Qualcomms mirasol screen technology has made its debut in an eReader for the Korean market.
The mobile technology company has teamed up with Kyobo Book Centre – Koreas largest bookseller – to create the Kyobo e-Reader device. The screen is designed to create colour from ambient reflected light. It requires no backlighting, and so can support the kind of battery life required of an eReader, while also offering the kind of refresh rates required for video playback.
The content available for the device spans over 90,000 books, as well as magazines and video. The company is to subsidise the price of the device for members of its Kyobo Platinum Book Club. Non-members pay KRW349,000 (around £195), while members get the device for 299,000 (£167).
“Kyobo is a recognised content leader focused on bringing unique and innovative experiences to its customers,” said Clarence Chui, senior vice president and general manager of Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, the arm of Qualcomm that developed the screen technology and the Kyobo device. “Kyobos customers will be the first to enjoy the exceptional colour eReader experience and long battery life that only mirasol displays can provide.” 
“The Kyobo e-Reader brings the user a true book reading experience,” says Seong-Ryong Kim, CEO of Kyobo Book Centre. “With our diverse content and leading-edge technology from Qualcomm, Kyobo Book Centre will provide a premium reading experience to our customers.”
The Kyobo eReader features a 5.7in XGA format (1024 x 768 pixels) mirasol display with a screen resolution of 223 ppi. It boasts Qualcomms 1GHz Snapdragon S2 class processor. Kyobos custom application interface sits atop an Android 2.3 base.
