Next Aura HD generation?

[leftright]

Originally Posted by HYPE

Finally, there's something that I've always loved about a dedicated ereader that doesn't do anything else. Maybe it's just because it doesn't distract me and I don't end up doing something else.

I really don't know what you mean, W..T..F...

[HYPE]

Originally Posted by leftright

I really don't know what you mean, W..T..F...

Then let me try to explain it, fine Sir.

Serious reading requires concentration, and sometimes discipline. Accordingly, I couldn't read on, say, an iPad, because it does so much more than just reading and I would be constantly distracted by notifications and so on. Same goes for an ereader which can do a lot more than just reading. To my understanding, the T68 falls into this category, but I might be wrong.

[Anak]

Wow, a new gossip thread. Finally.

The Aura 6" receives an upgrade to become water, dust, and shockproof (IP67 certified) and the screen is replaced by a Carta screen with the same resolution. Not much improvement for a reader that is available on the market for only just one year.

The Aura HD is available on the market much longer and has

1. outdated design (which does not comfortly fit in the general design of the other the models)
2. thick (11,7 mm/0.46 inch)
3. relative heavy (but not necessarily uncomfortable)
4. not very fast (when compared to other readers but this does not necessarily make the device uncomfortable to use)
5. responsiveness: input lag and not always very precise

To me it is very clear which reader should be upgraded (first).

And Amazon is rumoured to release a new PaperWhite with a

• high resolution screen (300dpi)
• 6" screen

This new PaperWhite looks more attractive to me than the coming Aura H2O.
The current PW is already faster than all available Kobo readers. My 2 cents is that this gap will become even bigger.

Originally Posted by leftright

… that the basics of touch screen command execution hasn't been mastered by most ereader manufacturers, and this is a feature of the UI which should be exactly right, not just good enough, but perfect, guess those teenagers writing code think otherwise.

Most ereader manufacturers? What about all manufacturers? But definitely includes Kobo.
But I do agree with you that it is mostly a software/firmware issue as most manufacturers use the same hardware components and many other manufacturers master responsiveness issues better. Not only do they have a lower input lag but are also more precise. The trouble here is that it varies from model to model. Picking a reader just by brand name won't do.

But anyone who uses a Kobo reader (or reads about Kobo readers on fora, blog, tests or elase) does no that software and firmware development is not one of Kobos strenghts.
(And yes, that is an understatement.)

[HYPE]

@Anak : Thank you for your post! I definitely agree that the Aura HD should be updated before the simple Aura, especially considering that former was released before the latter.

Even though I would like to switch to an ePub ereader, I will have to wait to see how the PW3 compares. Lot's of waiting ahead.

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by JimMcLaren

If I hadn't just bought my Aura HD (to replace an old Pocketbook 302) I would seriously think about the Onyx Boox T68. The screen is the same and it runs Android (Ice cream sandwich I believe).

I think that the T68 is Perl and lower resolution than the Aura HD, which also has a newer generation of eInk, IIRC.

[dmacmart]

And the Aura h2o sounds fantastic to me and will likely be my next eReader - reading on the beach, in the pool, in the tub. I was sitting by the side of my sister's pool with my feet in it, reading my Kobo Glo, and along came a wasp. In my efforts to swat and/or avoid it, my Glo nearly got dunked. Oops!

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by twowheels

I think that the T68 is Perl and lower resolution than the Aura HD, which also has a newer generation of eInk, IIRC.

Nope. The T68 uses the same screen as the Aura HD.

[jersysman]

Originally Posted by mbovenka

Nope. The T68 uses the same screen as the Aura HD.

But is the T68 capacitive or IR? That could make a difference.

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by jersysman

But is the T68 capacitive or IR? That could make a difference.

Hm...that's true. The T68 is capacitive, the Aura HD is IR.

[ebrahimpak]

Besides, T68 is an eReader + one big heck of a home button.

[HYPE]

Originally Posted by ebrahimpak

Besides, T68 is an eReader + one big heck of a home button.

It's ridiculous how big it is. I hope they made it that big only because they needed the bottom space anyway. It's a very poor design decision if they made it taller for the button...

[soulfuldog]

Originally Posted by mbovenka

Hm...that's true. The T68 is capacitive, the Aura HD is IR.

And it seemingly does make a difference. If you want an ereader with a bigger screen and the quality of the light/screen is important, definitely get the Aura HD over the T68. IMHO, so far only Amazon with the 2nd generation of the Paperwhite have managed to make the screen/light combination work well with a capacitive screen (and it's not perfect either), which is why, despite being older, the Aura HD is still up there as one having possibly the best screen.

[Mivo]

Originally Posted by dmacmart

And the Aura h2o sounds fantastic to me and will likely be my next eReader - reading on the beach, in the pool, in the tub.

A nice side effect is that the price of the regular Aura now dropped under €100 after the H20 leak/announcement, so I decided to pick one up. Had been wanting to replace my Glo (which I accidentally broke) for a while, so this is a good opportunity. I have other readers, but prefer Kobo's devices (and I don't want a non-epub reader).

[HYPE]

Originally Posted by soulfuldog

And it seemingly does make a difference. If you want an ereader with a bigger screen and the quality of the light/screen is important, definitely get the Aura HD over the T68. IMHO, so far only Amazon with the 2nd generation of the Paperwhite have managed to make the screen/light combination work well with a capacitive screen (and it's not perfect either), which is why, despite being older, the Aura HD is still up there as one having possibly the best screen.

I've had the chance to play with an Aura HD yesterday, and indeed, that display is the best I've ever seen! The only thing that I prefer on my Paperwhite is the user interface, which has a much nicer design in my opinion.

[forster01]

You used to it, as well as we used to kobo user interface.