Quote:
Originally Posted by taming
And selling on device is part of what has made that possible. The alternative is likely for there to be no Kobo eINk devices.
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I think this quote sums up my views on the topic rather nicely.
Since I use Linux, I've never had the option to run the Desktop application natively. Instead, I edited some values in the KT database to activate the device. The advantage of doing things this way is that I get no ads or recommendations cluttering up my home screen or anywhere else for that matter.
What I appreciate the most about KT is that officially or unofficially, they have kept this option available. Furthermore, by making their firmware available for manual downloads, it has allowed me to upgrade or downgrade the device to any firmware version I have kept an image for.
I for one would like to see Kobo/Rakuten succeed in their global content business. Unless they do, the alternative is that we will end up with a single monopoly tied into a single online retailer. A monopoly such as this would stifle innovation and eliminate choice.
In order to succeed, they will need to experiment with various ways of selling to their mainstream customers through their platform as well as all the other channels. Without succeeding there, there will be no Kobo hardware.