New Kobo Aura HD eInk eReader 1440x1080

[simond]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

Are the vast majority of books on your Glo also side-loaded?

If not, roughly how many of your side-loaded books can be fully customized in terms of the layout?

For me all side loaded but I've only had a few I couldn't change. I've not yet tried CSS modification but that's all thats necessary

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

Geoff, Jackie and Paolo:

Thanks very much for the qualification.

Stripping the DRM is not an issue at all. Modifying the CSS isn't something I've had to do so far, but it probably won't be too time-consuming if the steps are always the same. And Geoff's solution sounds like the easiest possible way (though I might prefer tweaking the CSS myself to avoid extra things being done by Calibre).

This doesn't sound like an insurmountable problem for Those Who Like to Tweak.

Knowing that, I'm reasonably satisfied. I'll try to fade into the background now and give others on this thread more room to talk.

Generally, caliber allows you to tweak the output profiles some. There is
also a few plug-ins for caliber like "Tweak Book", "Edit TOC", and "Epub Merge"
that you might find interesting. There is always "Sigil".

Luck;
Ken

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

Generally, caliber allows you to tweak the output profiles some. There is
also a few plug-ins for caliber like "Tweak Book", "Edit TOC", and "Epub Merge"
that you might find interesting. There is always "Sigil".

Luck;
Ken

Thanks for the suggestions, Ken. Speaking as a grown-ass man, I'm hoping I won't be too obtuse to use Sigil and perhaps solicit advice from astute MR members like yourself when the need arises.

[Ken Maltby]

We can probably get all that we will need from using calibre's output profile, as soon
as one is available for the Aura HD. There are many here who are much more into the
details of Sigil, than I. There are forums for both Sigil and caliber here on MR.

Luck;
Ken

[Prestidigitweeze]

One last thing: Searching for more info on the Kobo Aura in Espresso, I came upon this series of four photos, as well as a product page for the reader on the Canadian Best Buy site:

Photo of the Kobo Aura in Espresso

Product Page with More Photos

People who have ordered the Espresso model from Kobo have had to do so sight unseen. Those who are considering ordering it can now see what they're getting.

[Dr. Drib]

They appear to have only the black case.

Probably somewhat of a mismatch with an espresso Reader.


ADDED: It looks like they have ONLY the black case, and NO black Reader.


Don

[Prestidigitweeze]

On the Kobo site, Espresso is offered as an option on a pulldown menu. However, all of the photos on the product page are of the Onyx model.

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

They appear to have only the black case.

Probably somewhat of a mismatch with an espresso Reader.

A clear mismatch, Don, were it not for the fact the Espresso case is forthcoming. Some people on this thread have said that Kobo sold out of it on the first day the Aura became available; people from Kobo have told me the Espresso cover is expected; and the Onyx case's product page on Kobo's site also mentions its availability.

From the Kobo product page for the Aura SleepCover:

Natural, full-grain leather available in Onyx and Espresso.

All of which means that matchy customers like me who order the Espresso might have to do without a cover initially (or be inventive).

Edit: Apparently, there is a URL for the Espresso SleepCover, but here's what you get when you link to it (watch the URL address field activity when you click on it):

Kobo Espresso SleepCover Product URL

[robko]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

ADDED: It looks like they have ONLY the black case, and NO black Reader.
Don

I hate it when companies name things this way, but ONYX is what you're looking for if you're after a BLACK reader (at least it better be because that's what I ordered ). And I can confirm holding a black demo one today in store so I know they exist.

[Latinandgreek]

I just saw an aura in person at my local Chapters (Toronto - Etobicoke). The screen is beautiful. I'm not crazy about the plastic chassis.

[booklover6]

What color was it?

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by robko

I hate it when companies name things this way, but ONYX is what you're looking for if you're after a BLACK reader (at least it better be because that's what I ordered ). And I can confirm holding a black demo one today in store so I know they exist.

+1, just as bad as renaming small, medium, and large drinks so that the smallest size becomes a "large".

And the website designer should be shot. After adding the reader into the shopping basket you can't get to the page with the covers. And after looking up a link someone gave that takes you to the AuraHD accessories page it says "sleep cover (espresso and onyx ex stock)", but there is no way to order the espresso version.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

Generally, caliber allows you to tweak the output profiles some. There is
also a few plug-ins for caliber like "Tweak Book", "Edit TOC", and "Epub Merge"
that you might find interesting. There is always "Sigil".
Ken

Yep, this! You don't have to dive into Sigil if you don't want to. I just strip all that stuff (hard margins, line spacing, yadda yadda) with Calibre, which provides plenty of adjustability.Sigil is only needed for the truly obsessive. (Not an insult; as a fontmonster myself, I can sympathise.)

The Goodereader folks have put out some truly horribly misinformed video 'reviews', and unfortunately their misinformation can linger. Yay for mobileread.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

I just saw an aura in person at my local Chapters (Toronto - Etobicoke). The screen is beautiful. I'm not crazy about the plastic chassis.

This review echoes your assessment.

It would be interesting to know whether the rumor about the screen having been intended for a Nook Glo HD is actually true. You have to wonder what the differences might have been -- starting with the rest of the hardware and the design.

Originally Posted by booklover6

What color was it?

I'm glad someone understands that that's one of the two most important product considerations for any device. The other consideration, of course, is whether the body is matte or shiny.

The device should also be able to "do stuff" -- to use the technical term -- but that consideration's a distant third.

(If you intended a joke, I appreciate it. If not, I'm making one at my own expense, not yours.)

[BadBilly]

Originally Posted by Skydog

I disagree. Touchscreens are superior in every way to page turn buttons.

So, for you to be proven indisputably wrong, there need be only one circumstance in which page turn buttons are superior or equal to touchscreen.

As previously stated, when eating. After finishing my lunch, I usually have an orange. Even when careful, my fingers get sticky with juice as I peel it. However, I can use a knuckle to press the page turn button, without risking getting a drop on the screen.


I ride the subway to work. When I'm standing (as I almost always am), I hold on to a bar, in the interests of safety. I hold my Sony T1 in my left hand, thumb on the page turn button and do not have to move my hand from the bar to change pages.

You are indisputably wrong.

Remember, generalizations are always wrong.

[jmilica]

In all the reviews so far, on the photos the text of the books in Aura always appears not justified. Or am I wrong?

Also, I remember "professional reviews" when Kindle Paperwhite came out - none of them mentioned blotches, bruising, green and pink etc. First time I heard PW had these kind of problems was from the users, not from the "professionals"...