Aura received - first impressions

rayhigh · 06-03-2013, 05:33 PM

I received my Aura (Espresso) about an hour ago = ordered 5/24, shipped 5/30.

After a slightly rocky start getting it to finish updating and recognizing the books I synced from Calibre, I spent a little time familiarizing myself with it, adjusting fonts, etc. I have to say, the screen and evenness of lighting blows away the Paperwhite I'll be sending back tomorrow.

My only complaint is the wasted real estate at the top and bottom of the screen. That really ought to be addressed. What is the best way to get Kobo's attention over this issue?

BWinmill · 06-03-2013, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayhigh

My only complaint is the wasted real estate at the top and bottom of the screen. That really ought to be addressed. What is the best way to get Kobo's attention over this issue?

Something tells me that Kobo is already aware of the issue, since their staff seems to read these forums. How they address the issue likely depends upon why they implemented it this way, and how much flexibility their reasoning gives them to modify it. If we're lucky, they'll give a reading option for a full screen mode. It isn't out of the question. They seem to have implemented ideas brought up on these forums before.

rayhigh · 06-03-2013, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWinmill

Something tells me that Kobo is already aware of the issue, since their staff seems to read these forums. How they address the issue likely depends upon why they implemented it this way, and how much flexibility their reasoning gives them to modify it. If we're lucky, they'll give a reading option for a full screen mode. It isn't out of the question. They seem to have implemented ideas brought up on these forums before.

Good to know. Even with this issue, it is still a really nice device.

davidfor · 06-03-2013, 11:55 PM

Kobo people definitely read these forums and know of the problems. But, they are the ones who decide which to do.

As to the two problems mentioned, if you are talking about kepubs, then I doubt if Kobo will change anything. They seem to have decided a long time ago that that is what the books should look like. For epubs, the same goes for the bottom area. But, we might get the top back. The title was added with FW 2.5.2, and it might go away.

lornaw · 06-04-2013, 12:30 AM

I just purchased a Kobo Aura too. I really like and don't mind the page set up. I was checking out the different functions and decided to 'Archive All' books and ended up losing my side loaded e-books. I had to do a factory re-set b/c I could not locate those books. Luckily, I only had a few books. The only pain was doing the set up again.

TechniSol · 06-04-2013, 01:55 AM

As for the wasted space at bottom, I'd be happy if they still left room for the menu bar as it appears they are if they just didn't leave a whole blank line above that area too!

OTOH, it appears the code that puts up and takes down the menus restores what was there anyhow, so I don't see why they couldn't get closer to the top and bottom with the book text...

davidfor · 06-04-2013, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechniSol

As for the wasted space at bottom, I'd be happy if they still left room for the menu bar as it appears they are if they just didn't leave a whole blank line above that area too!

The amount of space I see can be very small. Whenever there seems a lot, I open that menu and look at how much space to the line. It is rare that it would hole a full line of text.

But, the bottom menu area is to big. I think they could cut it by a third without changing the icons. Then the page number could be moved down so that the margin under it was at least halved.

Quote:

OTOH, it appears the code that puts up and takes down the menus restores what was there anyhow, so I don't see why they couldn't get closer to the top and bottom with the book text...

The advantage of reserving the bottom space is for the annotations/dictionary menu bar. If that popped up and covered text, you would not be able to select anything on the bottom line or two. Some other method of doing this would be possible, but this is very simple to do and use.

John F · 06-04-2013, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

...

The advantage of reserving the bottom space is for the annotations/dictionary menu bar. If that popped up and covered text, you would not be able to select anything on the bottom line or two. Some other method of doing this would be possible, but this is very simple to do and use.

I think Kobo's approach is backwards. Their first priority should be maximizing linear reading, i.e. a full screen mode, with options for headers and footers. They could have some other modes for text selection, dictionary lookup, annotations, ...

They've had readers out for years now, to not have a straight reading mode seems short sighted. Dedicate some resources to this, instead of a "limited edition" reader (or at least have some retailers in the U.S. so I can buy the Aura). IMO.

taming · 06-04-2013, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

(or at least have some retailers in the U.S. so I can buy the Aura). IMO.

