Kobo Spa

[scegghy]

A Kobo ereader, Kobo Spa, is going to be released.

https://goodereader.com/blog/kobo-er...oming-out-soon

Does someone know more? I hope it's a 8 inches color ereader. What do you expect?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by scegghy

A Kobo ereader, Kobo Spa, is going to be released.

https://goodereader.com/blog/kobo-er...oming-out-soon

Does someone know more? I hope it's a 8 inches color ereader. What do you expect?

Oh hell no! It better be a 7" Libra 2 replacement. Color is crap and it's worthless for reading text.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by scegghy

A Kobo ereader, Kobo Spa, is going to be released.

https://goodereader.com/blog/kobo-er...oming-out-soon

Does someone know more? I hope it's a 8 inches color ereader. What do you expect?

Not a reliable source.

The whole point of eink is a more readable and more relaxing to use screen. The Kaleido 3 based color eink is pointless for novels as it's darker, poorer contrast, artefacts if you run 300 dpi instead of 150 dpi. I'll stick to Nxtpaper or similar for colour, with all the epaper and Nxtpaper gimmicks turned off.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Not a reliable source.

The whole point of eink is a more readable and more relaxing to use screen. The Kaleido 3 based color eink is pointless for novels as it's darker, poorer contrast, artefacts if you run 300 dpi instead of 150 dpi. I'll stick to Nxtpaper or similar for colour, with all the epaper and Nxtpaper gimmicks turned off.

But they link to a fairly reliable site. So I woould believe this.

[Quoth]

All we know is that it exists as an FCC application. The goodiereader site is pure conjecture apart from that.

[Anghirrim]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Not a reliable source.

The whole point of eink is a more readable and more relaxing to use screen. The Kaleido 3 based color eink is pointless for novels as it's darker, poorer contrast, artefacts if you run 300 dpi instead of 150 dpi. I'll stick to Nxtpaper or similar for colour, with all the epaper and Nxtpaper gimmicks turned off.

Is Nxtpaper really a good alternative to Caleido?

I'm actually thinking of buying a color ereader for my kids to read mangas (they're now using my good old Kobo Forma).

But yep, 7" is too small and 10,3" too large and expensive for that purpose only. I'm just reluctant to buy a real tablet for them to read. Is Nxtpaper really that close to "real paper"? I've read here and there that RLCD screens can work without backlight. But what in real conditions? Is it even close to a running smartwatch (like my Garmin Forerunner)?

[salamanderjuice]

Originally Posted by Anghirrim

Is Nxtpaper really a good alternative to Caleido?

I'm actually thinking of buying a color ereader for my kids to read mangas (they're now using my good old Kobo Forma).

But yep, 7" is too small and 10,3" too large and expensive for that purpose only. I'm just reluctant to buy a real tablet for them to read. Is Nxtpaper really that close to "real paper"? I've read here and there that RLCD screens can work without backlight. But what in real conditions? Is it even close to a running smartwatch (like my Garmin Forerunner)?

It's not. It's not even a reflective LCD like the Forerunner. It's just a really matte backlit LCD with a texture to look like paper. It's actually WORSE in sunlight than a typical LCD:

https://www.androidcentral.com/table...r-display-tech

You can get most of the way there slapping one of those matte paperlike screen protectors on a random tablet.

If you have the opportunity to test a Kaleido 3 screen and form your own opinions I would. Yes, the contrast is worse than a B&W models but it's still readable in a variety of settings with the front light off IME. If you're not directly comparing between the two you stop noticing.

I somehow manage to read novels on my KLC without the front light anyways.

[Cootey]

Originally Posted by scegghy

A Kobo ereader, Kobo Spa, is going to be released.

https://goodereader.com/blog/kobo-er...oming-out-soon

Does someone know more? I hope it's a 8 inches color ereader. What do you expect?

All we know from the article is that there is an upcoming product called Kobo Spa with two product numbers. Michael proposes that this might be for two different storage sizes. It could also be for a color and a B&W version. Nobody really knows yet. Keep an ear out for case leaks and early product listings, which usually happen before a new Kobo is released.

