In a bold move, the Daylight Computer Company has unveiled its inaugural product, the DC-1, an Android tablet that defies convention. The DC-1 boasts a proprietary display technology called “Live Paper,” which mimics the e-ink displays of e-readers like the Amazon Kindle. Still, with a twist – it operates at a seamless 60 frames per second, making it capable of running a wide range of apps, from Spotify to Google Docs.
The 10.5-inch, 1600×1200 screen features a matte panel with a textured surface designed to replicate the feel of paper and a backlight that deliberately omits blue light to reduce eye strain. The bundled Wacom stylus is purely passive, eliminating the need for charging.
Under the hood, the DC-1 packs a MediaTek Helio G99 processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and stereo speakers. It runs on a custom version of Android 13, dubbed Sol:OS. This minimalist operating system is designed to focus on reading, writing, and note-taking, with features like Kindle-style page-turning buttons and customizable action buttons.
The device boasts impressive connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, a microSD slot, and a USB-C port. It is powered by an 8,000mAh battery that promises days of use on a single charge.
Daylight is taking pre-orders for the DC-1 in batches, with the first two already sold out. The September batch is available for pre-order now, priced at $729 for the Founders Edition model, which includes a fabric case.
The DC-1’s “Live Paper” technology addresses the long-standing challenge of achieving smooth performance with e-ink displays, which rely on electrically charged capsules that “freeze” in place for each frame. This innovation makes the DC-1 an exciting development in the world of computing, poised to bridge the gap between technology and counterculture.
