popSLATE iPhone 5 Case Comes With Separate E-Ink Display

Smartphones cases are becoming pretty dry nowadays — it's mostly just the same old thing for every case. However, one case in particular, called the popSLATE, slaps on a 4-inch e-ink display on the back, effectively giving your iPhone 5 two screens. It's currently trying to get $150,000 in funding on Indiegogo.

This isn't the first time we've seen something like this, though. During IFA 2012 back in August, we checked out a similar concept that involved a smartphone with two screens — one LCD, and the other e-ink. However, the popSLATE case simply adds an e-ink display to your existing iPhone 5, which seems a bit more practical at this point in time.

The 4-inch e-ink screen is always on, but the company claims it's very energy efficient. The screen can be used for all sorts of things, including notifications, sports scores, maps, and lists and notes. Plus, since it's always on, you don't have to worry about the screen going into sleep mode with the rest of the phone when you're reading something. The company is building an API for the screen, which means that we should be seeing a lot of third-party apps add support for the second screen.

The company is still in the early stages of development and the case itself is only in its prototype stages, but the company has already gathered a team of designers, engineers and developers to make the case. They also have a partnership with E Ink in order to use the latest e-ink technology. Two colors will be available at launch (black and white), and it will start at a price of $79 for the first 500 supporters, then $99 and up from there.