via Geek.com: Qualcomm demos Marisol e-reading display technology that does color and video

There is a rumor that Amazon may be considering an LCD screen for the Kindle in the wake of the iPad.

That would be a mistake.

If we assume that the goal for the Kindle hardware is to create the world’s best standalone e-reading device, and not morph into a bad imitation of the iPad, then the screen has to be based on a non-backlit technology.

In the past, I felt that improved grayscale rendering was more important than color for the next generation Kindle, but that was assuming the display would be based on e-ink.

Qualcomm’s new Marisol display technology (featured above) is quite impressive. It has vibrant color, longer battery life than e-ink screens, supports video, works in the sunlight, is not backlit, and is arriving at least a couple years ahead of the conventional wisdom on when e-ink could go color.

Wow.

Note to Amazon: I just added this to my Kindle 3 wishlist.

Tagged as: ebooks, kindle