New Kobo: Nia

[tourneur]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

Although in these COVID-19 days it might be a bit more than a couple of weeks.

It might actually be a good time to release a new ereader though. Here in the Netherlands the Kobo Plus subscriptions had increased by 128% at the end of March.

[hobnail]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Depending on the size of the comic book file,. 14GB would give you room for quite a few 100MB comic files.

Additionally, a color display would be for a premium device, so skimping on memory wouldn't be consistent with that.

[rcentros]

From the German website Alles eBook... (using Google translate)...

Kobo Nia: Tolino Page 2 reissued?

When the Tolino Page 2 was launched a few months ago, I was amazed that there is no Kobo counterpart to the device. After all, the Canadian-Japanese technology partner of the Tolino Alliance is responsible for the hardware of the current Tolino models.

It looks like this will soon change. Goodereader's colleagues have tracked down a data sheet from the American telecommunications authority FCC, in which the name Kobo Nia appears.

The exact technical details are still unknown, but a few notes can be read from the documentation: 1,000 mAh battery, micro USB connection, WiFi and 16 GB storage space.

Entry level model completes the Kobo portfolio

Although this is hardly meaningful data, the battery capacity is a clear indication that it is an entry-level device. The Tolino also happens to have a battery of this size.

And even if the official specifications of the Tolino Page 2 indicate a storage space size of 8 GB, a look under the back cover also shows a 16 GB Sandisk MicroSD memory card, at least for my device. Accordingly, this also fits the information provided by the Kobo Nia.

That would also explain why the new Tolino Page did not appear in the old Tolino design despite the lack of a Kobo counterpart.

The Kobo Nia will probably be a replacement for the Kobo Aura. The exact market launch is not known, but a 180-day confidentiality agreement was signed in the FCC documentation, which is valid from February 10, 2020. Accordingly, the device should appear at the end of July at the latest - but probably a little earlier.

In Germany, however, this is not very relevant, since the device - if the assumption is correct - is already available in the form of the Tolino and Kobo has withdrawn from the German market.

https://allesebook.de/news/kobo-nia-...gelegt-981339/

(Emphasis mine.)

The interesting bit is that the Tolino Page 2 also has a 16 GB sandisk microSD, even though it's only using 8GB of it.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by rcentros

The interesting bit is that the Tolino Page 2 also has a 16 GB sandisk microSD, even though it's only using 8GB of it.

Takes me back to the days when Kobo was using 4GB uSD cards as replacements for 2GB uSD cards but configured the same partitions as the 2GB cards. A bit of quick work with a partition manager and you could increase your available storage for free.

[tourneur]

Would be a bummer if it's a rebranded Tolino Page 2. That's basically a Clara but with a 212ppi screen and no Comfortlight Pro (just a regular frontlight).

If Kobo wants a lower priced device in their line-up they'd serve the users better by releasing a Clara 2 and dropping the price of the original Clara.

[John F]

...Entry level model completes the Kobo portfolio

Although this is hardly meaningful data, the battery capacity is a clear indication that it is an entry-level device. The Tolino also happens to have a battery of this size....

I'm not sure why it is a clear indication, maybe they are cutting down the battery capacity to reduce weight. For example, I believe my Glo HD is 1500mah, and the Forma is 1200mah.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by tourneur

If Kobo wants a lower priced device in their line-up they'd serve the users better by releasing a Clara 2 and dropping the price of the original Clara.

That's not necessarily doable.
A lot of consumer electronics (TVs, Disk players, and most ereader brands) are produced in batches. One run. When the lot is done, the assembly line is dismantled and reconfigured. Any future order requires a new batch, at which point it makes more sense to build a different model, especially if the target price is different.

So Kobo many not be able to order more new Claras even if they wanted to.
When they're gone, they're gone. Any price drop woukd be inventory clearance pssibly at a loss.

It applies to the screens as much as the full product.
Remember, Kobo merely hires Netronix to design and build the things.

The batch nature of ereaders explains why the NOOK STR hung around for ages and why the Kindle DX pops up new from time to time on Amazon; boxes get lost in the warehouses and reappearing long after the product is officially discontinued. Unlike print books, unsold readers don't get returned.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by tourneur

Would be a bummer if it's a rebranded Tolino Page 2. That's basically a Clara but with a 212ppi screen and no Comfortlight Pro (just a regular frontlight).

Personally, it's kind of bugged me that the Kobo line was "incomplete." But you're right, the Page 2 (and possibly the Nia) is/would be basically a Clara (very slightly larger and thicker with a lesser screen (212ppi) and no warm light). But definitely a step up from the Aura 2 — smaller size, more RAM and 512M operating memory instead of 256M.

Originally Posted by tourneur

If Kobo wants a lower priced device in their line-up they'd serve the users better by releasing a Clara 2 and dropping the price of the original Clara.

I thought maybe, when Kobo didn't release a new "Aura 2," that they were thinking of doing that. But I'm guessing that Walmart will be able to sell the Nia (if it is a Page 2 clone) for $59 or $69 on sale. I doubt that we would be able to do that with the current Clara. I'm now guessing that the release of the Nia was delayed until they sold off most of the Aura 2s that were still around.

If the Nia is a rebranded Page 2, the basic hardware may already be in production, so they may be out by Mother's Day.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by tourneur

It might actually be a good time to release a new ereader though. Here in the Netherlands the Kobo Plus subscriptions had increased by 128% at the end of March.

I read this and thought "Kobo Plus subscriptions"? What's that all about? This screenshot of my Kobo account explains my confusion

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by rcentros

If the Nia is a rebranded Page 2, the basic hardware may already be in production, so they may be out by Mother's Day.

The more recently invented USA one, or UK & Ireland Mother's Day next year? We already had it in 2020.
When is International Greeting Card day this year?

[rantanplan]

Originally Posted by Quoth

The more recently invented USA one, or UK & Ireland Mother's Day next year? We already had it in 2020.
When is International Greeting Card day this year?

Mother's day was established in 1907 in the USA and was only 1912 established in the UK.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by rantanplan

Mother's day was established in 1907 in the USA and was only 1912 established in the UK.

No, Mother's day in UK and Ireland is at least from the 17th C.
Also Ancient cultures have celebrated it.
The 1912 date is the USA establishment of an International Mother's Day association, a USA society that seems to have ignored pre-existing Mother's Day celebrations in France, Greece, UK, Ireland etc.
Wikipedia has some nonsense about US Service men bringing it to UK. My Grandmother was born in 1900. It's in various UK books from 18th, 19th and 1920s. It's STILL the 19th or earlier date in UK and Ireland. France has a different origin and date from the 19th C.
Hence different dates in different countries.

[ps67]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

I read this and thought "Kobo Plus subscriptions"? What's that all about? This screenshot of my Kobo account explains my confusion

It is a service similar to Kindle Unlimited but it is only available in Belgium and the Netherlands.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by ps67

It is a service similar to Kindle Unlimited but it is only available in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Yep, when I googled it, my reaction was "Belgium!"

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by Quoth

No, Mother's day in UK and Ireland is at least from the 17th C.
Also Ancient cultures have celebrated it.
The 1912 date is the USA establishment of an International Mother's Day association, a USA society that seems to have ignored pre-existing Mother's Day celebrations in France, Greece, UK, Ireland etc.
Wikipedia has some nonsense about US Service men bringing it to UK. My Grandmother was born in 1900. It's in various UK books from 18th, 19th and 1920s. It's STILL the 19th or earlier date in UK and Ireland. France has a different origin and date from the 19th C.
Hence different dates in different countries.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothering_Sunday
vs
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_Day