Extra extra, read all about it. Well now you can in glorious high definition as Kobo sets the benchmark with the first high definition ebook device.
Thanks to the overwhelming success of Amazon’s Kindle, Kobo have also jumped on the e-reader train and have unveiled their latest addition to Joe reading public.
Kobo Aura HD
The Rakuten owned Aura boasts a near seven inch screen (6.8in to be precise) with a screen resolution of an impressive 265 pixels per inch. At present this actually ranks the Aura above the latest offering from Amazon which is the Kindle Paperwhite that only comes in at a meagre 6in for the screen and less than 215 pixels per inch (ppi)
Strategically, in 2011, Kobo inked a significant tie-in deal with the major UK retailer WHSmith.
Ebook sales are continuing to grow across the world as consumers embrace ink technology in contrast to the feel of an actual book. Kobo have grown at a rapid rate over the last few years with a variety of similar agreements across a host of different territories.
Kobo’s chief executive said that this and similar deals with other bricks-and-mortar chains in other countries had helped his company enjoy rapid growth.
So what are the other benefits to the Aura HD? Kobo have proclaimed that their exclusive Freescale processor is considered to be the quickest when it comes to turning the page.
You will be able to get your hands on the Aura in both the UK and North America as early as this month while other countries will just have to hold on tight until May.
And what will it set you back I hear you ask? Read it and weep dear friends as this machine is priced at £140.00. This makes it slightly pricier compared to its reading competitors such as the Kindle Paperwhite which is approximately £30 cheaper.
Key competitors
Nook Simple Touch
Another relative in this sphere is the Nook Simple Touch by Barnes & Noble which is similarly priced to the Paperwhite. The Nook Simple Touch features a responsive touch screen interface with a GlowLight for reading with the lights off, and is an easy to hold lightweight design. Unlike the Kindle it also has a micro SD slot which can add an additional 32gb of space for you to add a complete library. It is of course backed by major bookseller Barnes & Noble, but some report that the page turning is slow and stiff.
Kindle
Although Amazon is still top dog in the e-reader market, it is believed that sales of Kobo’s e-readers have tripled over the last few years. The US company firmly believe they have seen growth in their products thanks to the new Aura HD which now provides a like for like perfect reading experience which is similar to normal print.
It is believed Amazon still claims a large piece of the pie when it comes to UK sales accounting for more than 75% of the sector. The manufacturers make little if any profit on hardware sales but profit from sales of ebooks and other media.
Here is where Kindle looks to have the edge. As a matter of fact, people have been quoting anything from 80 to 90% of the country’s ebook sales being accounted for by Amazon – with that figure split between e-readers, the Kindle tablets and its app for phones.”
As for heft, the Aura HD weighs in at 8.47 ounces whilst the Kindle Paperwhite comes in at a feather light 7.5 ounces. Both though offer incredible battery life lasting up to eight weeks off a single charge.
In the last twelve months e-book sales in the UK alone have risen to unimaginable heights. A 100% increase over this particular period has seen sales rocket to around £150m.
Again the variety of ereaders is responsible for the bulk of the figures, but Kobo has seen expansion in developing countries such as Brazil and India which they see as lucrative markets in the long term.
