DailyTech - Samsung Reportedly in Talks with Amazon to Sell Dutch E-Ink Subsidiary

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Gadgets Samsung Reportedly in Talks with Amazon to Sell Dutch E-Ink Subsidiary
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - March 22, 2013 8:53 AM

3 comment(s) - last by BernardP.. on Mar 22 at 10:18 PM

Amazon may be purchasing an e-reader screen maker

Bloomberg reports that Samsung is in talks to sell that Dutch subsidiary Liquavista BV to Amazon for $100 million. Liquavista is headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands and makes electronic reader display technology.

Liquavista was founded in 2006 and builds displays using electrowetting technology. However, these types of screens are typically only used in electronic reading devices, which is a dwindling market. Many consumers are happy with reading electronic books and other content on tablets and smartphones running iOS or Android.

As traditional tablets become more popular, the dedicated digital reader market is expected to shrink by 27% in 2013.

If Amazon makes the purchase, screens built by the company will undoubtedly be used in Amazon's class leading line of Kindle e-readers. Interestingly, the Kindle Fire line, which are some of the best selling products at Amazon, use LCDs rather than e-ink displays. No official comment on the rumor has been made by Amazon.

“We are currently reviewing many plans, including the sale, but nothing has been confirmed yet,” Chenny Kim, a spokeswoman for Samsung, said.

Source: Bloomberg

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I hope this bodes well

By sheh on 3/22/2013 10:55:03 AM , Rating: 1

I hope eInk doesn't die. Hybrid LCD/eInk displays could be ideal, but even standalone a dedicated eInk device does have advantages over LCD in many reading scenarios.

It would be nice, though, to have higher DPI than current devices, and some more contrast.

RE: I hope this bodes well

By futrtrubl on 3/22/2013 2:37:38 PM , Rating: 2

While e-ink in phone sized and larger formats have uses I feel that its future lies in configurable physical interfaces and ultra lower power devices. Think about having a camera where you can change the function of buttons and have the buttons show that new function or a ring that acts as a watch.

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