Mirasol shows prototype reader-like device playing back color video, might be headed for the Kindle

We just couldn’t help ourselves. Qualcomm’s Mirasol display technology has the potential to upend the e-book reader market, and possibly even do some warfare with the LCD-based slate PCs we’ve been seeing out and about. We already did a hands-on with the little 5.7-inch prototype Qualcomm is showing at CES here, which we have a hunch could be Kindle-bound, and now we’ve got a second, closer look with a full 1080p trained on the display to give you as good as possible of an indication. We also pulled away a few more tidbits about the tech:

The display could be paired with a capacitive or resistive touchscreen, though it would impair visibility slightly (just as it’s been accused of doing with E-ink). A best case scenario is apparently optical touch (like we’ve see on some all-in-one PCs recently), which has less of an impact.
There are edge-lighting methods that would allow the display to be illuminated from lights built into the device that could provide even lighting across the display.
The first display to the market will indeed be this very 5.7-inch, XGA version, which is 240ppi pixel density and a 6x power advantage over E-ink in a typical usage scenario (despite the fact that it’s doing full color video).
Our Qualcomm rep personally views dedicated e-readers as merely a “head fake,” and that the category isn’t going to be around for long — which seems to imply that he sees Mirasol being used for a lot more than thumbing through a virtual novel or magazine.

Alright, enough facts? Check out the video after the break, or download the full-res video from the link below!