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Refresh Roundup: week of March 18th, 2013
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
Kobo touts 'millions' of sales in 2012
Kobo's starting its post-CES 2013 (the year doesn't really start until after the Consumer Electronic Show, right?) with a little bit of sales-inspired back patting. Apparently the company managed to bring 4 million folks on-board to its e-reading ways over the past six months, bumping up its registered user number to 12 million. Kobo's also calling last month its largest yet, thanks in no small part to the release of a number of new devices, including the Mini, Glo and Arc. All of offer up a reminder that, while the company doesn't have much of a foothold here in the States, it's pushing for a much larger presence in places like its home country of Canada and Japan, where its owner Rakuten is a retail powerhouse.
Kobo Arc review: another 7-inch Android tablet steps into the ring
More Info Kobo Arc tablet hands-on Kobo Vox review Kobo Glo review: another illuminated e-reader lights up the market Perhaps there's something to be said for setting the bar low -- at the very least, it leaves you with ample room to shine in the next round. That's where Kobo, the Canadian-turned-Japanese company, was when the Arc ($200 and up) landed on our desk, and we'll tell you right now that the 7-inch tablet mops the floor with its predecessor. In the time since that device was released, however, the rest of the budget tablet market has stepped up its game, with Google's Nexus 7, Amazon's Kindle Fire HD and Barnes & Noble's Nook HD running neck and neck. Has Kobo sufficiently cleared the bar this time out? You're gonna have to click on through for the answer to that one.
Kobo Mini gets a big price drop for a limited time
Looking for something, um, stocking-sized later this week? Kobo's announced a temporary but significant price-drop on its diminutive 5-inch Mini e-reader. From December 21st to the 23rd, the pocket-sized device will have a budget-friendly price of $50 -- that's down from the original $80. You can pick one up for the literati on your list at Best Buy and select independent bookstores. An appropriately mini press release, meanwhile, can be read after the break.
Kobo Arc available today in Canada and UK, coming to France on Monday
Kobo's Arc tablet is hitting stores for the first time in Canada and the UK today, leaving eager punters in the US of A wondering if they've been forgotten. In America's hat, the 7-inch competitor to the Kindle Fire HD and Nexus 7 is showing price tags of 200, 250 and 300 Canadian dollars for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions, respectively. A WHSmith exclusive in the UK, £160 and £190 is what you'll need for the lesser two options, and we can't see a 64GB listing online just yet. French store Fnac will keep customers waiting til Monday, when they'll be able to swap €200 for an Arc avec 16 gigs -- its listings show no other sizes right now, barring a non-existent 8GB variant. Kobo hid a surprise for us in the announcement PR, too: it's already working on a Jelly Bean 4.1 update for the ICS tablet. If you're American and bummed you're not reading this on your own shiny new Arc, it's already passed inspection, so should be shipping before you know it.
Kobo Mini review: does the world need a smaller e-reader?
More Info Hands-on with Kobo's Glo and Mini e-readers (video) Kobo Glo review: another illuminated e-reader lights up the market Amazon Kindle Paperwhite review While tablet and smartphone manufacturers battled it out over screen sizes, e-reader makers seem to have settled on an industry standard of 6-inch displays. It's a trend that Kobo, at least, is trying to buck. The company is supplementing its flagship device with a smaller model, the $79 Kobo Mini, which has a more diminutive 5-inch screen, and weighs less, to boot. But how much of a difference does an inch really make? Is smaller necessarily better on an e-reading device? And with so many options for consuming e-books, does the world really need a different, slightly altered form factor? We'll tackle all of these burning questions and more after the break.
Kobo Glo review: another illuminated e-reader lights up the market
More Info Hands-on with Kobo's Glo and Mini e-readers Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight review Amazon Kindle Paperwhite review There's nothing like a good underdog story. Aside from last year's failed Vox tablet, Kobo has made some quality devices, but has still failed to make a huge dent in the e-reader market -- a space dominated by Amazon and Barnes & Noble. In the case of the Glo front-lit e-reader ($129), Kobo might just be hampered by unfortunate timing. Though the company managed to get a jump on things in the last round with the Kobo Touch, the Glo comes on the heels of similar devices, the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight and the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite. But, could this reader have what it takes to convince Kindle and Nook owners to take a leap of faith? Find out after the break.%Gallery-170131%
Kobo's Glo and Mini readers on their way to Japan as the Touch gets a discount
Looks like Kobo's leveraging some of that Rakuten-infused love. The e-reader maker announced today that it'll be bringing its new pair of devoted readers to Japan over the next couple of months, courtesy of its parent company. The e-literati in that country can pre-order the new Kobo Glo now for ¥7,980 ($100) through Rakuten for a projected ship date of November 15th. The 5-inch Kobo Mini, meanwhile, is due to arrive in December for ¥6,980 ($87) -- the same price as the recently discounted Kobo Touch.
