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#121 |
Groupie
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Karma: 3551508
Join Date: May 2017
Device: KA1, Clara, Aura HD
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I see the Sage as a conceit by Kobo that they are at the limit of e-reader technology, in terms of their ability to move the core competencies of an e-reader forward. It seems as though they're shifting strategies towards competing with tablets by making more versatile devices (stylus, audiobooks).
I'm wondering whether companies like Onyx and Boyue have taken a bigger bite out of the e-ink market than I would have guessed because the Sage seems like an answer to that segment of their competition. I find it disappointing that this is the direction the market is moving, but unfortunately it seems like the screen tech is the bottleneck on innovation. It doesn't seem as though we're going to see the big leap like we did from Pearl to Carta and screen size is no longer an obvious move forward. |
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#122 | |
Diligent dilettante
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Karma: 52758936
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: in my mind
Device: Kobo Sage; Kobo Libra Colour
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I don't know if it's a "concession", but if the core competency of an e-reader is to deliver sharp, clear readable text, then both major players pretty much have that covered. There hasn't been any major breakthrough in paperclip design for quite a while, since the existing forms work well. The two features you single out as being intended to compete with tablets are both still very closely connected with reading - many, MANY users of ereaders enjoy taking notes as they read, and probably even more like audiobooks, so adding both of those makes economic sense. Especially since the major competitor has offered audiobook support for a long time - did you describe THAT as a "concession" by Amazon that "they are at the limit of e-reader technology"? |
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#123 | ||
Groupie
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Karma: 3551508
Join Date: May 2017
Device: KA1, Clara, Aura HD
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#124 | |
Diligent dilettante
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Karma: 52758936
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: in my mind
Device: Kobo Sage; Kobo Libra Colour
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But the fact is, there are MANY people who do not agree. Many MORE people do want the feature than don't it seems, and since Amazon and Rakuten Kobo both want as many customers as they can get, incorporating a feature that is highly popular and sought after makes commercial sense. |
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#125 | ||
Grand Sorcerer
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Karma: 70880793
Join Date: Feb 2009
Device: Kobo Clara 2E
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For example, https://www.tonerbuzz.com/blog/paper...ks-statistics/ From other searches, audiobook revenue is more then ebook revenue, but since audiobook prices are nearly double that of ebooks, it appears as though many more ebooks are sold then audiobooks. |
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#126 |
Weirdo
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Karma: 11003000
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Wuppertal, Germany
Device: Kobo Sage, Kobo Libra 2, Boox Note Air 2+
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If you ask people if they prefer paper or ebooks, many will tell you they prefer paper. The same people might still buy a Kindle with ebooks instead because of price, portability or storage reasons. Don't believe any statistic that you didn't fake yourself.
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#127 | |
Diligent dilettante
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Karma: 52758936
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: in my mind
Device: Kobo Sage; Kobo Libra Colour
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Quote:
Those of us who don't want audiobooks functionality don't have to use it even if is available. Those who do want it can't if it's not there. And many non-audiobook users have been very vocal here about wanting more storage, so even though that feature is likely targetting audiobook users primarily, it benefits others too. So adding the option does no harm to those who don't want it, while increasing the appeal of the device for those who do |
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#128 | ||
Grand Sorcerer
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Karma: 70880793
Join Date: Feb 2009
Device: Kobo Clara 2E
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I was quoting you because you said: Quote:
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#129 |
Brash Fumbler
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Karma: 9224939
Join Date: May 2013
Device: NST, Kobo Mini
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#130 | |
Diligent dilettante
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Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: in my mind
Device: Kobo Sage; Kobo Libra Colour
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How do sales figures contradict my statement? I said "it seems", a clear indication that it was my impression, not a statement of empirical fact. And as Kobo has not released an audiobook capable device in at least the last 3 years, there are no sales data to contradict my impression either, any more than there are data to support it. The fact that Kobo hasn't sold any audiobook capable devices likely has much more to do with the fact that they didn't make any than that such devices weren't popular. |
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#131 | |
Grand Sorcerer
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Karma: 70880793
Join Date: Feb 2009
Device: Kobo Clara 2E
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The link I provided was for audiobook sales, not audiobook device sales; I'm not sure why you bring device sales into this? You said "many people", not "many MR people" or "many current ereader owners". Since you apparently referred to people in general, the sales figure, along with price of audiobooks vs ebooks, is a much stronger indication then your impression? As anecdotal evidence, look at the forum for audiobooks on MR? How many posts in that section vs how many posts in other sections? It is hard to argue with many, but many more seems like a poor impression.* Many people have asked for audiobook support on MR. It seems to me that many more people have not asked for audiobook support on MR. Many people say that it is better to use your phone for audiobooks. Kobo has been selling audiobooks for many years. *Of course, everyone is entitled to their impression. ![]() |
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#132 |
Still reading
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Karma: 105211945
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Ireland
Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper
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Most people read ebooks on phones or tablets, all of which can also run Audible (about 80%?) and other audio books.
A few people with eink ereaders don't have smartphones or tablets. But the people I know like that don't use audiobooks either. A smartphone is the the most convenient audio and audiobook player. Pocket mps/media players are now more niche than eink. It doesn't hurt to include audio on eink if there isn't much extra cost. But it does cost more unless you make it Bluetooth only via a WiFi chip that has BT included. |
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#133 |
Wizard
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Device: Kobo Forma, Kobo Sage, Kobo Libra 2
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I’m pretty sure Kobo has all the sales figures they need and then some, they probably also have more user feedback than MR can offer up. When the Elipsa was only an FCC filing and we learned Bluetooth was added along with it being 32GB I thought it was a sure sign that audiobook support was being added given Kobos advertising of audiobooks.
That we’re seeing an audiobook capable ereader from them isn’t surprising, nor am I deterred by its addition since it won’t affect my usage of the Sage. As John F said this is a business move, Kobo sells audiobooks, Kobo sells devices, makes sense they’d want to add support for audiobooks to those devices. |
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#134 |
Resident Curmudgeon
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Karma: 146391129
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
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#135 | |
Resident Curmudgeon
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Karma: 146391129
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
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