E Ink Snapshot
E Ink is revolutionizing e-reading. The company develops electronic ink technology used in electronic displays. The ink is printed onto plastic film and contains microcapsules full of positively or negatively charged particles, which form images when an electrical current is applied. The technology, which has the advantage of being visible in direct sunlight, has been used in such applications as signage, mobile phones, electronic readers, and watches. Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Sony all have products based on E Ink's technology. The company was acquired by Taiwan-based Prime View International in 2009 for $215 million. Prime View changed its name to E Ink Holdings the following year.