Kyobo eReader Uses Qualcomm’s Color e-Ink Mirasol Display and 1Ghz Qualcomm SnapDragon S2 Processor
The Kyobo eReader is now available for 349,000 Won or US$310 to all South Korea residents. Availability in the US is expected in the first quarter of 2012 according to rumors. Korea’s largest bookseller, Kyobo Book Centre (the first company to launch a color e-ink reader that uses Qualcomm’s Mirasol display technology), is behind this great product. But if you want to get an eBook reader that is also cheap, check out Pandigital R70G100 7-inch Touchscreen Tablet and E-Reader – a highly recommended product.
The Kyobo eReader is Android-Based so You Can Download Free Apps for it
For the Kyobo eBook Reader, many pundits have predicted the quick demise of Qualcomm’s Mirasol color e-ink technology because of its steep price compared to LCD or the ordinary monochrome e-ink screen. The first prototypes of Mirasol-based eReaders have been going around the last 2 years but only Kyobo was willing to bet on this technology.
The Kyobo eReader has a 5.7 inch display that produces a 1,024 x 768 pixel resolution with 223 ppi sharpness. It is powered by a 1GHz Qualcomm SnapDragon S2 processor and features a multi-touch screen interface. The Kyobo eReader runs on a customized Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS and it supports Wi-Fi connectivity.
Just like the regular monochrome e-ink technology used by Nook Simple Touch E-ink eReader by Barnes and Noble, the Kyobo eReader’s Mirasol screen allows for direct under the sunlight viewing. It also boasts the same energy efficiency. The color screen is muted compared to LCD screens but that should not be a major issue. Qualcomm already promised a more color-saturated version of Mirasol screens in the near future.
