Archive for the ‘pixel qi’ tag
Next Gen Pixel Qi displays to be better than iPad 3 Retina display no comments
Pixel Qi is working on the next generation of its display technology and Mary Lou Jepson, writing in the Pixel Qi blog, says that the new screens will match or even beat the iPad 3’s Retina display in terms of image quality while sipping far less power and being fully readable in direct sunlight.
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3M invests in Pixel Qi no comments
3M announced today that it had invested an undisclosed amount in alternative LCD display developer Pixel Qi. The investment concludes Pixel Qi’s series B investment round.
"Pixel Qi’s full-function color screen technology, for the first time, gives consumers an outdoor-readable video display with exceptional battery life, usable anywhere, anytime. It’s a first in the industry. In our collaboration with 3M, we have the ability to accelerate this into mass adoption," said Mary Lou Jepsen, co-founder and CEO of Pixel Qi.
The funding led by 3M New Ventures will play a key role in enabling Pixel Qi to develop its product offerings into volume consumer markets as well as digital signage and touch applications. The investment, which successfully concludes Pixel Qi’s second (series “B”) investment round, will also allow Pixel Qi to build and to strengthen its engineering and sales capabilities.
Stefan Gabriel, President of 3M New Ventures said: “Pixel Qi’s technology enables displays of such lower power and high usability that the vision of ubiquitous displays comes much closer to realization. In combining Pixel Qi’s disruptive display technology with our technology platforms, we can create new business opportunities in the consumer and commercial markets for 3M.”
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7-inch Pixel Qi tablet from ZTE 1 comment
ZTE has unveiled a new 7-inch tablet featuring a Pixel Qi display at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The new tablet, dubbed the Light 2, will be running Android 2.2. Other details are scarce, but according to Mary Lou Jepsen’s Pixel Qi blog the Light 2 will feature a 1GHz processor, 4GB of memory and have a screen resolution of 1024 x 600.
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New Notion Ink Adam Videos 1 comment
In an effort to allay the suspicions of the doubters out there Notion Ink has released a couple of new videos of the Adam tablet and its Eden interface. More videos are promised to be forthcoming. Probably in order to add to the veracity of the videos no editing has been done, so they may seem a bit rough:
The Pixel Qi version of the Adam is still sold out, and the backlit LCD versions are now shown as shipping in Feb. or March of 2011. Mary Lou Jepsen writes in the Pixel Qi blog that we can, “Rest assured Notion Ink is ordering a lot more screens from us!”
Rohan Shravan, CEO of Notion Ink, has answered a number of answers to questions submitted by readers over at Android Police. This is worth a read if you are interested in the Adam. The video below is one Rohan sent to Android Police:
IT Var News is reporting that it was told by a Notion Inks spokesperson that the company is planning to sell the Adam through regular retail channels and that when enough units are sold in a given region service centers will be set up there.
In the Android Police interview Rohan says that retail partnerships have been made in the US, UK and Europe; a press release will be forthcoming, “as soon as products are ready with them.” Being able to order the Adam from some place like Amazon would feel a lot more secure to many potential customers here than having to order direct from India.
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Notion Ink Adam News 1 comment
Rohan Shravan, founder and CEO of Notion Ink, has been teasing the company’s forthcoming Pixel Qi based 
Adam tablet with a steady trickle of details and new photos on the official Notion Ink blog.
It looks like the Adam is getting pretty close to release, although it likely won’t make it in time for Christmas this year (it could still make it — I hope I’m wrong). Rohan hints that something good is happening on Dec. 6, but as to whether that will be the beginning of pre-order taking for the Adam, the launch of Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) or something else entirely is unclear.
My money would be on the Gingerbread launch, but pre-orders should happen pretty soon. When pre-ordering does start, those who have commented on the Notion Ink blog in the past (too late now!) are slated to get priority. Notion Ink really seems like a company that wants to stay in touch with its fans/customers.
My friend entered a design in Notion Ink’s recent logo 
contest and, while he didn’t win, he was one of the semifinalists. This means he is supposed to receive an offer for a “steep discount” on the Adam when it does become available. So I should at the very least get a good fondle of the Adam — the very thought has me all hot and bothered.
The winning logo is shown to the right. Apparently it is very similar to an existing company logo however, and the last word on it is that Notion Ink is checking with the other company to see if they object to the use of the similar design.
Some recent details that have been released about the
Adam and its onboard applications:
- All six variants of the Adam have passed EMI testing at the FCC.
- All of the Adam’s software is now in beta.
- Email client (Mail’d): One unusual (and potentially controversial) feature is the ability to recall email that has been sent out. This could have security applications, as it might help prevent sensitive info contained in an email from being forwarded all over the place.
- Notion Ink has improved the font handling of Android for the Adam. Hopefully this will work with the optional Pixel Qi display to make the Adam a great ereader.
- The glass used in the Adam’s screen: One reason that a lot of devices have such glossy screens is that a glossy surface is more scratch-resistant. After a lot of experimentation Notion Ink has come up with a screen for the Adam that is closer to matte but resistant to scratching. Also, matte LCD screens suffer from light diffusion problems, especially when displaying green colors, and this is exacerbated by a touchscreen layer. Notion Ink has put a lot of work into solving this issue as well.
