Forma New Kobo reader: The Forma/Shape

[Amon_Re]

Originally Posted by CH23

I hope you're wrong, I'd really like a 10" Kobo :P

You & me both, the current 10" models on the market are either exuberantly expensive, lacking in features (no lights? Really Onyx?) or using ridiculously old android versions (hi there Boyue!)

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

I hope the Kobo has the ambidextrous feature like the Oasis. Without it, the Kobo won't interest me. For me, the lack of buttons on both sides, and the lack of an easy way to do a next page is a show-stopper with the Kobo. If Kobo can't add it, then I hope community developers can add it. Otherwise I find the design rather pointless. They would be better putting the buttons on the bottom where both hands can easily reach them.

Considering they show it in both portrait and landscape, I couldn't imagine they wouldn't let you hold it with either hand. The Oasis already does and the Forma is clearly inspired by it (older devices notwithstanding).

Really Kobo should do a voyage-style buttons on both side device and destroy the paperwhite, but like Amazon, they pushing buttons as a luxury only option.

Yeah, if Kobo could take the Nook Glowlight 3 and add their firmware (and maybe waterproofing) that would be ideal for me.

[johnnyb]

I used to own the Oasis 2 but I found switching it from one hand to the other incredibly inconvenient. It always involves a flipping the device around maneuver that I got tired of really quickly. Even printed books handled better
That was back to the Voyage for me....

[CH23]

Originally Posted by Amon_Re

You & me both, the current 10" models on the market are either exuberantly expensive, lacking in features (no lights? Really Onyx?) or using ridiculously old android versions (hi there Boyue!)

For me the 2 main reasons for wanting Kobo, are that it runs linux, a system I know by heart, and usually on a microSD card, which means I could experiment without ever bricking the device.

If both of these requirements are met, is below €500(10.3") or €250(7.8"), and backlight is included, then I'm as happy as can be.

Android is too heavily packed with stuff you will never use on an ereader.

[Michal Jancik]

: book2:

Therefore, I feel certain that this will be a 7.8" device

• Screen "7.8" + 1200mAh baterie how "Aura One" ?
usually with it's batery size it's just CPU single core + 512MB RAM


• It's just a illustration photo, you do not have to draw a final size conclusion right away
* After the title "the most comfortable reader" - I'm afraid the screen would be no bigger than 7.8 chips..

[pastaenthusiast]

I can’t really picture comfortably using the buttons while in landscape mode. It’ll be really interesting to see what it’s like- I was hoping for something with physical buttons (but who am I kidding- I’ve had the KAO since launch and I can’t imagine upgrading unless something really spectacular came along).

[davidfor]

It's official:

Press release: http://news.kobo.com/news-releases/r...rtable-ereader

Store (Canada): https://ca.kobobooks.com/products/ko...&utm_campaign=

Ad: https://ca.kobobooks.com/products/ko...&utm_campaign=

Price: $299CAD - Aura ONE is $249.

Highlights: 8", buttons, waterproof, 8GB, Comfortlight PRO, landscape mode.

Overall, I like the looks. It will be interesting to see how it feels to hold it.

And one noticeable absence in the pictures: Nothing to suggest it can be held with the buttons on the left.

And one I didn't notice the first time through:

Mobius® technology, which uses a flexible plastic layer within its display

That makes it much lighter than the Aura ONE and lighter than the Aura H2O2 - 197g, 230g and 207g respectively. And should make it less prone to breaking.

[Kaitou Ace]

Originally Posted by davidfor

It's official:

Press release: http://news.kobo.com/news-releases/r...rtable-ereader

Store (Canada): https://ca.kobobooks.com/products/ko...&utm_campaign=

Ad: https://ca.kobobooks.com/products/ko...&utm_campaign=

Price: $299CAD - Aura ONE is $249.

Highlights: 8", buttons, waterproof, 8GB, Comfortlight PRO, landscape mode.

Overall, I like the looks. It will be interesting to see how it feels to hold it.

And one noticeable absence in the pictures: Nothing to suggest it can be held with the buttons on the left.

And one I didn't notice the first time through:



That makes it much lighter than the Aura ONE and lighter than the Aura H2O2 - 197g, 230g and 207g respectively. And should make it less prone to breaking.

Pre-orders start on Oct 16, actual launch is Oct 23rd.

And yeah, I also noticed that very conspicuous absence of anything showing it being held with the buttons on the left.

A 32GB version will be out at launch in Japan, and at some later date in other markets. That'd be the one that I'm interested in I think.

[glenk]

Originally Posted by davidfor

And one noticeable absence in the pictures: Nothing to suggest it can be held with the buttons on the left.

That would be insane if that is the case.

I had a look at the pictures for the sleepcover and from the looks of it, it can be folded so that the buttons are on the left with the sleepcover on. So I think that it can be used with the buttons on the left.

If I am wrong though and it is a right handed device only then that is a complete deal breaker for me. I mostly only hold my Aura HD in my left hand.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Kaitou Ace

And yeah, I also noticed that very conspicuous absence of anything showing it being held with the buttons on the left.

I asked someone at Kobo. The response was:

'Forma LE: Left Edition coming in 2019'



No, you can hold in any of the 4 orientations. The sleepcover can be used as a stand in all 4 orientations as well!

So, it can be used with the buttons at the top. And I frequently hold my ereaders by the top right corner with my index finger along the bezel. That might work well.

Note: That's a joke. I think

[jackie_w]

The Mobius thingy is interesting. I'd always assumed Amazon got first refusal on all new eink screen technology.

Perhaps a cover won't be quite so essential on this model. Maybe just as well if the 3rd-party covers take a long time to appear.

Oh dear, my buy-it-now finger is starting to twitch. It's just as well that my new gadget obsession is restricted to eink readers and not the more expensive phones/tablets etc.

[glenk]

Hi davidfor

Thanks for the quick update, after having looked at every single photo of it in portrait mode with the buttons only on the right hand side I was starting to get worried.
Strange that they didn't think to show a picture of it in that orientation.

Well they have sold me on it. Just need to find a store that will have it in Australia on Oct 30th. Can't wait. I have been wanting a new eReader for a while.

[issybird]

Whew! $280 US. That's a lot if you've already got a decent ereader. I'd be ecstatic if one dropped in my lap, but that's just way too rich for me, unless and until my Aura One goes paws up and even then it would be a difficult call.

I did snicker at this:

waterproofing means you can soak up a story anywhere, whether it’s in bed, at the beach beach or in the bath.

I keep my bed pretty dry, myself. And what's the beach beach?

Seriously, they should have put a lot more effort into the statement. QC should extend everywhere.

[Kaitou Ace]

Originally Posted by davidfor

I asked someone at Kobo. The response was:


So, it can be used with the buttons at the top. And I frequently hold my ereaders by the top right corner with my index finger along the bezel. That might work well.

Note: That's a joke. I think

Lol! Well that's good to hear. I have the KOA2 now and tend to flip it around between hands regularly. Now if they'd only say when the 32GB version is coming to the US too...

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

The Mobius thingy is interesting. I'd always assumed Amazon got first refusal on all new eink screen technology.

Perhaps a cover won't be quite so essential on this model. Maybe just as well if the 3rd-party covers take a long time to appear.

That's what I was thinking.

Oh dear, my buy-it-now finger is starting to twitch. It's just as well that my new gadget obsession is restricted to eink readers and not the more expensive phones/tablets etc.

Same here. But, the price down here is $429 which eases the twitching a bit. I almost wish Kobo were delaying the release down here like they do most of the time.