Amazon Going LCD with Kindle?

When Apple announced the iPad a while ago, we all know that it will force Amazon’s hands into making some tough decisions. But the effects of iPad on Kindle could be more profound than any of us thought. Let’s face it. Amazon Kindle can’t get as cute as the iPad. If you are an e-book junkie, you probably don’t care about that. But there are many who prefer having a shiny device such as the iPad instead of a plain e-book reader such as Kindle. If the rumors are true, Amazon could be working on its own response to iPad, and that plan includes big changes for Kindle fans.

Amazon has been touting the use of E-ink technology on its e-book readers for years now. The fact that you can go for weeks without having to charge your Kindle is a big plus to e-book junkies. But it seems Amazon may be contemplating a move to conventional LCD screen technology to bring the power of touch and color to next generation Kindle. That’s not all. Amazon seems to be finally planning the addition of WiFi to Kindle. That should have happened a couple of years ago, but we’ll take what we can get from Amazon.

So what does the move mean for Kindle fans? It’s tough to say, but if Amazon is planning to make an iPad challenger, it’ll probably have to look at other options than e-ink. Gizmodo put it best when describing the difference between LCD and E-ink:

Most readers, including Amazon’s Kindle and Sony’s Reader, use a type of electronic paper called E-Ink. These displays are known scientifically as electrophoretic, and involve the arrangement of pixels on a screen like you would draw on an Etch-a-Sketch. That is, energy is used to sketch, but once the pixels are in place, they stay in place without demanding power. E-Ink differs from the LCD screen you’re likely reading this on (unless you subscribe to Giz’s new Kindle feed) in that it’s not backlit. Like legitimate paper, it must be held under a light source, but proponents say that’s easier on the eyes. You’re not staring at any rapidly flickering light bulb, just calm black pixels on a grayish background.

There are challengers to E-ink on the market. Transflective LCD solutions (such as the one by Pixel Qi) can provide the best of both worlds. But is Amazon moving in that direction? It’s tough to say.

In a recent article, I talked about my hope for Amazon to stay on its track and avoid getting in the business of competing with the iPad. Even if Amazon moves away from E-ink technology, it is still more likely to make life easier for e-book fans than Apple. Let’s just hope the company stays true to the goals it set for Kindle when it launched the device.