Kobo acquires Mac developer Aquafadas
The news that e-reader company Kobo bought Aquafadas, a French-based developer known for its digital-publishing software, normally wouldn't make the radar of many Mac users. But Aquafadas is known to the Mac community as the brains behind MotionComposer, BannerZest, SnapFlow, iDive, VideoPier, PulpMotion and more. It also developed the tech behind MacTech's iPad app. While Kobo will be utilizing Aquafadas' publishing system to bolster its e-reader and platform, there is no word yet on the fate of its Mac apps. [via The Loop]
Kobo to buy Aquafadas, get magazines, academic texts, comics and children's books in the process
Canadian-born, Japanese-owned e-reader maker Kobo announced its intentions to acquire digital publishing company Aquafadas today, an agreement that'll bring rich content like magazines, academic texts, comics and children's books, amongst others, to Kobo users. The deal also builds out Kobo's self-publishing offering, bringing more tools to the table, along with additional languages like German, French, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch. Kobo's also taking the opportunity to announce exapanded offerings in New Zealand, thanks to partnerships with Booksellers NZ and The Paper Plus Group. Back in September, the company announced a trio of new devices set for release this month and next in the States.
Kobo Touch, localized e-bookstore reach Portugal through FNAC
It's all too easy to forget in English-speaking countries that the e-reading selection often isn't as diverse in other parts of the world, where local authors are often kept out of the equation. The Portuguese may know that all too well, which makes Kobo's arrival in their country a potential breakthrough. A deal with European retailer FNAC has both the Kobo Touch and a localized Kobo e-bookstore reaching physical and online stores in Portugal as of today. The price strategy won't be a shock versus what we've seen through an earlier deal in France: the Touch itself costs €99.90 ($129), while books vary and typically hover around €15 ($19). Whether or not Kobo's offering is a good deal, its arrival could be a relief for lisboetas who'd rather not resort to paper and ink to catch up on their own culture.
Hands-on with Kobo's Glo and Mini e-readers (video)
Earlier today we had a nice sit-down with Kobo, where we got some quality hands-on time with the company's Arc Android tablet. As you can imagine, that was the marquee product on display, but we also had the chance to handle the outfit's newest e-readers: the Glo ComfortLight, which has built-in frontlighting, and the Mini, which is exactly what it sounds like. Both will be available October 1st, with the 6-inch Glo going for $129 and the 5-inch Mini priced at $79. Neither will have ads, which might be one of the biggest differentiators between these and some of Amazon's offerings. If you're short on time, we've got some hands-on photos below, but if you've got a few minutes to spare, a walk-through video awaits after the break.
Kobo Arc tablet hands-on (video)
When Kobo released the Vox, its first tablet, Engadget had just recently abolished review scores. In retrospect, that was a good thing for the company, as we didn't have very many nice things to say about it. The product suffered from short battery life, for one, along with sluggish performance and WiFi connectivity issues. It's no wonder, then, that Kobo is loathe to call its new Arc tablet a "follow-up" to the Vox so much as a "re-thinking." The tablet, which will go on sale in mid-November starting at $199, brings a faster 1.5GHz TI processor, a battery rated for 10 to 12 hours of runtime and a re-tooled software experience built on Ice Cream Sandwich. Is that enough to unseat the new Kindle Fire HD or the Nexus 7? That, friends, is a question best answered in our forthcoming review, but after a few minutes of hands-on time we can at least say that we're pleasantly surprised. Meet us past the break to find out why.
Kobo cuts 8GB Arc tablet in favor of larger models, pricing still starts at $200
It's only been a couple of weeks since Kobo took the wraps off of its new lineup of readers and tablets, but someone must have told the company spacier Arcs were in need. Today, the outfit announced it's bringing a fresh pair of 32 and 64GB models to its Ice Cream Sandwich slate, opening the door to those who thought the 8 and 16GB flavors simply didn't offer enough storage space. Kobo's pricing the 32GB Arc at a decent $250, while the larger 64GB unit will carry a $300 tag -- both are set to be up for grabs in November alongside that entry-level 16GB model, with the 8GB getting the boot altogether.
