A new Kobo reader

[GeoffR]

Originally Posted by psv

In the videos there was one big difference between (the new) Aura and Glo: the speed of dictionary lookup. Is it just because the Glo was with an old firmware? The painfully slow dictionary was the main reason why I decided not to buy a Glo last December, despite the gorgeous screen. My (relatively) old sony PRS350 has a dictionary which is much faster (and also more complete). There is another thing with the dictionary: if the lookup fails, sometimes it's enough to delete a couple of characters from the end of the word. On Glo (when I tried it) it was very complicated (on PRS350 it's easy). Did this thing get improved in more recent firmwares on Glo (or on Aura HD)?

I don't think there was much difference in the dictionary lookup time on the Glo, it was just that the reviewer took a number of attempts to select the word. Once a word is selected, the lookup itself takes a fraction of a second.

There was one firmware version with a bug that prevented the looked-up word being edited, it was fixed in the next firmware release, but perhaps the Glo you tried was running that firmware.

One thing I don't like about the new Aura - the header is even bigger than on Glo (the screen is not so big that it should be filled with useless information; I have the feeling that the 5" sceen of PSR350 is showing as much text as this 6" screen). And when they talk about the "pdf experience" - how about automatic margin crop? Pocketbook 360 could do it!

The size of the header will depend partly on the firmware version, but also on the top margin set in the book itself, which varies from book to book. These reviews are useless for comparing these sorts of things because their readers are not only running different firmware versions, but they are comparing different books too.

[Ripplinger]

Originally Posted by Canuck_in_Japan

For me it's partly that they're basically idiots and partly because they take 16 minutes for a video that has 5 actual minutes of information.

I had to laugh at that, but you're actually right. Listen to this review at around 4:14 when they say reading 2 hours or more a night on a backlit screen causes melanoma...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=staUN3XzJIY

[samhy]

The more I see videos, the more I may consider replacing my Aura HD with the Aura (maybe, in the end, after thinking long and large and having hold one in my own hands ...).

Mainly because of the lack of ghosting, the nifty 2-finger swipe and the apparently better rendered PDF documents. The smaller size could be a good point. However, I like very much the high resolution of the Aura HD

One thing though, to protect my Aura HD I always put it face down on the (bedside) table so nothing can touch/scratch the screen. I do the same with the Mini when it's not in its cover or a bag. With no recess on a screen I would worry more, unless this is a Gorilla-glass like strong one

[graycyn]

Originally Posted by buffaloseven

I think the biggest benefits to the Aura (having never touched one myself) are the new screen with fewer refreshes (and it seemed a smidge clearer w/better contrast), smaller size while maintaining the 6" form factor, and the improved responsiveness of the capacitive screen, including multi-touch gestures.

Fewer refreshed *might* be a benefit, but only if ghosting doesn't increase. I really HATE ghosting, screen refresh doesn't bug me that much. I found the setting with least screen refresh on my Aura HD did introduce some ghosting and I had to set it to a more frequent screen refresh.

I definitely like the idea of better touch responsiveness, particularly the slide to change light brightness, that is a feature I love on the Mantano reader app I use on my Android devices.

[Anak]

Originally Posted by samhy

and the apparently better rendered PDF documents.

If this is true then it must be an improvement of the pdf part of the firmware. Guess the Aura has a newer firmware version which has not been released for the existing readers. Just wait till Kobo rolls out this newer version.

[filmo]

Faster processor, pinch zoom and capacitance touch screen that is more responsive than IR touch are 3 big improvements for reading PDF format. Have to read real user experiences. Has to be better but color is needed for some PDF books and bigger screen for full page view that can be read without pinch zoom.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by samhy

The more I see videos, the more I may consider replacing my Aura HD with the Aura (maybe, in the end, after thinking long and large and having hold one in my own hands ...).

Mainly because of the lack of ghosting, the nifty 2-finger swipe and the apparently better rendered PDF documents. The smaller size could be a good point. However, I like very much the high resolution of the Aura HD

One thing though, to protect my Aura HD I always put it face down on the (bedside) table so nothing can touch/scratch the screen. I do the same with the Mini when it's not in its cover or a bag. With no recess on a screen I would worry more, unless this is a Gorilla-glass like strong one

Simply make it a little bed of the soft static resistant soft material so many things come packaged in. We are always wondering what to do with that, or a roomy little envelope that could be hung from the bedside table drawer knob. Or a hinged cover with static resistant material glued inside affixed to the table with double sided tape.

Helen

[Canuck_in_Japan]

Originally Posted by samhy

The more I see videos, the more I may consider replacing my Aura HD with the Aura

I'm in the same boat but there has been no announcement regarding a Kobo Aura release in Japan unfortunately. I really like my Kobo but there's really nothing special about it other than the extra screen real estate. In fact, in some ways it's actually much worse due to the high resolution. I suppose reading manga must be very nice but I don't really do that. All of the non-fiction books that I read have almost uninterperetable pictures because they're so small thanks to the small resolution of the photos themselves. I wish the firmware would allow for some kind of pixel doubling for pictures on the Aura HD.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by Canuck_in_Japan

I wish the firmware would allow for some kind of pixel doubling for pictures on the Aura HD.

That would be nice, even if the images didn't look perfect. Of course if the publishers would include pics with decent resolution to begin with...

[bartveld]

Engadget

[Gilmartin]

Originally Posted by bartveld

Engadget

Could somebody please tell that so-called "expert" that it does not have a backlight. Do you need to be a complete nincompoop to land a job as a "reviewer" these days?

[melmac]

Originally Posted by Gilmartin

Do you need to be a complete nincompoop to land a job as a "reviewer" these days?

I do believe that is the standard requirement

[owly]

The flat screen will at least be much easier to keep clean. No more gunk around the frame. I love my HD but but with an aching wrist I'll probably buy this new, lighter one after all.

[samhy]

Originally Posted by Anak

If this is true then it must be an improvement of the pdf part of the firmware. Guess the Aura has a newer firmware version which has not been released for the existing readers. Just wait till Kobo rolls out this newer version.

I agree but the improvement may be part on the software side (so good for the Aura HD too) and part on the hardware side (for example, the pinch zoom ability). So wait and see. Anyway, my Aura HD is so right for my needs that it would be foolish to sell it without seeing the Aura beforehand

[soulfuldog]

The biggest turn off for any e-reader is those video reviews, particularly those from Goodereader. As much as I'd like to watch the reviews to see more of the new Aura, I can't stand it with those guys talking far too much (and much of it drivel), pointing out and discussing obvious things that anyone can see just by looking at the video, and pretty much just appearing to chat incessantly about whatever thought happens to pop into their head.