New Kobo eReader Clears the FCC, Has Wifi and a 6.8″ Screen - discuss - Page 3

Anak · 08-19-2014, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taming

Anak, they work with hardware manufacturers for a very long time. Their wishes can morph into the hardware folks' reference designs.

True, they can change/choose to use (some) other components than the basic reference design to make it fit within Kobos existing product line or target it for a special user core, like hardcore readers. Like they have done with the Aura HD.

I'm currently looking at The Onyx BOOX T68 Lynx, which is basically (very similar to) a Aura HD. I find this an attractive device and is IMO a good Aura HD alternative.
Mainly for these reasons:

PDF reflow, it makes reading of PDF files alot easier on smaller screens. I consider 6.8" a small screen, but it is bigger than the traditional 6".
header/footer size is smaller. This leaves more space to display book content and makes navigating PDF files easier.
Note: I could not find a manual for the T68 Lynx but I assume that the firmware is not much different from other Onyx Boox models, thus displaying header and footer can be disabled.
preinstalled reading apps: FBReader, OnyxReader, Cool Reader.

I don't really care if it runs on Linux or Android, or has audio or bluetooth support, these are nice extras but I probably won't use it. It may prove that these extras are inexpensive to add.

The biggest question for me is, how open the Kobo firmware of the new H2O will be and allows the installation of third-party apps, reading apps like FBReader, OnyxReader, Cool Reader. Without hacking. This would eliminate almost all, if not all mentioned differences.
Then I would happily buy the new H2O because I'm familiar with the build quality of Kobos hardware.

booklover6 · 08-20-2014, 09:06 PM

Update -

New Leaks Show Kobo Aura H2O Coming 1 September, Will Cost $179

I hope it comes in brown and white as well as black.

Canuck_in_Japan · 08-20-2014, 09:31 PM

Hmm. I'm a bit underwhelmed. I'm sure it's going to be a great reader but as someone who already has an Aura and an HD, I don't see any reason to buy it. It looks like it has a recessed screen. Does that mean that we're going back to IR technology? I hope the back texture is like the current Aura and not like the Aura HD.

cme · 08-20-2014, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by booklover6

Update -

New Leaks Show Kobo Aura H2O Coming 1 September, Will Cost $179

I hope it comes in brown and white as well as black.

just black

davidfor · 08-21-2014, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by booklover6

Update -

New Leaks Show Kobo Aura H2O Coming 1 September, Will Cost $179

I hope it comes in brown and white as well as black.

Until they started talking about the screen, it sounded like it was just an Aura HD in a new case.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canuck_in_Japan

Hmm. I'm a bit underwhelmed. I'm sure it's going to be a great reader but as someone who already has an Aura and an HD, I don't see any reason to buy it. It looks like it has a recessed screen. Does that mean that we're going back to IR technology? I hope the back texture is like the current Aura and not like the Aura HD.

And that makes sense. The Aura HD is only 18 months old and there is no real reason to upgrade from it. To me the question is, if you broke your Aura HD, what would you buy?

JSWolf · 08-21-2014, 04:30 AM

The good thing about the H2O is that it's Android and thus, the reading software is not the same software used on the Aura HD. So I'm hoping this time it's more stable and less buggy.

booklover6 · 08-21-2014, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The good thing about the H2O is that it's Android.

It is? Where did you read that? Do you have a link?

Canuck_in_Japan · 08-21-2014, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by booklover6

It is? Where did you read that? Do you have a link?

Yes, I haven't heard anything about that. I find it hard to believe (although it would certainly be cool if true.)

Canuck_in_Japan · 08-21-2014, 07:41 AM

From Nate's blog:

Quote:

Like its predecessor, the Kobo Aura HD, this ebook reader will be running Kobo’s proprietary reading software

jackie_w · 08-21-2014, 09:55 AM

Based on my limited experience with Kobo for Android, using it instead of the Kobo eink epub rendering software would be a major step backwards IMO. All the good stuff to customise text on screen (fonts, margins, line spacing, font-weight etc) is absent in the current Android app. Of course, that's not to say it will always be missing.

