E-readers

Kyobo (a leading Korean book retailer) launched its first e-reader today - and it uses a color Mirasol display - a capacitive touch 5.7" 1024x768 panel with Qualcomm's front-light LED technology that can illuminate the display. Other features include a 1Ghz processor, Android v2.3 and Wi-Fi. The e-reader is now shipping in Korea for around $300.

iSupply performed a teardown analysis on the Kindle 2011, and according to them the 6" E Ink Pearl display costs $30.5. This is the most expensive component on the Kindle - which costs $84 on the whole (BOM and assembly). This means that Amazon is actually losing $5 on each ad-supported device sold - which cost $79

E Ink released three nice videos of its FPD-2011 booth: showing the new E Ink displays, panels and applications:

E Ink Holdings reported revenue of NT$2.25 billion ($74.5 million USD) for 3Q 2011 - up 20% from 2Q. The net profit for the first nine months of 2011 was NT$5.25 billion ($173.8 million USD). The company expects the business to continue to improve in the last quarter based on strong e-reader demand.

The company's chairman says that e-readers are recession-proof - because in bad times people spend more time reading. He says that he's still optimistic that e-reader shipments will reach 25-30 million units in 2011.

Amazon announced three new kindles today, two of which use E Ink displays. The new Kindle Touch e-readers feature 6" Pearl E Ink displays and an infra-red touch sensor.The $79 non-touch Kindle 2011 is a streamlined version of the older Kindle 3 - with only 5 physical buttons (beside the next/prev ones, anyway). The Kindle Fire is a $199 7" IPS-LCD tablet/e-reader.

The Kindle Touch will launch on November 21st, but you can order it today. The Wi-Fi version costs $99 with screensaver ads and $139 without ads. The 3G version costs $149 (ads) or $189 (ads-free). The Kindle 2011 is shipping now: $79 for the ad-supported version and $109 for the non-ads variant. The Fire will launch on November 15th for only $199 - you can pre-order it now.

There are reports that Ectaco plans to release a new e-reader that uses E Ink's Triton color display. The Jetbook Color will feature a 9.7" (600x800) touchscreen display, Wi-Fi and an SD card slot. The Jetbook color is expected to sell for $350 and will be launched in December 2011 - which will probably make it the first color E Ink reader in the US.

via E-Reader-Info

E Ink launched their Facebook page today, and are giving away 5 new e-readers to their fans in the next few weeks. Be sure to like the page before the 18th of August if you want to have a chance in the first draw.