New Kobo Aura HD eInk eReader 1440x1080

[GeoffR]

Originally Posted by Yapyap

I ended up cutting off the tip of the thumb of a cheap pair of gloves to be able to use my Kindle Paperwhite in the evenings. My hands get terribly cold this time of year when I'm reading, so it was either that or not read at all.

The Aura, like other Kobo readers, has an infrared touch screen so it works with ordinary gloves.

[Yapyap]

That is good to know, although if I'm already forced to wear gloves for turning pages (which I'd prefer to not do as it's still a bit too cold at home even with thin gloves), I can't really see a reason to not just keep using the Paperwhite or another capacitive touchscreen now that I've already mutilated a pair of gloves.

[Ripplinger]

Originally Posted by Yapyap

I ended up cutting off the tip of the thumb of a cheap pair of gloves to be able to use my Kindle Paperwhite in the evenings. My hands get terribly cold this time of year when I'm reading, so it was either that or not read at all.

Reading outside like I tend to or on public transportation in the dead of winter when it's 10-20°F or less makes that not an option for me. Even in the fall and spring, it's often too cold to cut anything off gloves just to make myself miserable while reading when I should be warm and comfy. The infrared screens work perfect for me and I can even wear heavy mittens if I need to. So if Sony doesn't come out with a lighted reader, that leaves the Kobo Glo for me.

[samhy]

Originally Posted by taming

Kobo does that through Reading Life--it captures all sorts of things on Kobo's proprietary formatted books (kepubs) and phones home with it. You have had the option in earlier readers of enabling or disabling Reading Life. I expect that there is that option on the Aura as well. One click, that's all it takes.

I agree that those data are needed to sync reading life between devices. I also hope that disabling reading life will prevent the data from being collected.

[Prestidigitweeze]

I thought people might be interested in this response from Kobo (see below).

1. Apparently, the Aura HD will not be available -- now or in the immediate future -- from Powell's or any third-party vendor in the States. North Americans will have to buy it directly from the Kobo web site.

2. According to Kobo's Customer Service, despite the apparent difference in processor names and speeds in the respective spec sheets of the Aura HD and the Glo, both use the exact same one.

Additionally, Kobo's marketing calls the Aura's processor "20 [or 25, according to some news sources] percent faster than other readers." Because of the ambiguous wording, this percentage could include or disinclude the Glo.

Which is correct in its information about processor speed, Kobo's customer service, marketing or the spec sheet?

Hi Oreginald M'Phwee,

Thank you for contacting Kobo Customer Care.

We are sorry to tell that for the United States, you can only order the Kobo Aura HD through Kobo directly. And the Kobo Aura HD uses the same 1 GHz processor as the Kobo Glo. This won't affect the performance of the reader, since what we are adding are just more pixels to the screen for a better image render and resolution.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
The Kobo Team

[Canuck_in_Japan]

I contacted Kobo Japan and they told me that right now there are no plans to release the new reader in Japan. So that is disappointing. On the other hand, I'm confident that it will be a wild success which means that it will probably be rolled out everywhere eventually and that the second edition might be an updated version with all the kinks worked out.

[JD Gumby]

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

Getting food particles in between the crevices of buttons is MUCH worse than just a bit on the glass which you can easily clean off. So that's not much of an argument for buttons.

Buttons are generally fit tightly enough on ebook readers (those that still have them) that getting stuff in them isn't too much of a concern. Nor is getting crumbs and gunk on the screen, which is, as you say, easy to clean off. The problem is getting gunk and crumbs in the gap between the bezel and the screen (that has to be there for the IR sensors and light).

Those gaps are just wide enough to accept debris and have it jam itself in, but not wide enough to safely clean with anything that most people might have around the house (only thing I can get under mine are the tips of the smallest safety pins I have, for example).

Originally Posted by taming

Kobo does that through Reading Life--it captures all sorts of things on Kobo's proprietary formatted books (kepubs) and phones home with it.

