Kindle Review – Kindle 2 Review, Books

Here are some snippets from the last two blog posts from the What’s Happening at PixelQi blog -

First, March 16th they talked about blurring the line between ebooks and netbooks -

Lots of people ask us if we are working on netbooks or ebooks.

The answer is: both.

We are making screens that are more readable than regular laptop screens, and our studies show they are as comfortable to read as electrophoretics in existing ebook readers. But these screens also update quickly, show video, are sunlight readable and (with the backlight on) show full color. In addition, our display screens integrate with touchscreens of many different varieties.

If this sounds somewhat familiar, it’s because this sounds exactly like what Apple’s forthcoming 10″ iTouch is supposed to be – one device to fight off both eReaders and Netbooks.

Two emerging, potentially huge markets that Apple has no presence in – yet.

PixelQi has specifically said that the screens they’ll be producing are 10″ ones (see below).

Second, in early Feb they talked about samples being ready by Spring 2009 (that’s right now) and mass production by summer 2009 -

We will be sampling our 10″ screens this spring and plan to be in high volume mass production this summer. These screens have an epaper state that rivals the best epaper on the market today. What’s different: unlike the other epaper products where one must wait a second or so to change the screen – we provide video rate refresh. Also, while we have a high resolution paper-white black and white, we also provide, in the same screen fully saturated color fidelity – the same as a standard laptop screen – same color, contrast resolution, field of view etc

The timelines match up perfectly – Apple’s 10″ iTouch is rumored to be out in Fall 2009 and Mary Lou Jepsen (PixelQi) is talking about mass production beginning in Summer 2009.

If these screens are Kindle 3 screens Kindle’s sales will take off like a rocket. The only sign that it might be a possibility is that we know Kindle 3 will probably have 9.7″ screens. However, eInk has 9.7″ screens too.

On the other hand, if these are the screens in the new Apple iTouch, Apple will have another blockbuster on their hands, and might steal the eBook and eReader market in a single holiday season.

I wonder whether it’s Kindle 3 or Apple’s 10″ iTouch that PixelQi is making these screens for?