.

If TCL offers a good alternative, their devices could compete with e-readers. This could force e-readers to offer more features or lower their prices.

Another important point: TCL could sell these devices to people who don't already read on an electronic device. These people could discover digital reading and ebooks, which might lead them to buy a dedicated e-reader later on.

It's great news that TCL is continuing to improve its NXTPaper tech. I'm hoping to review these devices this year and share my thoughts with you!

These new devices are expected to arrive in Spring 2025, but the TCL website doesn't have them listed yet: https://www.tcl.com/