We were already pretty jazzed (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6330) to hear about Hitachi's entry into e-paper displays, but now they top themselves by showcasing a 4096-color version of the Albirey display (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=6460). They succeeded by using a power-saving color filter with a high-brightness layout (RGBW) that preserves the paper-like whiteness of the background page while enabling deep blacks for text and a range of colors and tones for images.

The catch (why must there always be one?): Due to the nature of the color filter, the resolution of the 13.1" display is effectively halved to an extremely low 512x384 pixels. I cannot think of any other use than for signage areas at the moment. In any case, we won't see this display in the wild before 2007.

[via Tech-On (http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/NEWS/20060725/119474/?ST=fpd)]

E-ink is coming in like an avalanche, yet tangible results are scarce. I just wish they'd stop hyping it all and bring tangible products out. Hitachi in the game is indeed a welcome sight.