Kobo has revamped its ereader line-up with the introduction of four new models.
The new range includes the Google-certified Kobo Arc 10HD and two Kobo Arc 7 tablets, which come pre-loaded with Kobo’s reading and ebook store app, and a new Kobo Aura 6” E Ink eReader.
The original “limited edition” 6.8” Kobo Aura was launched at the London Book Fare in April.
The Kobo Arc 10HD, Kobo Arc 7HD and Kobo Arc 7 tablets run Google’s Android operating system and include access to the Google Play Store which offers an array of games and additional content and apps.
For book lovers who prefer a dedicated reading experience, Kobo has created the Kobo Aura 6” E Ink eReader, which includes am edge-to-edge, high-resolution display and can last more than two months on a single charge.
The firm has also partnered with Pocket to enable readers to send articles and webpages to read on their E Ink devices.
Kobo’s bookstore offers readers 4-million titles, including magazines and a magazines.
“Kobo remains focused on reading; a time-honoured passion that keeps people informed, lets them escape, learn about new cultures, see things from a new perspective, travel back in time, and imagine new worlds,” said Michael Serbinis, CEO, Kobo.
“With magazines joining our eBookstore, a new kids experience, and the best eReading devices possible, we will help readers find more of what they love – taking them beyond the book.”
Specs, prices and availability
Kobo Aura
Available in black and pink, the Kobo Aura features a high-resolution, edge-to-edge display and the most even front-lit ComfortLight technology, wrapped in a contemporary aesthetic to keep people passionate about reading books – day or night.
Kobo claims the device’s design delivers the closest experience to print-on-paper with a 212 dpi and Pearl E Ink screen.
With pinch-and-zoom capabilities for FLePubs/PDFs, Kobo Aura creates a great print-on-paper reading experience with a low-flash waveform screen to virtually eliminate page refresh and ghosting. Readers will never be at a loss for compelling reads with access to 4-million titles, curated Collections from Kobo, and the new Pocket partnership.
With 4GB of storage (up to 3,000 books), expandable up to 32GB with a microSD card, Kobo Aura has a battery life of up to two months, making it perfect for passionate readers.
The Kobo Aura retails for £119.99 MSRP and is available in North America, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand for pre-order at www.kobo.com.
Kobo Arc 10HD
Kobo Arc 10HD celebrates reading with Kobo’s Reading Life platform, a compelling reading dashboard that is part of the user interface, with full access to the content people love to consume including books, magazines, news, and social media. With an NVIDIA® Tegra® 4 1.8GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM, the Kobo Arc 10HD tablet is the best 10-inch HD Google-certified multimedia tablet on the market today for readers.
The Kobo Arc 10HD tablet boasts a stunning 2560×1600 high-definition display with up to 1080p video playback, making it the perfect companion to enjoy the rich content from Kobo’s bookstore like magazines, as well as the 1-million+ games and apps from the Google Play Store.
The Kobo Arc 10HD tablet also includes a front-facing 1.3 MP HD camera, dual stereo speakers, WiFi 802.11, Bluetooth 4.0, and Miracast connectivity support for Wi Fi media streaming. With Reading Mode, the battery life is extended from 9.5 hours to more than 10 days.
Available in black, the Kobo Arc 10HD retails for £299.99 MSRP.
Kobo Arc 7” Tablets
The Kobo Arc 7HD tablet leverages the beautifully designed Reading Life platform that makes collecting, curating, and discovering content easier for readers.
The Kobo Arc 7HD tablet is powered by the NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 1.7GHz quad-core processor and 1920×1200 display with up to 1080p video playback delivering a crisp, seamless viewing experience.
The HD tablet has a 1GB of RAM, a front-facing 1.3 MP HD camera, and a battery that lasts up to 8 hours so readers are never at a loss for words.
Available in black, the Kobo Arc 7HD retails for £159.99 MSRP with 16GB and £189.99 MSRP with 32GB.
For those readers new to tablets, Kobo is offering the Kobo Arc 7, perfect for first-time users and families. With a 1024X600 display, MTK 8125 1.2GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM, the Kobo Arc 7 offers readers a compact, multimedia tablet for reading and entertainment on the go.
The Kobo Arc 7 retails for £119.99 MSRP with 8GB.