Ever heard of Mirasol? Chances are you’ll be hearing a lot about it soon: it’s prepping sensational colour e-reader technology that’s easy on the eye but still handles video, and to show it off, it teased us with a modular e-reader with detachable control pads. Fancy a bit of gaming without any of the eyeburn? Read on for the details and pictures.
Mirasol, a subsidiary of phone chipmaking giant Qualcomm, has been turning out tiny, clever colour screens for a while, but starting in the Autumn of next year, it’ll upscale its technology to 5.7-inch displays designed for e-readers. The display isn’t eInk, but a different technology that uses flexible membranes and a mirrored screen, which once set to a certain colour don’t need power to maintain. In other words, it allows for smooth colour e-reader displays without impacting battery life.
Mirasol’s screen isn’t backlit so is incredibly easy on the eye (221 dpi resolution), is full colour, and though the proof of concept here is a still, will even allow for 30Hz refresh rates – in other words, smooth video. Mirasol demoed video running smoothly on a smaller colour panel, and it was certainly watchable.
BenQ promises colour e-reader for 2010
But what about the e-reader Mirasol is demoing it on? It’s a prototype from a manufacturer called Foxlink, and it comes with detachable slots on one side, that allow for plug-ins such as gamepads into the side. Think of it as the e-reader equivalent of the Ricoh GXR.
Take a look at Mirasol’s technology in our gallery right here, and get excited, people: this could be powering the colour e-readers you see on sale before Christmas next year.
Out 2010 | £TBC | Mirasol
