Engadget has a post up about a new form of reflective display technology called electrowetting, which looks like a very legitimate competitor for E-Ink displays. Electrowetting was invented by Liquavista, which is a venture backed start up created by NVP and Philips Research. The technology works by having a white background covered by a colored oil film, and when a current is run through the display the oil will contract, allowing you to see the white background.
The really exciting thing here is that the response rate is already fast enough to support video. They also designed the technology to fit in with the current manufacturing process for LCD displays to keep fixed costs down. I suspect the downside is that although it will take up less power than an LCD, it will probably still use more than E-Ink. But given battery advancements I'm not sure how much of a problem that is.
They mention planning to use this for portable devices, and although no eReader device is mentioned it is the sort of technology that is capable of making the kind of reader I would want to use.
From Matt: The scriptwriters made quite a few changes from the book, but they were all for the best - and booklover though I am I have to admit that its better to see magic than to read about it.
From Mina: I adore this film. Monsieur Hulot’s very modern sister and brother-in-law don’t know what to do with Tati’s charmingly untidy and bungling protagonist, who inhabits a world where meaning is still more important than appearances.
From Carey: A must see Hayao Miyazaki’s anime is Laputa: Castle in the Sky, originally released in 1986. A fantasy film that explores the altruistic and compassionate nature of humans, aspects lost through repeated exposure to power, technology, and the complexities brought by the combination of the two. 
i have serious doubts that anyone would want to put an "electrowetting" device in their bag much less, god forbid, their pockets...
Posted by: john mark | April 25, 2006 at 06:12 PM