Purple Lady · 08-21-2014, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackie_w

Based on my limited experience with Kobo for Android, using it instead of the Kobo eink epub rendering software would be a major step backwards IMO. All the good stuff to customise text on screen (fonts, margins, line spacing, font-weight etc) is absent in the current Android app. Of course, that's not to say it will always be missing.

But you could install a lot of other reading apps like moon+ if it's android. I remember reading somewhere that it was going to be android but I don't remember where. I thought it was The Digital Reader, but it looks like that's not where.

jackie_w · 08-21-2014, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

But you could install a lot of other reading apps like moon+ if it's android. I remember reading somewhere that it was going to be android but I don't remember where. I thought it was The Digital Reader, but it looks like that's not where.

Oh yes, if it had full access to Google Play. Even so, trying to find an android reader app which works well with eink and honours internal css correctly may be a bit of a challenge currently. Admittedly, the benefits of being able to run Calibre Companion on an eink device would be a massive plus, though.

Purple Lady · 08-21-2014, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackie_w

Oh yes, if it had full access to Google Play. Even so, trying to find an android reader app which works well with eink and honours internal css correctly may be a bit of a challenge currently. Admittedly, the benefits of being able to run Calibre Companion on an eink device would be a massive plus, though.

Apparently you don't need Google play - see this thread https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=244339

You can order this for only $99 - look at the comments here http://the-digital-reader.com/2014/0...ital+Reader%29

I saw a video review and it handles the kindle app way better than the T68. I'll look for a link to that.

Here's the link https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=244685

jackie_w · 08-21-2014, 11:34 AM

Thanks for the links. I don't see myself as an early adopter but it will be interesting to see how these android eink devices progress.

jehane · 08-21-2014, 04:24 PM

I'm looking forward to the comparison between this and the T68. The water resistance could be the deciding factor, all else being near equal.

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08-20-2014, 09:06 PM	#32
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,545 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre 1, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle, Kobo Libre Colour	Update - New Leaks Show Kobo Aura H2O Coming 1 September, Will Cost $179 I hope it comes in brown and white as well as black.

08-20-2014, 09:31 PM	#33
Canuck_in_Japan Wizard Posts: 1,476 Karma: 14328611 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tokyo, Japan Device: Aura, Aura H2O, Kindle PW3	Hmm. I'm a bit underwhelmed. I'm sure it's going to be a great reader but as someone who already has an Aura and an HD, I don't see any reason to buy it. It looks like it has a recessed screen. Does that mean that we're going back to IR technology? I hope the back texture is like the current Aura and not like the Aura HD.

08-21-2014, 04:30 AM	#36
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,750 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The good thing about the H2O is that it's Android and thus, the reading software is not the same software used on the Aura HD. So I'm hoping this time it's more stable and less buggy.

08-21-2014, 09:55 AM	#40
jackie_w Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,251 Karma: 16539642 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: UK Device: ClaraHD, Forma, Libra2, Clara2E, LibraCol, PBTouchHD3	Based on my limited experience with Kobo for Android, using it instead of the Kobo eink epub rendering software would be a major step backwards IMO. All the good stuff to customise text on screen (fonts, margins, line spacing, font-weight etc) is absent in the current Android app. Of course, that's not to say it will always be missing.

08-21-2014, 11:34 AM	#44
jackie_w Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,251 Karma: 16539642 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: UK Device: ClaraHD, Forma, Libra2, Clara2E, LibraCol, PBTouchHD3	Thanks for the links. I don't see myself as an early adopter but it will be interesting to see how these android eink devices progress.

08-21-2014, 04:24 PM	#45
jehane Book addict Posts: 441 Karma: 2650464 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Antarctica/Australia/Ohio Device: Sony PRS-300/T1/Asus TF101	I'm looking forward to the comparison between this and the T68. The water resistance could be the deciding factor, all else being near equal.