3Qi Screen Technology Shipping in Time for Apple Tablet?
A small startup company called Pixel Qi recently announced that they will start production of the first batch of their new LCD screens shortly. These new screens promise low power, easy readability in direct sunlight as well as support for full color and are expected to ship in quantity in Q1 2010. Regarding the screen's benefits:
The readability and legibility of our new screens rival the best epaper available today. What's new about our screens: fast video rate update (refresh), and fully saturated color at low pricing because we use standard manufacturing materials, processes and factories. Our screens use 1/2 to 1/4 the power of a regular LCD screen, and when integrated carefully with the device can increase battery life between charges by 5-fold. You can use our screens in laptops outside in bright sunlight.
Pixel Qi has been closely followed by the industry, as it was founded by One Laptop Per Child's (OLPC) former Chief Technology Officer Mary Lou Jepsen.Techland.com had spent some time with a prototype screen back in May and were quite impressed. The screen offers two modes: a black and white "reflective" mode similar to e-ink and a more traditional emissive mode that offers full color. Unlike e-ink, however, the black and white mode is capable of full-motion video.
Over the past year, Jepsen has revealed that they have been in contact with "all the big laptop companies" and have seen a lot of interest. While there is no specific connection with Apple, it seems clear that Apple must be aware of this coming technology for their rumored tablet device. The readability and battery life savings would, of course, benefit any portable device, but especially one that has been rumored to publish magazine content and take on existing e-readers. Conveniently, the 3Qi screens are also multi-touch capable and can be "super-slim". The size of the screen has also been announced at 10.1 inches, which matches with some of the predictions for the Apple tablet's screen size.
Pixel Qi has revealed their screens will be going into specialized tablet devices with multi-touch in 2010, but has not yet announced specific partners.
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This seems too much of a co-incidence for it NOT to be used in some future Apple tablet
So true! Hope the Tablet is under $1,000!
Carlin Vieri joined Pixel Qi from Apple Computer where he engineered new generation display electronics for the iPhone and other devices. Previously he pioneered liquid crystal on silicon electronics backplanes, drive schemes and interfaces with the MicroDisplay Corporation, where he was Director of Electronics. He has a PhD in Electrical Engineering from MIT, and BS in Electrical Enginerring from UC Berkeley.
Sounds like a great product. However, I find it hard to take as much more than hopeful speculation considering that we have heard nothing whatsoever to date regarding this company or technology in connection with Apple. I would think it is too late in the game for this to be a part of the Apple Tablet that we will most likely see in the first quarter of 2010.
One sort of interesting thing that I didn't mention was that they designed the screens to be drop-in-replacements for existing LCDs.
She talks about it in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm8WoItVRn0
the only difference to the manufacturer apparently is that the laptop/tablet's firmware needs to be able to completely turn off the backlight.
arn
if apple use this ugly screen i aint buying one... i want to see an iphone/ipod touch glass screen!!! :eek: :mad: :apple:
why can't this be a glass screen too?
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why can't this be a glass screen too?
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I would really need to see the screen. So far what I've seen of screens that reflect regular sunlight without much use of a backlight they are week and dingy.
In all honesty I doubt Apple would use one of these screens in their tablet. Maybe once the technology can keep the beauty of a glass LCD LED screen.
I would really need to see the screen. So far what I've seen of screens that reflect regular sunlight without much use of a backlight they are week and dingy.
This one is said to do both (backlight on or off).
demo of prototype: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7ZErQ5Kl6w
arn
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