Kobo announces three new readers: one glows, one's small, one runs Ice Cream Sandwich
As the saying goes, it's all in the timing. But look at it this way: Kobo could have announced its new line of devices the day after Amazon's big reveal. Instead, the outfit's looking to take some wind out of Amazon's sails a few hours before its big event. And while the chances are extremely slim that the company will manage to undercut the looming Kindle news, there's no question that it's coming out of the gate swinging, with the announcement of not one, but three new readers: one glowing, one mini and one slathered in Ice Cream Sandwich. The mini and glowing Glo Comfortlight will arrive in October, with the Android-based Arc arriving in November. All told, they'll range in price from $80 for the Kobo Mini to $250 for the top-end tablet. That's the short version, but if you follow past the break we've got a full rundown of the specs, along with additional photos.
Kobo and American Booksellers Association bringing e-wares to indie bookstores
The e-book vs. real-book debate is very much a matter of opinion, so it's only fitting that the two learn to get along. Kobo and the American Booksellers Association seem to think so too, which is why they are teaming up to bring the Kobo's devices, accessories and virtual shelves to independent bookstores across America. Around 2,000 indie retailers are included in the plan, with the first 400 expected to get tooled and trained this fall. Although the stores will take a cut of Kobo's sales, we can't see any long-term benefits for them, but what do you make of the increasing physical presence of e-readers? Is it a move towards peaceful co-existence, or a case of "keep my enemy closer"?
Amazon Publishing inks deal with Ingram, opens e-book distribution to rivals
Amazon Publishing is continuing to broaden its distribution channels, as the New York-based imprint has formed a partnership with Ingram Content Group that will make the company's e-books available to competitors such as Apple, Barnes & Noble and Kobo. As you may be aware, there's some uneasy tension between the rivals, as Barnes & Noble has previously removed Amazon's print editions from its retail shelves in response to the company's former e-book exclusivity in the Kindle Store. It remains unknown whether any of the competitors will indeed choose to sell Amazon's content in electronic form. It's also worth pointing out that because deal applies only to Amazon Publishing's New York-based imprint, the company's west coast division is excluded from the distribution deal. Regardless of how things shake out, it's encouraging to see Amazon extend the olive branch -- now let's hope the competition reciprocates.
Kobo app for iOS goes international with support for Dutch, French, German, Italian and Spanish
Kobo's Android app recently enjoyed a brief stint of global superiority, but that playing field has been leveled with the company's latest update for iOS. Like the Android version, Kobo for iOS now includes support for Dutch, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Additionally, users will also find support for e-books encumbered with Adobe DRM. Lastly, Kobo for iOS now lets users choose which books to store locally on their device, and it also fixes a bug that'd prevented e-books from being opened -- nice to get that one squared away.
Kobo for Android gets updated with support for extra languages, more Facebook integration
App updates are always nice, right? Well, if you're an avid user of Kobo's intellectual offerings on Android handsets and slates, you'll be happy to know the all-things-eReader service has rolled out a fresh update to its eBooks application. Most notably, this new version brings support for an array of new languages within the app, such as French, Italian, Dutch, German and Spanish. That's not it, however, and in addition to gaining a "multi-language experience," Kobo's eBooks application now also offers an in-book progress indicator, a two-page landscape view for folks using tablets and the ability to share current readings with friends on Facebook or Kobo Pulse. As usual, you'll find the refreshed goods inside Google's Play store, link for that is down below.
Kobo updates Touch eReader software and Desktop app, heads to Italy this fall
Kobo's clearly been focused on important stuff like being bought by Rakuten and launching in Japan as of late, but the e-reader manufacturer's got a few bits to announce this week. At the top of the list is a software upgrade for its neglected Touch eReader, which brings a new wish list feature, so you can set aside titles for future purchase. A newly redesigned home screen promises to streamline things a bit and the Bookshelf feature has gotten a bit more customizable, letting you organize selections by genre, author and interest. The Kobo Desktop app, meanwhile, has gotten some tweaks to its profile quiz, to better help the company recommend books to suit your taste. The company also announced that it'll be bringing the Touch eReader to Italy, courtesy of the Mondadori Group. At launch, 30,000 titles will be available in Italian. Italian e-reading enthusiasts will be able to snap up the Nook / Kindle competitor for €99 in the fall.