PVI has signed a deal with LG Display, which will be able to make E Ink based panels. LG Displays has invested (in bonds) around $30 million in Hydis, PVI's subsidiary.
Toppan Printing has developed and prototyped a new solution-processed TFT using transparent amorphous oxide semiconductor and a low-temperature manufacturing process. Toppan is using this to drive a flexible e-paper - they say that the new technology will enable cheap, light weight and flexible e-papers.Â
Toppan is showing a 2" x 2" prototype, with a 80x60 resolution. The TFT substrate is made of glass, and the semiconductor material is a transparent amorphous oxide semiconductor.
Digitimes reports that PVI's board has approved E Ink's acquisition, which should be completed by the end of 2009.
Marvell said it has teamed up with E Ink to create an integrated application processor. E-readers based on the technology are expected to hit the market in the first quarter of 2010.
The first devices include the already announced enTourage Edge, a combination e-reader and netbook; the Alex reader from Spring Design, and an offering from Plastic Logic.
Marvell's platform is based on its new Armada family of processors, announced last month.
The company is also partnering with FirstPaper, which is backed by media giant Hearst Corp, for content and graphics technology.
Weili Dai, Marvell's co-founder and general manager of its consumer and computing business unit, estimated the entry level price point of a e-reader based on the Marvell platform at roughly $150 -- cheaper than devices currently on the market, which range upward from $199.
PVI has turned a profit of almost $2M US in the third quarter of 2009. E-Paper products are over 50% of PVI's total revenue (which are over $125M).
PVI has also disclosed the latest term for its acquisition of E-Ink, with 0.0772 PVI share exchanging for one E-Ink share.
Via Digitimes
Amazon has finally announced international support for the Kindle. They now offer the Amazon US & International edition for $279 (available since October 19th). It can be used in over 100 countries (using AT&T's global roaming network). Each download overseas will cost 1.99$ (when you buy a new book or download one from your archived items). This is rather expensive - so this is more for Americans who want to use this abroad as well, although it can be shipped internationally from Amazon.
The Kindle US edition now costs 259$ (down from 299$), and will not allow for international roaming.
AUO says that its e-paper displays will be better, and much cheaper than available today, using its large-size production capabilities. In fact, they expect e-book readers prices to fall in half within two years - and they see a 100$ reader by 2011.
Back in June, PVI agreed to purchase E Ink for 215M$. Now they are sweetening the deal: it will be a merge and not a purchase, and E Ink owners will receive 120 million convertible preferred shares that can be converted into common shares within 3 years, if the stock climbs from NT$50 to NT$80. Basically it means that it'll be worth another 240M$ if the stock climbs 60% within 3 years.
The Astak 5" EZ Reader is now shipping, for 250$. It offers a 5" E Ink display, supports many open file formats and has 512Mb of memory, SD card expansion slot, MP3 player and a text-to-speech feature. It weights 170grams.
Polymer Vision has been bought by an Asian company (we do not know the name yet). They will restart the development of foldable E Ink displays. Polymer Vision will retain about 80% of their employees.
Polymer Vision was about to release the Readius - an e-reader with a foldable E Ink display, and will continue development (although it might be a different product).
