Allowing the customers to enjoy longer battery life and direct sunlight display capabilities with Mirasol displays, Qualcomm (News - Alert) MEMS Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, and Freestyle Audio have revealed the design specifications for a limited-edition waterproof MP3 player featuring a color mirasol display.

 

Qualcomm considers this to be a very important milestone for the company as it begins to move color mirasol displays into the market for the first time. As Freestyle’s customers will benefit almost immediately from the mirasol display's core value propositions, Freestyle Audio was an obvious choice for the company in the commercialization of Qualcomm's color mirasol displays in the U.S market.

 

Providing consumers a premium portable, waterproof music option for active, outdoor use, the Freestyle Audio Soundwave Ltd. Edition with mirasol display (model number FA300) will include a 0.9-inch color mirasol display. The FA300 will have added Bluetooth capabilities, apart from the inclusion of the mirasol display. Measuring just 3 inches in length, the compact size of this sleek, lightweight unit makes it ideal for athletes in outdoor environments.

 

Also, reminding consumers of the nature-based genesis of the mirasol display, the product will include a functional display button bearing Qualcomm MEMS Technologies' notable butterfly logo. The phenomenon that makes a butterfly's wings shimmer is the same process used in Qualcomm's mirasol displays to create color. To create crisp, bright images, the screen relies upon thin films that reflect back color from incident white light.

 

Offering substantial performance benefits over competing display technologies, Qualcomm's mirasol displays constitute a technology breakthrough. mirasol displays harness ambient light and require no backlighting as it is based on a reflective technology called interferometric modulation (IMOD) and consumes considerably less power.

 

“Freestyle Audio developed its first waterproof MP3 player to address a fundamental need of outdoor sports enthusiasts,” said Lance Fried, founder and chairman of Freestyle Audio. “The inclusion of mirasol displays shows our commitment to finding innovative solutions to further enhance the active lifestyle and outdoor experience. Low power consumption and direct sunlight visibility will remain important product attributes for this growing enthusiast market.”