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Kobo To Release Android Tablet E-Reader

Posted by timothy on from the cute-name-at-least dept.

First time accepted submitter Alt-kun writes "Like Amazon last month, Kobo is now making the jump to an Android-based tablet e-reader. Priced at $200 and available on October 28th, the Kobo Vox is set to complete with the Kindle Fire rather than the iPad. While Kobo can't match up with Amazon's sheer mass of available content, it is partnered with various major book sellers and has a good-sized base of existing customers. Also, previous Kobo products have made a point of supporting open standards for media, and that will presumably continue with the Vox. For those who aren't familiar with Kobo: they have little presence in the US, but their e-readers are fairly popular in Canada, Australia, and a number of other countries."

9 of 80 comments (clear)

  1. complete nonsense by mpweasel · · Score: 3, Funny

    When completitors complete, conslumers win!

  2. Not a great endorsement by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 2

    While Kobo can't match up with Amazon's sheer mass of available content, it is partnered with various major book sellers and has a good-sized base of existing customers.

    Unless their goal is simply to sell Android-based readers to their existing customers, this doesn't seem like a recipe for success. Why would anyone pick this over the Kindle Fire?

    Also, previous Kobo products have made a point of supporting open standards for media, and that will presumably continue with the Vox.

    I can see why that would attract the Slashdot crowd (seriously). But, again, that's not something that'll bring in a bunch of new customers - it doesn't matter in the least to the vast majority of people.

    --
    #DeleteChrome
    1. Re:Not a great endorsement by Dixie_Flatline · · Score: 2

      Kobo's books are sold in ePub format, which means you can put them on a lot of different devices without having to convert them. Moreover, in Canada, there are licensing problems that Kobo doesn't seem to have.

      Lastly, Kobo's books tend to be cheaper for the same thing. I've bought books from Kobo that cost me $1 or $2 that would have cost me $5-10 if I had a Kindle.

      Kobo's a better book store; Amazon-Kindle is arguably a better contained system.

      But both the Fire and the Vox are stupid devices. I bought an eReader for the eInk display. If I want to burn my eyes reading content, I'll do it on my iPhone or desktop computer. :/

  3. Specs by Xgamer4 · · Score: 4, Informative

    The article was all-around useless for the stuff that actually mattered. So here's a link to the specs page for the device on their official website:
    http://www.kobobooks.com/kobovox_tech

    Most important:
    Device Size 192.4 mm X 128.4 mm (7.57 in. 5.06 in.)
    Device Depth 13.4 mm (0.53 in.)
    Weight 402.6 g (14.2 oz.)
    Diagonal Display Size 7" FFS+ multimedia display; 1024 x 600 resolution
    Screen Qualities Multi-touch screen with exceptional +/- 89 viewing angle
    Processor 800 Mhz; 512 RAM
    Operating System Full open access to Android 2.3
    Storage 8GB of internal storage, holds 8,000 books** and unlimited Kobo eBook cloud storage
    Memory Expansion Option to add a 32 GB SD Memory Card
    Battery Life 7 hours***

    1. Re:Specs by Tubal-Cain · · Score: 2

      The article was all-around useless for the stuff that actually mattered. So here's a link to the specs page for the device on their official website:

      http://www.kobobooks.com/kobovox_tech

      Most important:

      It's a matter of perspective. For example, you list the features you consider the "most important", but to me they're mostly fluff. Only two of the specs you listed (OS and battery) mattered to me.

      Also important to me:
      Wireless Connectivity--Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Micro USB*
      Supported File Formats--Books: ePUB, including fixed layout and enhanced ePUB. Images: JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP Audio: MP3, AAC, .3gp, mp4, m4a, flac, ogg, wav, mid. Video Formats: 3gp, mp4, webm
      Web Browsing--Open Web browsing
      Utilities--Email (POP, IMAP, Microsoft® ActiveSync support), Address Book and Calendar

  4. Defeats the Purpose by NoobixCube · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The Kindle Fire and the Kobo Vox, while being far more versatile than previous models, completely miss the point of an ebook reader. If I wanted to read books on an LCD screen constantly stabbing my eyes with a bright backlight, I'd read on my Android tablet, or my laptop. The reason I bought one of the first gen Kobo ereaders is because of the e-ink screen.

    --
    Admit it. You post strawman arguments as AC so you get modded Insightful for refuting them, rather than Troll
  5. Meh by grantpalin · · Score: 3

    As an owner of the 2nd-gen Kobo (WiFi+USB), I'm not feeling at all interested in this new device. I love the e-ink display on my reader, and the fact it can go weeks without a charge. I don't need a bigger and heavier device to do the same thing.

  6. Browsing without tracking by bartyboy · · Score: 2

    From what I've read, the browser doesn't display pages pre-rendered by Indigo/Chapters. It will be slower to show pages than the Kindle Fire, but this is a HUGE plus to anyone who doesn't wish to be tracked by the people who sold them the tablet. Given that both units are $200, the choice just got a lot easier to make.

  7. Custom Service by moggie_xev · · Score: 2

    Kobo have excellent customer service. I bought one for my son when I was in the states last year.
    My son broke the screen, I told Kobo that it was broken because of misuse and they still replaced it. Paying for both parts of the international shipping. If they where selling them to the UK or I was popping over soon I would buy a Vox.
    Kobo make good open standards systems. Maybe a little fragile and cheap feeling but they are cheap and have great customer service.