Kobo tends to iterate the bottom end ereaders in their lineup, and introduces new products with new names when they’re introducing a new format. Your 8” color ereader dream is as valid as any other speculation at this point.

[Cootey]

Originally Posted by salamanderjuice

If you have the opportunity to test a Kaleido 3 screen and form your own opinions I would. Yes, the contrast is worse than a B&W models but it's still readable in a variety of settings with the front light off IME. If you're not directly comparing between the two you stop noticing.

I somehow manage to read novels on my KLC without the front light anyways.

Agreed. I use my KLC all the time and have no issues with the resolution. If I compared my KLC to my iPhone, for example, it’s obvious that the KLC is lower res, but it’s not something that bothers me while I am reading.

[DrChiper]

I myself use an TCL Nxtpaper 11 (since 2023) mostly for reading comics using the PocketBook app as its screen is very good due to its anti-glare coating. The TCL claims it capable to provide an eInk similar experience and there is something in that, but simply put it: will and won't beat a real eInk screen anytime. In short: use a proper sized tablet for reading comics and PDF-files and use proper sized BW eInk devices for pure ebooks and you do fine.

Why I did choose TCL Nxtpaper 11? Because it was cheap, available and had the good anti-glare screen. And it is still receiving updates. Why I did not choose TCL Nxtpaper 14? Because the price was not right (for me), to big (heavy) and I do not read PDF-files that much to justify a purchase.

As always, YMMV.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Cootey

All we know from the article is that there is an upcoming product called Kobo Spa with two product numbers. Michael proposes that this might be for two different storage sizes. It could also be for a color and a B&W version. Nobody really knows yet. Keep an ear out for case leaks and early product listings, which usually happen before a new Kobo is released.

Kobo tends to iterate the bottom end ereaders in their lineup, and introduces new products with new names when they’re introducing a new format. Your 8” color ereader dream is as valid as any other speculation at this point.

I hope another color Reader is bupkis. We don't need one. We don't want one. We want a good 7" BW Reader to replace the Libra 2.

[Lynx-lynx]

I'm just really pleased kobo is still making ereaders, and innovating. I'm looking forward to whatever the device/s is/are

[Cactus Chef]

Hard to speculate based on the name, but I'm hoping "Spa" indicates that it will be one of their "luxury" line, like a new Libra or Sage.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by DrChiper

I myself use an TCL Nxtpaper 11 (since 2023) mostly for reading comics using the PocketBook app as its screen is very good due to its anti-glare coating. The TCL claims it capable to provide an eInk similar experience and there is something in that, but simply put it: will and won't beat a real eInk screen anytime. In short: use a proper sized tablet for reading comics and PDF-files and use proper sized BW eInk devices for pure ebooks and you do fine.
…

It won't beat any mono Carta eink with the front light off in enough ambient light. It does beat mono eink with a front light too bright, but only in plain sRGB mode with brightness and colour temperature adjusted and every epaper/Nxtpaper gizmo off.

It absolutely makes the Onyx Boox Colour I've seen in real life look like junk.

Everyone I've showed my Nxtpaper models to agrees that posting photos is pointless unless I have a better camera and the person viewing has a better screen. I've now got NxtPaper 40 4G (for 2FA in library), Nxtpaper 50 5G for portable and outdoor use and both camera and Pocketbook App ereading possible in direct sunlight. A Nxtpaper 11 and a Nxtpaper 15.

I use a Kobo Sage for novels at home. I use an original Libra H2O if I need a script to read or recording audio as it has 100% reliable page turn buttons.

I almost never use the front light on my Sage or Libra.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Cactus Chef

Hard to speculate based on the name, but I'm hoping "Spa" indicates that it will be one of their "luxury" line, like a new Libra or Sage.

Or more waterproof and resistant to bathwater and saltwater. The original waterproof Aura HD H2O is waterproof*, but all the later Kobos using HZO "waterproofing" are not really waterproof, because it's an interior coating easily damaged by various chemicals; HZO only resists plain clean cold water.

[* A flaw is the double-sided tape holding on the front bezel]