What would make Kobo surpass Kindle?

[koboy]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

For me, Kobo really seemed too have their mojo after the release of the original Aura and Glo HD.

In their current back of models, I'm not interested in a larger screen and the Aura Edition 2 feels like a step backwards. Plus I don't like the new home screen much. I could live with it, but that's about the best I could say for it. It doesn't feel much different than the Kindle and Nook screens.

I know they have the Aura ONE and H202, but in the most popular segment, the six inch screen size, they gave up.

If they ever release a six inch reader with 300 PPI, larger on-board storage, a flush screen, blue light filter and it's waterproof, I'd get it. Any three of those five options would do. But if my Aura turned up it's toes today, I'd either get a Glowlight Plus or just get another Aura.

For me, Kobo really seemed too have their mojo after the release of the original Aura and Glo HD.

the above line might benefit by adding the word lost.

so it reads see below.

For me, Kobo really seemed too have lost their mojo after the release of the original Aura and Glo HD.

best wishes koboy

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by koboy

For me, Kobo really seemed too have their mojo after the release of the original Aura and Glo HD.

the above line might benefit by adding the word lost.

so it reads see below.

For me, Kobo really seemed too have lost their mojo after the release of the original Aura and Glo HD.

best wishes koboy

That's what I meant. I also know the difference between 'too' and 'to'. My tablet appears not to though I'll edit it now.

[Richwood]

Unless you are paranoid about your reading habits, to me there is one big advantage that Kindle has. That is the ability to use email to send items to a kindle, which automatically also installs them in the Amazon cloud for the owner. That makes them available on all Amazon Kindle tablets and readers registered to that account. I just sent 80+ Mobi ebooks From Smashwords to my Kindle Voyage with "convert" in the emails subject line. All the files are now in the cloud and on my Voyage in AZW format.

So far as I can see there is no method other than buying an item from the Kobo store to get it stored in the Kobo cloud. Thus other than by sideloading there is no way for you to load work related documents or have others send you such items that I am aware of other than possibly using the Kobo browser to read email and download attachments, if this is possible? That still will not place them in the Kobo cloud that I know of. This makes the Kindle a much more versatile device it seems to me.

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by Richwood

Unless you are paranoid about your reading habits, to me there is one big advantage that Kindle has. That is the ability to use email to send items to a kindle, which automatically also installs them in the Amazon cloud for the owner. That makes them available on all Amazon Kindle tablets and readers registered to that account. I just sent 80+ Mobi ebooks From Smashwords to my Kindle Voyage with "convert" in the emails subject line. All the files are now in the cloud and on my Voyage in AZW format.

Whilst I have no problem with anyone who feels like you do, personally I have no interest whatsoever in either Amazon or Kobo storing my books for me. My central repository is calibre which IMO has far more features and flexibility than either of them.

Calibre Companion plus Dropbox/DropSync satisfies all my requirements for wireless transfer and auto-replication between Android devices.

I've never wanted to read books in the primitive MOBI format on any device when EPUB offers me better-looking books.

You don't need to be paranoid to dislike wi-fi on eink devices. It offers no benefits to me at all so it's permanently disabled on all of mine. I have no problem using USB cable to connect eink devices to calibre, although I believe some Kobo users successfully use its (rather basic) browser to wirelessly access books in their personal cloud storage.

[tiltowait]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

That's what I meant. I also know the difference between 'too' and 'to'. My tablet appears not to though I'll edit it now.

I would be interested to see Kobo's sales figures for their various devices. To me, it feels like they're positioning themselves up-market and have been ever since the Aura HD. It does make a certain amount of sense—those willing to spend a lot on a reader are likely those willing to spend a lot on books. And I'm sure they enjoy a nice margin on their higher-end devices.

I, too, would like a 6" equivalent of the Aura One. It would be nice for backpacking.

[compurandom]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

You don't need to be paranoid to dislike wi-fi on eink devices.

I use wifi on my kobo for pocket sync. But I turn it off as frequently as I can remember, because it is a *huge* battery drain.

With it on, I'm lucky if I get two or three days of battery.
With it off, it's weeks (or at least, a couple of fat books).

Once I left wifi on in an area with no hotspots, and it drained the battery in a couple of hours searching for an internet connection.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

For me, Kobo really seemed to have lost their mojo after the release of the original Aura and Glo HD.

In their current batch of models, I'm not interested in a larger screen and the Aura Edition 2 feels like a step backwards. Plus I don't like the new home screen much. I could live with it, but that's about the best I could say for it. It doesn't feel much different than the Kindle and Nook home screens.

I know they have the Aura ONE and H202, but in the most popular segment, the six inch screen size, they gave up.

I don't think that was necessarily a bad strategy. Ceding the 6" market to Kindle, especially with the $20 fudge factor that has been mentioned, makes all kind of economic sense. Then Kobo specialized in larger screens and filled the void there and a lot of people like the larger screens. I admit I've engaged in some rueful laughter at the Oasis 2 people who have been waxing rhapsodic about the new larger screen when I've had a larger screen since 2011 and the PRS-950. I converted to Kobo and the H2O when the battery got wonky and of course there were the added appeals of better resolution and a front light. All it means, unfortunately, is that Kobo serves as Amazon's guinea pig in terms of innovation.