I should be ashamed to admit this, but I have very much enjoyed having people in the US experience what we in Canada do all of the time.

BWinmill · 06-04-2013, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taming

I should be ashamed to admit this, but I have very much enjoyed having people in the US experience what we in Canada do all of the time.

If you're talking about product availability, they do. It's simply with products from countries other than Canada. (I think that a lot of Canadians are so focussed on the US that we have the same failing as a lot of Americans: we don't see much outside of the US. Besides ourselves, of course.)

Breid · 06-04-2013, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taming

I should be ashamed to admit this, but I have very much enjoyed having people in the US experience what we in Canada do all of the time.

Naughty, naughty, naughty

geormes · 06-04-2013, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taming

I should be ashamed to admit this, but I have very much enjoyed having people in the US experience what we in Canada do all of the time.

Yeah, but you had Corner Gas before we did and that more than makes up for it.

Razi · 06-04-2013, 05:34 PM

Got mine today. It is a nice device overall and processor (my main gripe concerning ereaders) is noticeably quicker than the ones on my 2 Kobo Touch units. Light is even. Is there some way of controlling this light? Would it not be too bright in total darkness?

Uschiekid · 06-04-2013, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razi

Got mine today. It is a nice device overall and processor (my main gripe concerning ereaders) is noticeably quicker than the ones on my 2 Kobo Touch units. Light is even. Is there some way of controlling this light? Would it not be too bright in total darkness?

.

Yes.

DNSB · 06-04-2013, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taming

I should be ashamed to admit this, but I have very much enjoyed having people in the US experience what we in Canada do all of the time.

One of my friends picked up an Aura at Target over the weekend.

Regards,
David

06-03-2013, 05:33 PM	#1
rayhigh Zealot Posts: 126 Karma: 346764 Join Date: May 2013 Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kobo Aura, Kobo Mini, Kobo Glo (wife)	Aura received - first impressions I received my Aura (Espresso) about an hour ago = ordered 5/24, shipped 5/30. After a slightly rocky start getting it to finish updating and recognizing the books I synced from Calibre, I spent a little time familiarizing myself with it, adjusting fonts, etc. I have to say, the screen and evenness of lighting blows away the Paperwhite I'll be sending back tomorrow. My only complaint is the wasted real estate at the top and bottom of the screen. That really ought to be addressed. What is the best way to get Kobo's attention over this issue?

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06-03-2013, 11:55 PM	#4
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	Kobo people definitely read these forums and know of the problems. But, they are the ones who decide which to do. As to the two problems mentioned, if you are talking about kepubs, then I doubt if Kobo will change anything. They seem to have decided a long time ago that that is what the books should look like. For epubs, the same goes for the bottom area. But, we might get the top back. The title was added with FW 2.5.2, and it might go away.

06-04-2013, 12:30 AM	#5
lornaw Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Vancouver, BC Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura HD	I just purchased a Kobo Aura too. I really like and don't mind the page set up. I was checking out the different functions and decided to 'Archive All' books and ended up losing my side loaded e-books. I had to do a factory re-set b/c I could not locate those books. Luckily, I only had a few books. The only pain was doing the set up again.

06-04-2013, 01:55 AM	#6
TechniSol GranPohbah-Fezzes r cool! Posts: 1,056 Karma: 3151024 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook STRs, Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo	As for the wasted space at bottom, I'd be happy if they still left room for the menu bar as it appears they are if they just didn't leave a whole blank line above that area too! OTOH, it appears the code that puts up and takes down the menus restores what was there anyhow, so I don't see why they couldn't get closer to the top and bottom with the book text...

06-04-2013, 05:34 PM	#13
Razi Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 494242 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: London, UK Device: Toshiba E740, Cassiopeia, iLiad, iPad, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura HD	Got mine today. It is a nice device overall and processor (my main gripe concerning ereaders) is noticeably quicker than the ones on my 2 Kobo Touch units. Light is even. Is there some way of controlling this light? Would it not be too bright in total darkness?