E Ink offers 9.7-inch panel to hardware developers
updated 04:25 pm EDT, Fri May 8, 2009
E Ink sells 9.7-inch panel
E Ink Corporation, the supplier of the electronic paper displays used in Amazon's Kindle 2 and the recently announced 9.7-inch Kindle DX, has announced on Friday it is offering a 9.7-inch AM-300 EPD Prototype Kit. This gives hardware developers access to the same technology used in the Kindle DX, allowing them to create their own e-book devices with similar capabilities. The display has a resolution of 150 pixels per inch and can display multiple shades of gray. Text can be read in a dark room or in direct sunlight and at any angle. Once set, it draws no energy from the device, with an electric current needed only when a 'page' is turned.
The third-generation developer kit has a graphical electronic paper display with pen input. Aside from this display module, the kit also includes a Linux x86 operating environment, E Ink API software for Broadsheet, various sample images, open source software drivers and applications that include but are not limited to support for MMC cards, Bluetooth and USB.
The 9.7-inch AM300 kit will begin shipping on May 27th, though pre-orders can be placed now. Each kit is priced at $4,000.
