What do you receive when you require 10,000
bookworms to help build a better Kobo? Naturally, you will choose Cadillac
e-book reader: a bigger, heavier and generally more advanced device than we
used to know. Aura HD is a rare property in this section, built especially to
aim knowledgeable users. It is launched about half of year after senior Glo of
company, Aura HD is not supposed to be on display after the end of year. It is
thing that is designed for the most eager readers and lovers of books.
That is a weird action for a quite small
company providing two 6-inch readers, one 5-inch model, and 7-inch tablets at
the moment. The company believes that such products will have small market,
especially in the race reigned by two big competitors. But are there any
opportunities for fans to spend more money? Let’s see!
Aura
HD is a rare property in this section, built especially to aim knowledgeable
users.
Hardware
As Serbinis said, “there are many things
you can do with some technical parts”. E-reader market is created by lots of
companies who use similar parts: chips are designed by selective manufacturers,
and screens are produced by E Ink, the name has come with these shape
dimensions more or less. While Serbinis believes that the battle will take
place in software field, Kobo is still keep up with 6-inch standard of this
industry. At the end of last year, they supplied 5-inch pocket-sized Mini, and
now they are following another way.
While
Serbinis believes that the battle will take place in software field, Kobo is
still keep up with 6-inch standard of this industry.
However, a bigger screen means that the
book readers are shorter and bigger with size of 6.97x5.05x0.46 inches, bigger
than 6.2x4.5x0.4-inch frame of Glo and 6.7x4.6x0.36 inches of Kindle Paperwhite.
Actually, those who have time to use current reader version will recognize the
difference immediately. Aura is heavier than its competitor, with 8.4 ounce – 2
ounce more than Glo and 0.7 ounce more than Paperwhite.
Now, forgetting this increasing of size,
Aura HD is similar on aesthetics, compared to the predecessors and to the
latest Kindle. This industry may seem fall into a designing path when providing
the readers which have simple surface, no physical page-turning button, and
outstanding logos. Serbinis shows off benefits of device in which “technology
disappears”, and of course the great quality of this newest reader version can
do that. In fact, our device is an ivory model (contrary to espresso and onyx
options), probably assists that point of view. We always like design of Simple
Touch line of Barnes & Noble; these devices are clearly designed with
handwork.
Now,
forgetting this increasing of size, Aura HD is similar on aesthetics, compared
to the predecessors and to the latest Kindle.
However, there is approval of this
viewpoint here, in backside of device. It is not convex backside of Nook, but
Aura HD sacrifices typical gasket model of predecessors to asymmetric fold
model that makes backside easy to hold by disposing fingers in the trench. We
never think that we will remember the old model, but we wish company would find
the way to make surface less slippery, even by plastic patterns or kind of soft
backside on Kindle and Nook. This device is really slippery. If you always
sweat when reading long books, be sure that you are reading in places where
many carpets have.
On the top the device, you can see a
specialized button for preinstalled front light. It borrows light technology of
Glo – the best ComfortLight technology in the group really makes us surprised
when it was launched in the first time, there is equal distribution all over
the screen that in some cases Barnes & Noble and Amazon can only dream. It
is interesting that the light flickers a little bit at first but once lighting,
it is hard to defeat.
Next to button is bright red power switch
adding some colors for a monochrome design. On the bottom, you will find one
paperclip slot to restart device and one port for company’s set of charger (it
really doesn’t like standard micro-USB wire that we tested – however, Kobo
packed a pretty nice one here). It also has micro-SD slot so you can add more
32GB for quite big and available 4GB storage of this device (twice more than
Glo). After all, this device is for knowledgeable users.
How about screen? It is the center of all
device with 6.8-inch dimension, about 1 inch bigger than the 6-inch industry
standard. That additional space gives you approximately 30 percent more words
per page. Moreover, resolution of this reader makes many tablets be shame, at
1,440x1,080. That brings 265ppi, a big step from 212ppi of Paperwhite promises
“20 percent clearer than other HD readers in the market”.
How
about screen? It is the center of all devices with 6.8-inch dimension, about 1
inch bigger than the 6-inch industry standard.
The result is a really sharp reader. It is
almost as equal as what you expect from current generation of devices. With 10
font sizes, 24 styles, and 1 slipping scale of text weight, you can personalize
everything you want. We have recognized a bit strange with the text. That is
quite standard on current generation of E Ink screen, but there are nothing
causing distraction here – like the leakage which you usually see on printed
pages.
Of course, the natural question is if
265ppi is excessive for a black and white reader. The answer absolutely is
‘yes’ – at least for most of us. After all, those who own normal readers are
not sure to spend much time watching illustrations on books and PDF. If you are
finding something to read comics or children books, there are some tablets we
want to introduce. Of course, we are not those who deny adding a bit
resolution. Anyway, while e-link readers have supplied another wonderful choice
for eyestrain caused by looking LCD screen too long, a little sharpness is
useful, and just only that truly is enough to draw bookworms’ eyes on this
device.
Of
course, the natural question is if 265ppi is excessive for a black and white
reader.
Reading is pretty fast, that bases on no
small part of Freescale i.MX507 1GHz processor (speed similar to Glo’s).
Everything can spend 10 second loading, but the important thing to note is that
it is not quad-code smartphone processor, as well as it doesn’t show the delay
that will cause anyone throw it away because of aggravation. For battery,
Kobo’s life is estimated over 1 month without light and Wifi. If the light is
on, company estimates it about 70 hours. Either way, you will have lots of time
for reading on a single charge.
In fact, there are not many hardware
breakthroughs here; Kobo has deviated from the direction to combine some
top-of-the-line accessories. Between screen, processor, additional storage and
front light technology, there certainly are many things to explain.
