September 2010

There are reports the Delta Electronics is on track to release their e-reader in December. The Vivitek-branded e-reader will feature a 8.2" color touch-enabled e-paper (based on Bridgestone's e-paper technology), 3G and Wi-Fi. China Mobile will offer a subsidized version for the China market, and Delta hopes to land more partnerships.

Delta electronics has been showing a 13.1" color display (pictured above) back in June 2010, promising a December launch. It's good to hear they're on track to release it on time, although the display is smaller then we heard before.

Pixel Qi (together with Display Solution AG) will offer 10" (1024x600) standalone displays. You'll be able to connect them to your computer (or smartphone) via USB (wired or wireless). It only requires 1.5W power without backlight, so one USB cable is enough for both data and power.

There are some interesting updates from Pixel-Qi. First of all, they have completed their first tranche of series B finance - good news. Second, they are developing a 7” screen for tablets and e-readers that is planned for mass production in H1 2011. Samples will be available earlier, perhaps by late Q4 2010.

Finally, Pixel-Qi says that they a tight supply chain and Apple’s disruptive iPad had delayed their display production. They say that things are better now, and we should expect production and devices soon (or, at least, device makers will make announcements "coming this fall").

A couple of days ago we reported about a prototype flexible e-paper display that Sony demonstrated. It turns out that this wasn't actually made by Sony - it was simply loaned to them by E Ink. Sony has no current plans to commercialize such technology and use them an a product.

Update: it turns out that the display is actually made by E Ink, not by Sony.

Sony is showing a new flexible e-paper display. It has a plastic substrate, and can be rolled up like a newspaper. We don't have any technical information about the display, and when Sony expects to commercialize it...

Remember Seiko's Active-Matrix E ink watch? now we hear that it'll be available by the end of 2010, and the price will be 'reasonable'. The E Ink offers 80,000 pixels (at 300dpi) and 4 gray levels. It supports synchronization via radio (from the nearest atomic clock), solar cells and a 180-degree viewing angle.