10-29-2011, 09:51 PM | #1 |
Junior Book Zombie
Posts: 65
Karma: 29934
Join Date: Mar 2011
Device: Kindle 3, iPhone, ipad
|
My Impressions, Unboxing and Review - Video
Hey all,
I did a video review for the Vox. It includes and unboxing, demo and review. Here's a link: Part 1: http://youtu.be/B-1DtfLs85A Part 2: http://youtu.be/w7DZJvf7g-Q Last edited by RoxyJ; 10-31-2011 at 11:08 AM. |
10-29-2011, 10:06 PM | #2 |
Séduisant
Posts: 4,706
Karma: 2107018
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Texas, USA
Device: Boox Note Air2+; Kobo Libra2; Kindle Scribe, Oasis3; iPad Mini6
|
Fabulous review!
I appreciate you breaking down the shortcomings of the reader app in comparison to the Kobo iPad app. It's the same way with the Android app. Stripped down features compared to the iPad. Don't understand the favoritism the iPad app receives. More importantly it's shocking the Kobo Vox is really lacking as an eReader compared to the iPad app with the lack of customization. Also, just the choice of a white or black background when reading is dated. At least give us the standard Sepia background available on the iPad app. It appears they just ported the Android app for tablets (only available on select tablets) over to the Kobo Vox. Edit: Disappointing that there is no way to organize content. I would expect there to be that ability. The NOOKcolor has been out for a year and that should have been used as a guide for a device with a feature rich stock reader app. But then again, the Android app can't organize content, and it appears that's what they used. Folks have been moaning and groaning about lack of content organization on the Kobo Touch. Last edited by SCION; 10-29-2011 at 10:20 PM. |
10-29-2011, 10:42 PM | #3 |
Wizard
Posts: 2,302
Karma: 2607151
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Toronto
Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo
|
Nothing really shocking about it. iPad has a huge percentage of the tablet market, a very substantial share of the smartphone market and iTunes to promote content (including Kobo). Android is pretty much in the dust in comparison. Kobo has put a good deal of effort building its case on Apple devices. But, as we have seen, Kobo is a scrappy developer and has clearly shown interest in Android. You can expect parity down the road as Kobo continues to integrate all reading environments with core Kobo platform attributes.
|
10-29-2011, 10:48 PM | #4 |
Séduisant
Posts: 4,706
Karma: 2107018
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Texas, USA
Device: Boox Note Air2+; Kobo Libra2; Kindle Scribe, Oasis3; iPad Mini6
|
Would be nice to hear that from the horse's mouth. There have been inquiries (in this forum and Kobo support forums) about the shortcomings of the Android app in comparison to the iPad app and I haven't seen any responses from Kobo.
|
10-29-2011, 11:02 PM | #5 |
Junior Book Zombie
Posts: 65
Karma: 29934
Join Date: Mar 2011
Device: Kindle 3, iPhone, ipad
|
I'm hoping that the lack of comparable features is because it is new. Although I would expect that a dedicated device would go above and beyond. It seems like they focused on the Pulse feature, and forgot the main use of the device — reading.
|
10-29-2011, 11:21 PM | #6 |
Enthusiast
Posts: 26
Karma: 1008
Join Date: Oct 2011
Device: Kobo Vox
|
True and, as Roxy noted, they seem to be more concerned about the Pulse feature. While some may be right in saying that they expect firmware updates I don't want those to be showing up six months from now.
Life is too short to deal with a product's shortcomings for six months. |
10-30-2011, 01:04 AM | #7 |
Fanatic
Posts: 569
Karma: 199759
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Vancouver, BC
Device: Kobo WiFi, Kobo Glo, Kobo Vox, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Tab2
|
I would love to watch your Vox review on my Vox but youtube wont play again!!!! What is going on???
|
10-30-2011, 01:07 AM | #8 |
Wizard
Posts: 2,302
Karma: 2607151
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Toronto
Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo
|
After foloing around exploring, experimenting, for better than 24 hours, here's the best tip of all: install the Opera Mobile browser (version 11.5.1 is current). It will completely change your impression about the hardware. Video is smooth, web pages are gorgeous.
|
10-30-2011, 01:56 AM | #9 |
Fanatic
Posts: 569
Karma: 199759
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Vancouver, BC
Device: Kobo WiFi, Kobo Glo, Kobo Vox, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Tab2
|
I installed Opera and I've had really no difference in browsing - in fact, now it's a pain because every time I go to a new webpage from the pre-installed browser, I get a notification question asking which browser I want to use. ARRRGGGHHHH!!!! Do I have to uninstall Opera to get that to disappear, or can I set one as the default?
|
10-30-2011, 09:38 AM | #10 | |
Séduisant
Posts: 4,706
Karma: 2107018
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Texas, USA
Device: Boox Note Air2+; Kobo Libra2; Kindle Scribe, Oasis3; iPad Mini6
|
Quote:
|
|
10-30-2011, 10:06 AM | #11 |
Addict
Posts: 212
Karma: 2156
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Ontario, Canada
Device: enTourage eDGe, Pocket eDGe, Kobo Vox, Kobo Touch, Asus Eee Note
|
When prompted for a choice of application, you'll see a faint checkbox in the bottom left corner (the corresponding text is there too but in very light, almost white, text). Click the checkbox and then the app you want to be the default.
If you need to reset the default, follow SCION's tip in post #10 above. |
10-30-2011, 10:22 AM | #12 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
Simply a question of "where the money is", I think; the iPad dominates the tablet market, so naturally that's where the development effort is concentrated.
|
10-30-2011, 10:37 AM | #13 | |
Séduisant
Posts: 4,706
Karma: 2107018
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Texas, USA
Device: Boox Note Air2+; Kobo Libra2; Kindle Scribe, Oasis3; iPad Mini6
|
Quote:
Heck, they don't even have a tablet version of the Android app in the Google Market. Many people have large screen Android tablets now. This isn't early 2011 when there was just the Motorola Xoom. All that's available is the lackluster phone version of the app which was updated in June to include Reading Life features. There have been no updates since then. Last edited by SCION; 10-30-2011 at 10:43 AM. |
|
10-30-2011, 10:42 AM | #14 | |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
Quote:
|
|
10-30-2011, 10:51 AM | #15 |
Séduisant
Posts: 4,706
Karma: 2107018
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Texas, USA
Device: Boox Note Air2+; Kobo Libra2; Kindle Scribe, Oasis3; iPad Mini6
|
So it's gonna be like the Kobo Touch? Features that should've been there from day one may show up eventually? Give it a year and the feature set should be robust. People are always asking about shelves/collections/tags on the Kobo Touch. Why isn't that in the Vox stock reader app? We're talking basic stuff here. Again, the NOOKcolor has been around awhile. Use that as a guide. No need to reinvent the wheel.
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Unboxing iRex 800 and first impressions | mgmueller | iRex | 694 | 02-27-2010 12:01 PM |
Irex DR800S unboxing and first impressions | Nate the great | News | 0 | 01-21-2010 12:35 PM |
Unboxing photos and video from Crunchgear | soilwork | Amazon Kindle | 7 | 02-24-2009 07:52 PM |
BeBook Bebook Unboxing Video | mooz | Andere Lesegeräte | 0 | 12-31-2008 10:24 AM |
iRex DR1000S Unboxing and First Impressions | Adam B. | iRex | 14 | 10-21-2008 06:26 AM |