4 ms·

E Ink's big problem is the Mirasol technology that Qualcomm has. Mirasol supposedly has better power usage characteristics than E Ink, and does color and full-

E Ink's big problem is the Mirasol technology that Qualcomm has. Mirasol supposedly has better power usage characteristics than E Ink, and does color and full-motion video to boot. It's also basically ready now, with Qualcomm promising both 5.7 and 10.5 inch tablet/readers using the display by the holiday season. To see the Mirasol in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmpBgaPGYKQ&feature=player_embedded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmpBgaPGYKQ&feature=playe... The rumor is that this is the display that will be found in the next Kindle, but who knows for sure.

elblanco 17y ago
Thanks for linking to Mirasol, I hadn't heard of it before and am now terribly excited. I think E-Inks main problems are two-fold: 1) It took forever to come to market in any meaningful way. I think I remember reading about it in the mid 90's if I'm correct. 2) It cost too much once it did come to market. I'd expect an 8.5"x11" display capable of showing PDFs to cost a fraction of what they do now. okay, actually three-fold 3) It's dead slow and leaves artifacts all over the place unless you do an annoying blank out of the entire display area. There's plenty of room for B&W digital paper displays in today's world, but it just seems to have come out all wrong, too late and too much money for the industry to stick with it. E Ink just won't be able to keep up with the technology demands of the market space it seems to have created.
- berntb 17y ago
  The slow update is my main problem with E-Ink. I want to browse and make notes in documents/code on an A4-sized screen which is as easy to read as paper. (Preferably sized as two A4. Color and video would be nice, but optional. Minimal power need also optional.) I don't really care if Pixel Qi, E-Ink, Mirasol or one of the others solves this, but is seems I'll finally be able to buy one in less than a year.
bonsaitree 17y ago
That's an amazing demo. What's the price-per-pixel compared to E-Ink?
MaysonL 17y ago
There's also Pixel Qi tech, which will start appearing in devices in a few months. See http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/erica-westly/science-inc/pixel-qis-adjustable-lcd-screen-action?partner=rss http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/erica-westly/science-inc/pix...

elblanco 17y ago

Thanks for linking to Mirasol, I hadn't heard of it before and am now terribly excited. I think E-Inks main problems are two-fold: 1) It took forever to come to market in any meaningful way. I think I remember reading about it in the mid 90's if I'm correct. 2) It cost too much once it did come to market. I'd expect an 8.5"x11" display capable of showing PDFs to cost a fraction of what they do now. okay, actually three-fold 3) It's dead slow and leaves artifacts all over the place unless you do an annoying blank out of the entire display area. There's plenty of room for B&W digital paper displays in today's world, but it just seems to have come out all wrong, too late and too much money for the industry to stick with it. E Ink just won't be able to keep up with the technology demands of the market space it seems to have created.

berntb 17y ago
The slow update is my main problem with E-Ink. I want to browse and make notes in documents/code on an A4-sized screen which is as easy to read as paper. (Preferably sized as two A4. Color and video would be nice, but optional. Minimal power need also optional.) I don't really care if Pixel Qi, E-Ink, Mirasol or one of the others solves this, but is seems I'll finally be able to buy one in less than a year.

bonsaitree 17y ago

That's an amazing demo. What's the price-per-pixel compared to E-Ink?

MaysonL 17y ago

There's also Pixel Qi tech, which will start appearing in devices in a few months. See http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/erica-westly/science-inc/pixel-qis-adjustable-lcd-screen-action?partner=rss http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/erica-westly/science-inc/pix...