[John F]

Originally Posted by issybird

I don't think that was necessarily a bad strategy. Ceding the 6" market to Kindle, especially with the $20 fudge factor that has been mentioned, makes all kind of economic sense. Then Kobo specialized in larger screens and filled the void there and a lot of people like the larger screens. I admit I've engaged in some rueful laughter at the Oasis 2 people who have been waxing rhapsodic about the new larger screen when I've had a larger screen since 2011 and the PRS-950. I converted to Kobo and the H2O when the battery got wonky and of course there were the added appeals of better resolution and a front light. All it means, unfortunately, is that Kobo serves as Amazon's guinea pig in terms of innovation.

If your goal is to be profitable selling hardware, than ceding the 6" market may make sense, but I'm guessing Kobo would like to sell ebooks, and not having a viable 6" reader seems like a mistake.

I think it is interesting that the speculation was that Kobo wasn't profitable (enough?) with their 6" readers, yet the new Nook, with more features, is the same price as Kobo's current "low cost" 6" reader.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by John F

If your goal is to be profitable selling hardware, than ceding the 6" market may make sense, but I'm guessing Kobo would like to sell ebooks, and not having a viable 6" reader seems like a mistake.

I think it is interesting that the speculation was that Kobo wasn't profitable (enough?) with their 6" readers, yet the new Nook, with more features, is the same price as Kobo's current "low cost" 6" reader.

That's fair! At the time the Glo HD was retired in favor of the Aura Two, it was the only explanation that made sense, but I've also looked at the Glowlight 3 as a game-changer for the 6" readers. Unfortunately, Kindle is big enough not to be bothered; it certainly wasn't punished for being such a late entrant into the waterproof and size markets, and it seems as if it's too late for Nook. It would be good to have at least one domestic competitor for the Kindle.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by tiltowait

I would be interested to see Kobo's sales figures for their various devices. To me, it feels like they're positioning themselves up-market and have been ever since the Aura HD. It does make a certain amount of sense—those willing to spend a lot on a reader are likely those willing to spend a lot on books. And I'm sure they enjoy a nice margin on their higher-end devices.

I, too, would like a 6" equivalent of the Aura One. It would be nice for backpacking.

There's no rule saying you can't have an up-market 6" e-reader. Amazon seemed to do okay with the Voyage and the original Oasis.

I don't avoid buying the H202 and ONE because they are too expensive. I don't buy them because I'm not interested in the larger screen.

[Apparition B5]

IMO, Kobo's main problem is that there are quite a few Amazon Kindle exclusive authors, at least in the U.S. Now for people that know how to convert and side-load, that's not an issue. But that's an extremely small group.

To make the Kobo eReader more attractive, they're going to have to give authors incentives to make their work available for sale on Kobo itself in addition to Amazon Kindle.

[Richwood]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

Whilst I have no problem with anyone who feels like you do, personally I have no interest whatsoever in either Amazon or Kobo storing my books for me. My central repository is calibre which IMO has far more features and flexibility than either of them.

Calibre Companion plus Dropbox/DropSync satisfies all my requirements for wireless transfer and auto-replication between Android devices.

I've never wanted to read books in the primitive MOBI format on any device when EPUB offers me better-looking books.

You don't need to be paranoid to dislike wi-fi on eink devices. It offers no benefits to me at all so it's permanently disabled on all of mine. I have no problem using USB cable to connect eink devices to calibre, although I believe some Kobo users successfully use its (rather basic) browser to wirelessly access books in their personal cloud storage.

Based on Amazon sales it looks to me like you are part of a small minority of e-reader users seeing as how Kindle has the majority of the e-reader market in every English language country I could find data on. If personal cloud storage is hosted by anyone then is it any more secure than Amazon or Kobo cloud storage? Based on the list of hacked personal data bases my guess is that it is not.

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by Richwood

Based on Amazon sales it looks to me like you are part of a small minority of e-reader users seeing as how Kindle has the majority of the e-reader market in every English language country I could find data on.

Quite possibly, but I just thought I'd express an alternative POV. I've never cared much about "doing what everyone else does" where technology is concerned. I like to make up my own mind.

The 'Gadarene Swine Fallacy' states something like "Just because the group is in formation doesn't necessarily mean it's heading in the right direction".

Originally Posted by Richwood

If personal cloud storage is hosted by anyone then is it any more secure than Amazon or Kobo cloud storage? Based on the list of hacked personal data bases my guess is that it is not.

I'm not sure that security is necessarily the main consideration, it's more a case of taking control of one's own books and the access to them, rather than relying on some corporate entity's dreadful software. I can only speak for myself but my personal cloud storage is merely a convenient means to an end. I don't rely on it as my sole backup.

[HLS]

Well KOBO not being in USA stores is an issue. If it was on sale in best buy I will definately buy one

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by kcladyz

Well KOBO not being in USA stores is an issue. If it was on sale in best buy I will definately buy one

You used to be able to go into a Best Buy and pick up a Nook, Kindle, Sony or Kobo. Even Target allowed you to choose Kindle, Nook and Sony.

Ah well ... "progress."