Esquire Magazine debuts E Ink cover

Long-running mens lifestyle magazine Esquire is celebrating 75 issues of its US publication with a world’s first. The special $6 edition features a ‘live’ cover that uses E Ink technology to display digital images and text on a flexible screen. Powered by 6 ultra-thin batteries specially designed for the promotion, it also features an advertisement tie-in with Ford’s new Flex range of automobiles.
The move marks an exclusive deal for Esquire with E Ink throughout 2009, with other planned initiatives in the offing. It is thought that wireless internet connectivity could be added to potentially update cover hits, refresh cover images, or stream up-to-date RSS feeds after the magazines have hit the shelves. This could well be the shot in the arm that print and magazine publishing will need to justify itself in the modern era.

We certainly look forward to the day when the Web Designer team won’t have to check covers before they go to press so thoroughly!