Thursday, October 23, 2008

Color E-Paper Debuts

November/December 2008

Color E-Paper Debuts

By TR Editors

A waterproof MP3 player built for bright beach days is the first device with a color "e-paper" display, meaning it has no backlighting and thus can be read in direct sunlight. The display, from Qualcomm, consists of two layers of a reflective material. Some wavelengths of light bounce off the first layer; some pass through and bounce off the second. Interference between the two beams creates the color, and electrostatic forces control the distance between the layers.

Product: Freestyle Audio player

Cost: Around that of Freestyle's previous players, which range from $80 to $100

Source: freestyleaudio.com

Company: Freestyle Audio, Qualcomm