Pixel Qi has introduced new LCD screen technology that offers lower power requirements, easy readability in direct sunlight along with full color screen with fast video refresh rate. Pixel Qi says, “Our screens use ½ to ¼ power of regular LCD screen, and when integrated carefully with the device can increase battery life between charges by 5-fold.” Pixel Qi has started sampling the screen and will start shipment in quantity in Q1 2010.

The new screen technology offers two modes: a black and white “reflective” mode similar to e-ink and a more traditional emissive mode that offers full color. However, the black and white mode is capable of full motion video, which is not possible on e-ink technology as it has very slow refresh rate compared to LCD screen.

The founder of Pixel Qi, Mary Lou Jepsen has said that all the big laptop companies have been in contact and have shown lot of interest in the technology. The screen that Pixel Qi has started sampling is a 10.1-inch 3Qi screen that offers multitouch capabilities and is super-slim. Also, Pixel Qi has revealed that their new screen will be used in specialized tablet devices with multitouch in 2010. According to MacRumors, the screen size, multitouch capability and the talk about specialized tablet hints at Apple’s upcoming tablet.

However, there are few problems, Pixel Qi has just started sampling the new screen and it has bee rumored that Apple has been testing the final prototype of the tablet for past few months. Also, a start up company will not have the production capacity that Apple will need for launch of their tablet in first quarter of 2010. This could either mean Apple is delaying the launch or Apple will use the regular LED backlit LCD screen.

Pixel Qi’s new screen technology is really fantastic, as it offers best of both the worlds. However, we believe that first generation of Apple tablet will not use the new screen technology. Apple might use the technology in future, but not now if they plan to launch a tablet in Q1 2010. We have added a video below in which Mary Lou Jepsen talks about the new screen technology.
[Via MacRumors]