There is also now a new online community site for fans of the Adam — the aptly named NotionAddicts forum is a good resource for more info and opinion on the first Pixel Qi tablet.
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Notion Ink Adam Update 2 comments
Over the weekend the Notion Ink blog had some more details of the Adam Pixel Qi tablet. There are also a few production model photos.
Much of the new info relates to multitasking and memory optimization. On the Adam you will be able to run an application in a full screen mode or in a smaller window or panel. When in full-screen mode you have access to more components and features of the app. When the application is run in a panel, the Adam “decides which component (of an application) to call, what to load, when to connect, what to read from memory and when to refresh.”
You can have an infinite number of panels open at once, but only three at a time are active. The rest are in a light sleep. You can switch between application panels at any time, making them active — but you are limited to three active panels at one time.
This system results in better memory optimization and speed. Apps from the Android Market that are designed for mobile devices can also be run in these panels without having to enlarge them. It sounds as if Notion Ink may be able to use this feature to access the Android Market. Many other Android tablets cannot at the moment because the current version of Android is not optimized for tablets according to Google.
There is also a video of the Adam running a LongBox comic store app:
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Pixel Qi 7-inch Screen in the Works 1 comment
Writing in the Pixel Qi blog, Mary Lou Jepsen informs us that a 7-inch Pixel Qi screen is in the works:
We are developing a 7” screen for tablets and ereaders that is planned for mass production in H1 2011. Samples will be available earlier, perhaps by late Q4 2010. Contact us to be an early access partner: send email to admin@pixelqi.com
This would make for a great tablet/ereader; one that could be used in the sunshine and one that would offer a reflective color screen that would not cause eyestrain.
The post goes on to blame the delay in Pixel Qi display production on completely booked up production facilities and tight supply chains as well as the disruptive effect of the iPad. The situation seems to be improving, so hopefully we will see a PQ display in an ereader soon.
By one means or another, it looks as though 2011 will be the year of the color ereader.
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Notion Ink Adam Update 1 comment
Notion Ink posted some new info on their blog yesterday. The most important note is that the Adam now looks to hit the FCC a week earlier than previously scheduled. A couple of new hardware details: Sounds like the Adam will have user replaceable batteries, and there will be an on/off switch for the display of the LCD model’. In the Pixel Qi version of the Adam the switch will toggle between transmissive and reflective modes. Turning off the display of the LCD version might be useful if you are listening to audio and are not using the screen. Integrating the on/off switch also allows Notion Ink to use the same case for both models and helps keep costs down.
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Pixel Qi – DIY Netbook Screen no comments
Writing in her Pixel Qi blog this morning, Mary Lou Jepsen 
announced the availability of the promised DIY Pixel Qi screen kit in a size to replace the 10.1-inch screen of a typical netbook.
Why would you want to replace the LCD screen of your netbook with one of these? Several reasons actually:
- Pixel Qi lets you switch between a transmissive mode (like traditional LCD displays) and a reflective mode (like electrophoretic displays used in ereaders).
- In reflective mode the Pixel Qi display is fully viewable outdoors in full sunlight – try that with your LCD netbook.
- The reflective mode is much easier on your eyes than a backlit screen when used for long-form reading – such as when reading ebooks, for example.
- When in reflective mode Pixel Qi displays consume 80 percent less power.
- Your Pixel Qi equipped netbook will be way cooler than all of your friends’ boring old LCD models.
And why wouldn’t you want to try this?
- While the installation itself is not difficult – “Changing the screen of your netbook is easy, the process takes about 5-10 minutes using a small screwdriver. It’s simple: 2-4 screws have to be removed to allow unsnapping of the front plastic bezel. Once that step is done, removal of another few screws allows the screen to be unlatched and its cable disconnected. Next, the Pixel Qi screen is plugged in, screwed in, and the bezel snapped back in place. That’s it.” – opening your netbook for this project will probably void the warranty.
- It’s pricy. The Pixel Qi screen will set you back $275. That is almost the price of a good netbook.
The DIY Pixel Qi display is currently being sold through Maker Shed. Though it is currently sold out, you can place a pre-order which is expected to ship next week. So far the screen has only been tested with the Samsung N130 and the Lenovo S10-2 netbooks, though I would think that it will work with most other models with the same screen size.
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Notion Ink Adam News; CPT Demos Transflective Display no comments
On his company’s blog Notion Ink CEO Rohan Shravan writes that Notion Ink has closed its final round of funding. Shravan also seems to be refuting the recent rumors that the Adam won’t launch until November and says that the Adam is “on track.”
Shravan also says that there will be two variants of the Adam tablet – a lower priced LCD version and a dual display Pixel Qi version. He also reveals that Notion Ink is evaluating another platform, “which is proving to be extremely efficient on battery and much cheaper as well.” There may be several different hardware versions of the Adam to choose from when it does come out.
Shravan goes on to say that the SDK is almost finished so that app developers can start work. He also says that they have done “wonderful innovations on the email front. Something which might become the biggest differentiation for Adam.”
CPT to Make Transflective Display
Pixel Qi may have some competition with their transflective display. CPT has a demo of their own display which is said to be very similar to Pixel Qi although it doesn’t seem to be quite as power efficient. The video below is from Netbook News (via Best Tablet Review).
