New, low-end Kobo possible?

[rcentros]

Now that Tolino has released a new, low-end Page 2 (with front-light and 8 GBs of storage instead of 4) do you think Kobo will update their Aura 2's to match the Tolino Page 2's hardware? Not only does the Page 2 have 8Gbs of storage, but they've changed the Page 2 to look almost like a Clara, instead of like the older style Kobos, with the blue switch on the back. I'm guessing probably not, since the Aura 2 still outshines the Kindle Basic hardware spec-wise, 212dpi vs 167dpi screen, but it would be interesting to see what they do.

And if they did come out with Tolino Page 2-like "Aura 3," would Walmart still sell the $70 "special edition" Aura 2?

[bonnerable]

Possible since amazon refreshed their entry level with a light

[Andrew Ashling]

Unless I'm mistaken it's just the other way around:

The company has just announced the Tolino Page 2, Tolino Vision 5 and the Tolino Epos 2. These models were all made with Kobo and basically the Vision 5 is a Kobo Libra clone and the Epos 2 is a rebranded Forma, while the second generation Page is simply a rebrand of the Kobo Aura Edition 2.

Source

Rakuten, the company that owns Kobo now owns Tolino as well. The hardware is identical, only the software (a.k.a. the firmware) differs.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Andrew Ashling

Rakuten, the company that owns Kobo now owns Tolino as well. The hardware is identical, only the software (a.k.a. the firmware) differs.

The Tolino Page 2 and the Kobo Aura Edition 2 are different in a couple fairly minor details. The Page 2 has 8 GBs of storage and 512 MBs of RAM, the Aura 2 has 4 GBs of storage and I don't know how much RAM. Also the Page 2 has its switch at the bottom (like a Clara) instead of on the back like the older style Kobos. Otherwise the two are pretty much the same, hardware-wise. It's these changes to the low-end Tolino (a subsidiary of Kobo) that makes me wonder if Kobo plans to update the low-end Aura 2 to an "Aura 3," patterned after the Page 2. And, if they do this, will the "Walmart special edition" Aura 2 remain as an even lower-end Kobo?

[MGlitch]

could Tolino be bringing their line up to mirror Kobo with a Forma, Libra, and Clara rather than the Aura 2?

[Andrew Ashling]

Both Kobos and Tolinos use regular SSD cards for the OS and for storage. You can find howtos online to put e.g. a 64 GB memory card into your Clara. The method is probably the same for all Kobo/Tolino devices. In Japan you can buy a 32 GB Kobo Aura One.

I'm in Belgium, Europe, so I don't know about the American market.

What I do know is that the Tolino Shine 3 is identical to the Kobo Clara. I know this because I own a Clara and I've handled a Shine 3 in a shop that sells them. The Tolino Page 2 seems similar to the Clara but has a lower resolution, 212 ppi, than the Clara and the Shine 3 at 300 ppi. All three have 512 RAM.

Since the Clara is identical to the Shine 3, it's possible that Kobo will introduce a new entry level model identical to the Page 2.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Andrew Ashling

Both Kobos and Tolinos use regular SSD cards for the OS and for storage. You can find howtos online to put e.g. a 64 GB memory card into your Clara. The method is probably the same for all Kobo/Tolino devices. In Japan you can buy a 32 GB Kobo Aura One.

Of the Kobo devices currently on the market, the only the Aura Edition 2 and Clara HD have internal SD cards. And yes, these are easy to replace. All the current and recent waterproof models use fixed internal storage.

I don't know about the older tolinos, but, I'd be stunned if the tolino version of the same hardware as the Kobo used different storage. Changing the mount would be the most that is likely.

I'm in Belgium, Europe, so I don't know about the American market.

What I do know is that the Tolino Shine 3 is identical to the Kobo Clara. I know this because I own a Clara and I've handled a Shine 3 in a shop that sells them. The Tolino Page 2 seems similar to the Clara but has a lower resolution, 212 ppi, than the Clara and the Shine 3 at 300 ppi. All three have 512 RAM.

Since the Clara is identical to the Shine 3, it's possible that Kobo will introduce a new entry level model identical to the Page 2.

And yes, as of the Shine 3, tolino is sharing hardware with Kobo. And the hardware used for the Page 2 looks like a good candidate to replace the Aura Edition 2.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by MGlitch

could Tolino be bringing their line up to mirror Kobo with a Forma, Libra, and Clara rather than the Aura 2?

No question that Kobo has patterned the new Tolinos, the Shine 3 (Clara clone), Vision 5 (Libra clone) and Epos 2 (Forma clone) off their Kobo counterparts. But the Page 2 is not an Aura 2 clone, it's basically a less capable Clara (with more storage than the Aura 2). I was just wondering if Kobo would upgrade the Aura 2 with this new hardware. It would seem logical that both lines mirror each other's hardware.

[ps67]

I don't know elsewhere but here in Italy Kobo Aura Edition 2 and Kobo Aura H2O edition 2 are "out of stock" in Kobo site. I don't know if it is a temporary situation or they won't be produced anymore.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by ps67

I don't know elsewhere but here in Italy Kobo Aura Edition 2 and Kobo Aura H2O edition 2 are "out of stock" in Kobo site. I don't know if it is a temporary situation or they won't be produced anymore.

They show as "Temporarily out of stock" on the Australian site. I think Kobo have used this when they are about to stop selling a device, but, it has also been there when they are waiting for new stock.

[jkelol111]

What would happen to the Walmart Edition Aura Edition 2 if the Aura Edition 2 was discontinued? Maybe that's why it is "exclusive" to Walmart...

That said, I'm pretty excited for a new budget Kobo. The pricing of the normal Aura Edition 2 is terrible.

[davidfor]

I think the most likely thing to happen is that Walmart would start selling the new device.

[John F]

Originally Posted by rcentros

No question that Kobo has patterned the new Tolinos, the Shine 3 (Clara clone), Vision 5 (Libra clone) and Epos 2 (Forma clone) off their Kobo counterparts. But the Page 2 is not an Aura 2 clone, it's basically a less capable Clara (with more storage than the Aura 2). I was just wondering if Kobo would upgrade the Aura 2 with this new hardware. It would seem logical that both lines mirror each other's hardware.

Since the Page 2 doesn't have Comfort Light Pro and isn't 300 DPI, I would say it is basically an Aura 2 (with more storage). But I'm not considering other things like cosmetics, the button on the back, ...

[christopher22]

Kobo's have gotten so expensive lately and no low end model. $139.99 for the cheapest kobo then up to $199 and $299 after that. Crazy!
They need to release the under $100 model, a $79 would do very nice. How about the glo 3? Since many iksnay the kobo mini. However from a business perspective a kobo mini 2 selling at $49 would fly off the shelves, throw in an sd card slot and guaranteed you wouldn't be able to keep up to demand.
ps. sorry I forgot the Aura edition 2 which is $129.99 - currently the cheapest but only slightly however notice it's not in stock.

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by christopher22

Since many iksnay the kobo mini. However from a business perspective a kobo mini 2 selling at $49 would fly off the shelves, throw in an sd card slot and guaranteed you wouldn't be able to keep up to demand.
ps. sorry I forgot the Aura edition 2 which is $129.99 - currently the cheapest but only slightly however notice it's not in stock.

Your impromptu market research in another thread begs to differ with this claim.

A cheap kobo would almost certainly not include a hardware feature not present in the higher end ones. It’s also questionable if such a low price would be profitable for Kobo.