Does Kobo Have A Predictable Schedule With New E-readers?

roninmedia · 11-06-2015, 11:01 PM

Basically, does Kobo have a reasonably predictable cycle when they release a new device? Like, as they haven't released anything by now this year, don't expect anything new this year.

AnemicOak · 11-06-2015, 11:15 PM

Dates for previous Kobo's

Original - 24 Mar 2010
WiFi - 15 Oct 2010
Touch - 23 May 2011
Glo - 6 Sep 2012
Mini - 6 Sep 2012
Aura HD - 25 Apr 2013
Aura - 27 Aug 2013
Aura H2O - 1 Oct 2014
Glo HD - 1 May 2015
Touch 2.0 - 8 Sep 2015
Mini 2(?) - 3 Nov 2015 (sold out in two days, future unknown)

I'd guess that if they're going to release anything new it'd have to be a new 6.8" device, but I'm not sure what they'd do vs what the H2O already offers. There are folks hoping for a frontlit Mini as well.

MGlitch · 11-07-2015, 12:55 AM

A higher resolution H2O would be nice, though at the pricepoint they'd set for it, it'd need to be over 300DPI by a fair margin for me to really consider upgrading from my current H2O. Preferably with a smaller bottom bezel and reduced thickness.

AnemicOak · 11-07-2015, 01:12 AM

I suppose if they could get eInk to make them Mobius screens in 6.8" (currently they only list 1.73" and 13.3") that might be an upgrade worthy feature for some folks too.

dmapr · 11-07-2015, 11:03 AM

I would take a 300dpi 6.8" screen upgrade

JSWolf · 11-07-2015, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmapr

I would take a 300dpi 6.8" screen upgrade

I doubt you'd notice the difference without a side-by-side comparison.

MGlitch · 11-07-2015, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I doubt you'd notice the difference without a side-by-side comparison.

I've done a side by side with the new Nook Glowlight Plus which is 300DPI, and yea the 35 DPI difference is not something you'd really even notice. I would think a 400+ DPI screen would be quite the upgrade to the H2O, though I've no idea if that's in the cards for eink in the foreseeable future.

pdurrant · 11-08-2015, 11:51 AM

I'd like to see 300dpi with plastic backplane.

ottdmk · 11-08-2015, 01:48 PM

Mobius is really interesting tech, but the 150dpi they list for the 13.3" screen isn't terribly appealing.

DNSB · 11-08-2015, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGlitch

I've done a side by side with the new Nook Glowlight Plus which is 300DPI, and yea the 35 DPI difference is not something you'd really even notice. I would think a 400+ DPI screen would be quite the upgrade to the H2O, though I've no idea if that's in the cards for eink in the foreseeable future.

Hmmm... isn't the GlowlightPlus a 6" screen (like Amazon Voyage and Kobo Glo HD)? The number of pixels for all of three and the Kobo Aura HD and Aura H2O with their 6.8" screens are pretty much identical. Much like arguing whether a 20" HD TV or a 60" HD TV is higher resolution when the pixel count is the same 1920x1080.

MGlitch · 11-08-2015, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

Hmmm... isn't the GlowlightPlus a 6" screen (like Amazon Voyage and Kobo Glo HD)? The number of pixels for all of three and the Kobo Aura HD and Aura H2O with their 6.8" screens are pretty much identical. Much like arguing whether a 20" HD TV or a 60" HD TV is higher resolution when the pixel count is the same 1920x1080.

Yeah the Glowlight Plus is 6".

Not sure I follow you, but with the H2O vs the Glowlight Plus, I'd take the H2O, more lines of text per 'page' and the text is nearly if not just as sharp.

dmapr · 11-11-2015, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I doubt you'd notice the difference without a side-by-side comparison.

I doubt it too but I would take it anyway. Then I'd do a side-by-side comparison

JSWolf · 11-11-2015, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGlitch

Yeah the Glowlight Plus is 6".

Not sure I follow you, but with the H2O vs the Glowlight Plus, I'd take the H2O, more lines of text per 'page' and the text is nearly if not just as sharp.

Don't forget with the H2O, you also get more text per line.

The H2O is perfectly sharp enough as is.

DNSB · 11-12-2015, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGlitch

Yeah the Glowlight Plus is 6".

Not sure I follow you, but with the H2O vs the Glowlight Plus, I'd take the H2O, more lines of text per 'page' and the text is nearly if not just as sharp.

What I am arguing is that DPI is only relevant when comparing the same size of screen. The 300DPI 6" screens have very close to the same number of pixels as the 265DPI 6.8" screens. You can fit the same number of lines of text using the same number of pixels on any of their screens but the Aura H2O and Aura HD will give you a larger image which is easier to read for my tired old eyes.

Which leads to my opinion is that arguing which is sharper is like arguing that my 1920x1200 7" ( 323DPI ) tablet is "sharper" than my laptop's 1920x1200 17.3" ( 131DPI ) screen or my HD TV's 1920x1080 60" ( at a massive 37DPI

) screen. Ask me which I preferred to watch the Rugby World Cup games on...

murg · 11-12-2015, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

Ask me which I preferred to watch the Rugby World Cup games on...

The only proper answer to this is: at the stadium.

11-06-2015, 11:01 PM	#1
roninmedia Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 2137752 Join Date: Jun 2014 Device: Galaxy Tab 2	Does Kobo Have A Predictable Schedule With New E-readers? Basically, does Kobo have a reasonably predictable cycle when they release a new device? Like, as they haven't released anything by now this year, don't expect anything new this year.

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11-06-2015, 11:15 PM	#2
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Dates for previous Kobo's Original - 24 Mar 2010 WiFi - 15 Oct 2010 Touch - 23 May 2011 Glo - 6 Sep 2012 Mini - 6 Sep 2012 Aura HD - 25 Apr 2013 Aura - 27 Aug 2013 Aura H2O - 1 Oct 2014 Glo HD - 1 May 2015 Touch 2.0 - 8 Sep 2015 Mini 2(?) - 3 Nov 2015 (sold out in two days, future unknown) I'd guess that if they're going to release anything new it'd have to be a new 6.8" device, but I'm not sure what they'd do vs what the H2O already offers. There are folks hoping for a frontlit Mini as well.

11-07-2015, 12:55 AM	#3
MGlitch Wizard Posts: 2,855 Karma: 22003124 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: Kobo Forma, Kobo Sage, Kobo Libra 2	A higher resolution H2O would be nice, though at the pricepoint they'd set for it, it'd need to be over 300DPI by a fair margin for me to really consider upgrading from my current H2O. Preferably with a smaller bottom bezel and reduced thickness.

11-07-2015, 01:12 AM	#4
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	I suppose if they could get eInk to make them Mobius screens in 6.8" (currently they only list 1.73" and 13.3") that might be an upgrade worthy feature for some folks too.

11-07-2015, 11:03 AM	#5
dmapr Evangelist Posts: 469 Karma: 600816 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kobo Aura One	I would take a 300dpi 6.8" screen upgrade

11-08-2015, 11:51 AM	#8
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,944 Karma: 315160596 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	I'd like to see 300dpi with plastic backplane.

11-08-2015, 01:48 PM	#9
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,220 Karma: 3804496 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M9	Mobius is really interesting tech, but the 150dpi they list for the 13.3" screen isn't terribly appealing.