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Kobo Aura H2O
Do you wish you could read a book while your youngsters splash around in the pool?
Want to take your eReader to the beach, but are afraid of getting it full of sand or wet?
Would you like to read while soaking in the tub?
If you answered Yes to any of the above, Kobo has an eReader for you!
The new Kobo Aura H2O is the first premium eReader to have a waterproof and dust proof design. Be aware that waterproof does not mean that you can take it down with you when you scuba dive. Waterproof means (a) not more than thirty minutes and (b) not deeper than 1 meter (approximately 3 feet). If you go deeper, the water pressure will force water into the unit. Also, the port cover has to be closed to prevent water or dust or sand from getting into the unit.
The Aura H2O has a 6.8 inch touch screen utilizing E Ink technology. This technology reduces glare and makes the screen appear to be an actual book, thus enabling you to read in the bright sunlight. The ComfortLight will allow you to continue to read at night or while soaking in a tub with candlelight.
Kobo claims that the battery charge will last two months if you read 30 minutes a day with WiFi turned off.
The unit has 4 GB of internal memory and can be expanded with up to a 32 GM micro SD card.
Sony Kills E-Reader
Sony has announced that May’s production run of its e-reader was the last. The e-reader will be available while supplies exist. Whether you can actually find on depends on your country of residence. For example, you might find one in the UK, it is out-of-stock in Canada.
This announcement comes on the heals of Sony’s decision to sell its e-book business (outside of Japan) to Kobo.
Sony’s decision was probably based on the fact that its e-reader was never as popular as those by Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Kobo.
Publishers Weekly estimates that Amazon’s Kindle has fifty percent of the e-reader market.
Can Barnes & Noble, which no longer self-produces the Nook, and Kobo remain as viable competitors?
Save on Catching Fire
From now until December 1, 2013 you can save BIG on the Kobo eBook version of Catching Fire (Hunger Games #2).
Read the book that is the basis for the new, highly anticipated movie opening on November 22nd.
Save $$$ off Catching Fire (code: catchingfire75)
Get it now!
Comparing Latest Kobo eReaders
The International Business Times has published an informative article by Marisa Krystian comparing the latest eReaders from Kobo: Glo ($129.99), Aura ($149.99), and Aura HD ($169.99).
Each device allows you to read in the dark via its built-in ComfortLight technology. These devices are black-and-white eReaders, not tablets, so do not plan on any video streaming.
Since these eReaders do not have any buttons, you must press exactly in the center of the screen to return to the home screen. If you are slightly off-center, or have fat fingers, you may unintentionally turn the page.
Although she states that the Aura HD is the closest that you can get to viewing an actual printed book, due to the increased resolution, she prefers the plain Aura.
eBook Subscription Services
Peter Smith on IT World has written an article on three new subscription services for eBooks.
Scribd and Oyster charge a $9 or $10 per month for unlimited access to the books in their respective libraries. Unlimited access means that you can read as many books as you want. The caveat with these services is that you are not actually purchasing the books. If you cancel your subscription – the books are gone.
eReatah charges from $15 – $30 per month depending on the number of books that you wish to purchase: 2, 3, or 4. The key word is purchase – if you cancel your subscription – you still have your previously purchased eBooks.
Deciding factors when deciding between these services:
- The device used to read books. All services do not support all devices.
- How many books do you read per month?
- How many books do you buy per month?
- Do you only read books once, or do you like to read your favorites multiple times.
- Which publishers are included with the respective service? Although each service may have thousands of books, they may not all have the same books.
Mr. Smith’s full article is located here.