Yesterday leaked, today officially unveiled: talking about the Kobo Glo HD. The new eBook Reader of the Japanese-Canadian Reading specialists with the internal model number N437 and the code name Alyssum completes the portfolio and solves the first-ever illuminated model of the company. The Glo HD is thereby positioned as a direct competitor to the Kindle Voyage and brings similar specifications with.
As display technology is a now the higher standard belonging to E-Ink Carta panel is used. The most striking similarity with the Amazon competitor is also the most important distinction to Tolino Vision 2 or Kindle Paperwhite: The 6-inch screen with 1448 × 1072 pixels solves significantly higher, and make it so that a pixel density of 300 ppi. The Voyage is currently the only other eBook Reader has an equally sharp image performance, the Kobo Aura H2O is just 265 ppi behind it and the remaining 6 inches competitors usually provides 212 ppi.
On the implementation it is important
The high-resolution e-ink Carta display promises an excellent Readability
Not quite clear, however, is still whether infrared touch screen technology is used. The optical system according to, which seems to be quite the case, an explicit Missing pages Kobos, however.
The touch screen technology from old days, in 2010 Sony debut celebrated on eReader market, uses apart from Kobo (definitely Aura H2O and probably also in the Glo HD) otherwise no other Hesteller more. The infrared technology provides a significant advantage over the Kapazitivtechnik: There are no additional layer of plastic over the screen, which means that the display quality (slightly) better. One may therefore hope that the Kobo Glo HD has an equally bright display background with high contrast, such as the big brother Aura H2O.
A built-in lighting is of course back on board. It is important, however, that the implementation has turned out better than the Kindle from Amazon Voyage, which has struggled since its market launch with quality fluctuations, which seems to have not to date received in the grip of US shipping giant. The practical test will show whether Kobo has done his homework.
With the waterproof H2O, the new Glo HD shares, although the design, but not the water protection. Let’s hope that the vexed problem of fingerprint so that is also passé. As usual, Kobo, the new eBook Reader also has a minimalist look and design without buttons, with me a bit to remind the gentle curves of the housing edges almost to the Sony PRS-650.
On a flat housing front, as with Kindle or Voyage Tolino Vision 2, have to do without. Although the embedded display the Kobo device does not look quite as chic and modern, but is sensitive to scratches thanks to the sinking.
Kobo Glo HD in the new Sleep Cover
No memory card expansion
The internal memory of the 6-inch model is 4 GB and can not be expanded . After the Mini, it is the second Kobo model without memory card expansion. The reason for this decision is to be sought in the cost savings. A built-in WiFi connection yet must not renounce however. Is powered eReader by a 1GHz powerful processor
The loss of the memory card expansion now seems almost to become the standard. The Kindle devices have this already for a long time to miss and also the youngest Tolino Shoot omitted in the course of water protection on it. The only “mainstream” E Ink Carta eReader in 6-inch format with MicroSD memory card, the hapless PocketBook Ultra.
The dimensions of the available only in black Kobo Glo HD amount to 157 x 115 x 9.2 mm, whereby the eReader is slightly smaller than the predecessor or some other 6-inch model, but also a little thicker (Voyage: 7.6 mm). With a weight of 180 grams, the device fits well in the middle.
firmware update has Kobo Glo HD betrayed prematurely
As mentioned yesterday, the Glo HD was announced indirectly few weeks ago. In updating the firmware of the remaining Kobo eReader indicate a device named “Alyssum” was to find where the screen resolution was betrayed in advance.
Kobo Glo HD product image
As usual, using the new eBook Reader thus known Kobo software, which is also known by the other units of the company.
The start screen offers the usual flexible tile view, the typeface adjustment is particularly large (other manufacturers should here a thick slice cut) and library, dictionary and note function are also included with. As an existing Kobo customer, you will find so quickly master, but everyone else should, thanks to the intuitive and clear presentation, have no problems with the service.
High-end display at a competitive price
The Kobo Glo HD scores not only with the high-end hardware, but especially with the relatively low initial cost. The device is for a suggested retail price of 129 € come on the market and thus enters directly in the footsteps of the “HD-less” predecessor
The international prices are as follows.: $ 129.99 (CA / US), € 129.99 (EU) £ 109.99 (UK), $ 179.99 (AU), $ 219.99 (NZ).
Current e-Ink Carta models of the four largest manufacturers in the size comparison. From left to right: Kobo Glo HD, Kindle Voyage, Tolino Vision 2, PocketBook Ultra
In particular, compared to other current (E-Ink Carta) eBook readers, the price is to be understood as a challenge. The Glo HD costs 60 euros less than the Kindle Voyage, so the lack of music buttons on the Kobo device for most buyers are likely to be acceptable. But not only Amazon has to dress warmly, maybe do a price adjustment, the Tolino Alliance will probably have to act soon. The Vision 2 costs namely also 129 Euro, the water protection can not outweigh the advantage of (on paper) better displays of Glo HD.
It is possible, therefore, that the Kobo Glo HD a renewed downward spiral of promotes the development of prices. At least until the fall, because then the Tolino Alliance will probably come with a hardware technology similar device on the market.
An exact date for Germany start missing me yet. However, it is assumed that May or June. Once the tester arrives with me, of course, also follows the usual extensive practice report. This will show whether the new eBook Reader will live up to expectations and can enter into the quite large footsteps of the hugely popular Aura H2O.
Kobo Glo HD specification
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