Kobo Aura H2O Officially Announced

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by booklover6

I can't help wanting one...it's only a matter of time.

I agree. I want one too.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Canuck_in_Japan

Technically, Amazon is matching Kobo. The Aura HD started out with 4GB storage in April 2013.
I don't like the look of that back. It looks very smooth and glossy, like the previous version which was too slippery to hold. I would prefer something textured like the Aura.

The feel of the back doesn't matter as you should have a case on the Reader or it's a reader waiting to get broken.

[Sharkus]

Phew, we can now talk about the H2O, finally
Biased as it will seem, I really do like the device. I'd been thinking about getting an Aura HD, but was holding off as I knew there was something else coming along, and it seemed wise to wait to get this new device, rather than the normal Aura HD.

It does actually work when in water, you can turn pages, and I've had first (wet) hand experience of this.

As for use cases, well, how about reading on the beach, or near the pool. there is of course the whole reading in the bath thing too. Another one would be that you're on the deck reading, pop inside to grab a snack and leave the reader on the table and it starts to rain, the device should be quite happy sitting there, without the need for you to run out and grab it.

Am I going to get one? Yes, I'm going to pre-order one. Yes, that does mean I'm going to be buying one with my own cash. It will actually be the first Kobo device I will have purchased (I have had other Kobo devices, but I didn't purchase them) and I think that might show that I'm a little proud of the new device, as I'm willing to spend my own money on it. I know, I know, probably sounds very sickly sweet, but I'm not a sales guy and trying to persuade others to buy.

[robko]

Originally Posted by nickart

Quote from the review: "The Aura H20 was designed to excel at reading the two most popular electronic book formats, PDF and EPUB"

Can we conclude from this that pdf's will, in fact, be readable on the H20?

Because they're certainly not on the HD.

IMHO, Goodreader reviewers are tech guys who touch an e-reader 3 or 4 times a year when one comes across their desk. I distinctly get the impression they really don't actually use ANY e-reader except for brief periods when reviewing them. So I would take any opinions (and some of the tech details) in that review with more than a few grains of salt.
Having said all that, you can find post on here from people who are quite happy with pdf's on their Aura HD's, so it depends on your expectations and needs (like everything else in the world). It will be running the same firmware as the Aura HD, so if you don't like pdf on it, you're not likely going to like it on the H2O. Maybe the Carta screen gives faster/less refresh that helps with pdf's [shrugs].

[JSWolf]

PDF is not all that wonderful anyway. Most PDF are made 8.5"x11" and they have very big margins with headers/footers. This makes then look small when made to fit on a smallish screen and the 6.8" eInk screen counts as a smallish screen. Heck, there's a lot of PDF that doesn't look good on a 9.7" eInk screen.

[Lynx-lynx]

@sharkus have you got any idea when it will be released in Aus? and the AUD? It seems that a number of other countries have been listed, but I can't find that info for Aus.

It's strange because I got the H2O promo email to my Aus account this morning and whilst the email mentions per-order I don't think there's anywhere on the site that states the AUD.

[RZetlin]

I just got an e-mail from Kobo announcing the Kobo H2O.

As I see it, the Kobo H2O is a waterproof version of the Kobo Aura HD.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by RZetlin

I just got an e-mail from Kobo announcing the Kobo H2O.

As I see it, the Kobo H2O is a waterproof version of the Kobo Aura HD.

Add the Carta screen for another difference plus losing 10 pixels (oh, the humanity!) off the height of the screen.

Regards,
David

[Cecell3000]

Originally Posted by RobertJSawyer

...
The unit I held had firmware 3.7.0 installed (3.5.0 is the current public firmware for the Aura and Aura HD).
...

is it the new firmware (Aura H2O) ??

http://download.kobobooks.com/firmwa...date-3.7.0.zip

.

[Lynx-lynx]

Originally Posted by Cecell3000

is it the new firmware (Aura H2O) ??

http://download.kobobooks.com/firmwa...date-3.7.0.zip

.

Wow .... is that the new official 3.7 firmware?

Edit
and is it downloadable to a Glo?

[Cecell3000]

Originally Posted by Lynx-lynx

Wow .... is that the new official 3.7 firmware?

Edit
and is it downloadable to a Glo?

officially not to kobo glo.(must be for aura H2O)
but seems to work, use only KoboRoot.tgz (Use at your own risk!)

I used to test(Glo) and apparently blocked gesture multitouch in kobo Glo, but two-finger works in sketch Pad.

software version: 3.7.0(73bec49a23, 8/15/14)

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

Do you suppose this is for those folks who have complained about not being able to read on their ereaders in the bath tub?
I can't imagine that many people who really ever wanted to read *in* the pool (as opposed to poolside).
I can remember pre-touch, however, slipping my Sony into a zippered plastic bag so I could soak in the tub with a good book. (Requires physical page turn buttons and best with a non-touch screen).

I read in the pool with my ereader in a waterproof bag. Works great! Although I recognize that's not the norm. A raft with a cup holder for a cold drink and your ereader and it's a relaxing afternoon! However I think I would be hesitant to take the new Kobo in the pool with me. It's expensive compared to alternative brands. I don't care so much about waterproof or dustproof features even though a lot of my reading is done poolside and I live in the dusty desert. However the larger screen and the rest of the specs are impressive and tempting.

[Josieb1]

I'm in the UK, I got the email this morning.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by Sharkus

Phew, we can now talk about the H2O, finally
Biased as it will seem, I really do like the device. I'd been thinking about getting an Aura HD, but was holding off as I knew there was something else coming along, and it seemed wise to wait to get this new device, rather than the normal Aura HD.

It does actually work when in water, you can turn pages, and I've had first (wet) hand experience of this.

As for use cases, well, how about reading on the beach, or near the pool. there is of course the whole reading in the bath thing too. Another one would be that you're on the deck reading, pop inside to grab a snack and leave the reader on the table and it starts to rain, the device should be quite happy sitting there, without the need for you to run out and grab it.

Exactly my feelings, although I do have a Kobo Aura. I'll probably sell that, maybe. I have four ereaders now who knows what I'll do.

I'm not pre ordering though. I'm waiting to see it in WHSmith, or Argos, but I'd prefer WHSmith. Let's see who gets it first.

[Canuck_in_Japan]

Originally Posted by Cecell3000

is it the new firmware (Aura H2O) ??

http://download.kobobooks.com/firmwa...date-3.7.0.zip

.

Because I'm foolish I gave it a shot on my Aura HD. It seems to be restarting. I hope it converts my screen to an E-ink Carta!
Ok it seems to have worked fine on my Aura HD. But to be honest I can't see that anything has changed (except for the version #)
I didn't even get a "What's New" screen at the start up.