Pixel Qi: our new screen better, lower-power than new iPad

016011updated 07:15 pm EDT, Sat April 21, 2012 Pixel Qi preps efficient Retina Display-like tech

Pixel Qi founder Mary Lou Jepsen has revealed that her company is working on a super-dense version of its signature display. The panel would have the same 2048x1536 resolution as the new iPad, but at much lower power than Apple's technology. Even in a bright office, the new panel at about 10 inches in size uses two watts, versus five for the iPad in the same lighting and nearly eight when it's outdoors.Coming from Pixel Qi, the display will use the same technique that provides a more e-paper-like effect for readability outdoors. Its newer invention is a special low-power mode that uses about 0.08 watts in dim light where the iPad would still need three.

Development was still in the early stages and needed hardware partners lined up. While Jepsen wouldn't say when the new screen would be ready, the timing suggests it won't ship until 2013 at the earliest.

Although potentially a major advantage, the Pixel Qi advancement may lose some of its advantage over time. Apple may be using Sharp IGZO LCDs in the future that would keep the resolution of the current iPad without needing as much backlight power to maintain the same brightness. AMOLED and other technologies can provide their own advantages for the devices that use it, such as Samsung's Galaxy Tab 7.7.

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