Reflects the existing ambient light

Feb 16, 2010 08:30 GMT  ·  By

While last year was the year when netbook sales skyrocketed, this year is, among other things, expected to be the time when e-readers truly take off. Quite a number of different e-readers have already been announced or previewed, as have been new technologies for improving such devices. Among such developments is the Mirasol e-book screen, which, according to its maker, Qualcomm, is capable of color display while using less power than the greyscale E Ink displays.

Until recently, there wasn't a high variety of e-reading devices, but what they had in common was the use of E Ink displays. These screens were, and are, convenient because they used a very low power, being able to last for weeks on a single charge. Qualcomm, however, claims that its new technology, while capable of color, will last for 18% to five times longer than E Ink, depending on what the e-reader is used for. This may include book reading (obviously), audio playback and even online video playback. In fact, during a period when an E Ink device and a Mirasol-based product were used for a mix of web browsing and book/magazine reading, Qualcomm's device reportedly lasted for 8.6 days, whereas E ink lasted for 7.3 days.

The Mirasol, through the use of very small mechanical systems, can display content in color by using the same principle as the one that enables the iridescence seen on pearls, soap bubbles, butterfly wings or peacock feathers. The small mechanical system manipulates incoming light and reflects the desired color pixel by pixel, giving it an advantage over LCD, which relies on color filters and intensive backlighting.

While it is true that E Ink was not intended as more than a means of reading books, a study conducted by L.E.K. Consulting in Los Angeles found that most owners of e-readers (out of the 2,000 covered by the survey) spent about 18 hours a week watching movies, listening to the radio or playing games. Qualcomm gave its Mirasol these color and video capabilities in order to appeal to this consumer base.

While exact dates are still unknown, a Mirasol-enabled device should launch sometime later this year.