Actually, it's not really related to Reading Life, which is only a small part of it. All that information (pretty much everything you do on the device, inside and outside of books) is collected in a database and sent to/run through Google Analytics every time you sync (at the very least - wouldn't be surprised to find it transferring every time you start a 'Net session of any sort)

[JD Gumby]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

2. According to Kobo's Customer Service, despite the apparent difference in processor names and speeds in the respective spec sheets of the Aura HD and the Glo, both use the exact same one.

Therefore, it *will* be slower than the Glo, regardless of what the CS rep says, if only slightly, especially if both are set to refresh the screen every page turn. There really is no way around this, unless they've added extra hardware that isn't in the Glo to help the CPU with rendering the screen.

Additionally, Kobo's marketing calls the Aura's processor "20 [or 25, according to some news sources] percent faster than other readers." Because of the ambiguous wording, this percentage could include or disinclude the Glo.

Probably doesn't include the Glo, instead referring to the 800MHz Touch.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Canuck_in_Japan

I contacted Kobo Japan and they told me that right now there are no plans to release the new reader in Japan. So that is disappointing. On the other hand, I'm confident that it will be a wild success which means that it will probably be rolled out everywhere eventually and that the second edition might be an updated version with all the kinks worked out.

That fits in with the idea that Aura availability is limited not by intent but by necessity: limited screen supplies. Those that want it better order now or wait til the fall or later. I don't think waiting to see early reviews is going to work if screens are really a ramp up batch. Total supplies might be in the 4-5 digit range...

[paola]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

That fits in with the idea that Aura availability is limited not by intent but by necessity: limited screen supplies. Those that want it better order now or wait til the fall or later. I don't think waiting to see early reviews is going to work if screens are really a ramp up batch. Total supplies might be in the 4-5 digit range...

the "expresso" version (Brown) is already out of stock in the UK (WHSMith site), as of a couple of hours ago.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by PeterT

HansTWN: Unfortunately the OP is right here; it has been an issue with Kobo where either a tap to turn a page is missed somehow and the next tap does a double page turn, OR the device stops accepting screen touches forcing you (on a Touch at least) to hit the button to head back to the Home screen, from where all you can do is the power off / on sequence.

That issue makes me worry about using the Aura for readings. Freezes, skips and slowdowns are exactly what I need to avoid when doing live performances. I sometimes play piano while reading stories, with my reader resting on the piano's music rack -- imagine introducing lockups into that scenario:

He reaches up to turn the page, whereupon the screen becomes completely unresponsive, forcing him to channel his mental shriek into an embarrassment of two-handed glissandi.

One problem I'm having with the web site: The North American version allows you to order the Espresso Aura but only the Onyx case. Are Espresso cases actually available yet?

[grooks]

As of yesterday the Espresso cases were not available yet.

[taming]

Originally Posted by JD Gumby

Actually, it's not really related to Reading Life, which is only a small part of it. All that information (pretty much everything you do on the device, inside and outside of books) is collected in a database and sent to/run through Google Analytics every time you sync (at the very least - wouldn't be surprised to find it transferring every time you start a 'Net session of any sort)

Goggle analytics tracks your behaviour when you are using the Kobo website, either on device or on the web. It does not associate data with a particular individual, nor does it have anything to do with data regarding how fast you read, whether you finish a particular book. Google analytics are in use on almost every website anyone ever visits, it seems.

[robko]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

That issue makes me worry about using the Aura for readings. Freezes, skips and slowdowns are exactly what I need to avoid when doing live performances. I sometimes play piano while reading stories, with my reader resting on the piano's music rack -- imagine introducing lockups into that scenario

While I don't doubt Peter and the others are having issues, I can say I have virtually no missed or double turns when changing pages. Maybe it's how or where on the screen I tap or maybe there is a minor hardware difference, but it hasn't been a problem for me.

[taming]

Originally Posted by JD Gumby

Therefore, it *will* be slower than the Glo, regardless of what the CS rep says, if only slightly, especially if both are set to refresh the screen every page turn. There really is no way around this, unless they've added extra hardware that isn't in the Glo to help the CPU with rendering the screen.

Probably doesn't include the Glo, instead referring to the 800MHz Touch.

It seems that reviewers that have used the device hands on disagree with you.