Companies are finally finding alternative uses for paper-like displays. reTerminal’s Sticky is just the latest to step away from the whole e-reader design and off to… something else. In this case, the compact portable display is designed to stick to a wall and tell you things.
We used to solve this problem with little adhesive-backed papers called Sticky Notes. This is obviously where reTerminal has nabbed its title from. But while those little papers were single-use only (unless you were incredibly cheap), this one should last far longer.
Sticky problem?
The Sticky might be “a shared low-distraction device” capable of showing notes, weather, or other basic info, but it’s also able to transition into a basic e-reader. In other words, the device’s original purpose could be installed after you’ve bought one (for R830, plus shipping and taxes). But that’s an operation you’ll have to perform yourself.
If you’re lazy (or just tech-impaired), the magnet-backed 3.97in 800 x 480 screen will still happily live on a fridge or wall. Seeed Studios’ mobile app lets users post updates or add widgets (like weather or news displays). It’s even possible to have it record and transcribe voice messages to display. If you’re letting the kids know you’ll be back after the weekend, that’s how you should do it.
A 750mAh battery allows the Sticky to stay portable, but you’ll need to supply your own microSD storage. It ships with a mere 32MB of internal space. 2.4GHz WiFi and Bluetooth LE are your connectivity options, and the whole thing weighs about 70 grams.
Once you have one (or more) of the Sticky displays at home, it’s possible to swap out the default firmware for something that’ll support reading books (Crosspoint, specifically). There are also smart home control and display terminal options. In other words, you really need to buy at least three. Four, if you intend to keep the default software active on your little fridge-mounted e-paper cluster.
