What would you ideal Kobo reader look like?

[tschucha]

For me:

Screen size: somewhere between 9 and 10 inch diagonal - flush with body

Screen type and resolution - 300dpi similar to that of the Forma (unless something better comes along)

Lighting - comfortlight pro or something better

Weight - 225g or less

Body - flat , buttons at bottom edge (think of a Forma with the buttons on the shorter edge) and the whole body flat and not angled like on the Forma

Charger - at top, usb-c for future compatibility?

On/Off switch - at top next to charger/data input or at top on the back like Aura One

Audio - definitely not at the price of addition weight or cost

Software - Allow for more customizable Home Screen and more user interface options.

[ZodWallop]

For me, take the original 6" Aura, give it the Clara's color-changing frontlight and screen. 8-16GB internal storage and make it waterproof.

[MGlitch]

Take the Forma replace the screen with an 8 inch one from ClearInk black and white with a matte top layer possibly waiting until they get it up to 300DPI though the 220 they showed off looked pretty crisp. Make the built in storage 32gb as a base with a 64gb option. Change the page turn buttons so it’s two separate buttons rather than one long piece. Return the micro SD card slot. Maintain the waterproof status.

Software wise

Let me control the home screen, if I want it to be just books I’m currently reading with text only sections for getting quick access to my books and the Kobo store.

Allow the text to be adjustable in the following ways
1) tweak the weight and sharpness of even user loaded fonts
2) allow the margins to be reduced on all sides so text runs right to the edges of the screen.

Invert/night mode which is smart and doesn’t invert images be they covers or images within the book

Screensaver

And the various other tweaks I’ve made from other patches available here

[Sir Loyne]

It would look and act just like a Kobo Aura One, so that's lucky.

[latepaul]

Mini with a light.

(not gonna happen though)

[rashkae]

The Aura One shape/form factor, but with the Forma improvements, with regards to touch screen, image rendering quality and battery life. (since the
Forma technically has a smaller battery, I guess this one comes down to more efficient lights.)

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by rashkae

The Aura One shape/form factor, but with the Forma improvements, with regards to touch screen, image rendering quality and battery life. (since the
Forma technically has a smaller battery, I guess this one comes down to more efficient lights.)

The specs I can see, both the Aura ONE and Forma have a 1200mAh battery. So, I'm not sure how this is "technically has a smaller battery". The battery life improvements are possibly the LEDs, but the Forma also has a newer CPU that might be more efficient.

And I'm surprised about the comment on image rendering quality. If they are running the same firmware version, the really should be no difference. I can't think of any comments made about this (which just means someone will point to a thread I participated in, but forgot about).

[MGlitch]

When the Forma released there was a whole lot of comparing the screens. Though I don’t recall the ‘winner’ of those comparisons. I suspect it comes down to individual units.

I no longer have my Aura One (gave it to an aunt and uncle when I got my Forma) but from what I can recall I didn’t notice a vast change in screen clarity. There were some other advantages of the Forma but I did write up a brief review somewhere here and suggested that for the majority of Aura One owners upgrading would be more of a side grade. I stand by that even now.

[Owl_]

There are several features that will be decisive:

- an "Advanced settings" menu that allows to enable the existing patches without using a PC to patch (this will interest the not-geek users). This will make kobo a unique device
- possibility to choose a custom screensaver in both sleeping and turned off modes
- Easier extraction of the micro sd card. All with an official software that restores a micro sd. This will make even a compleately bricked device softwarely undestroyable
- several highlight styles and fast highlighting
- handle well the .docx format. (if possible like a kepub)
- handle pretty fast the pdf
- function that automatically reads the custom folders in the device and manages them in collections
- a firmware with the touch calibration
- allow search on extra dictionaries without pacth the ereader (with custom order of search)
- highly customizable popup windows of the dictionary

- a swift system of bookmarks like kindle or better
- overlay with a rubber-plastic layer (about 1 mm thick) the four corners of the device, so to create a tough and original cover

- multi-core processor
- 2 GB RAM

[Thargor]

Something with a touchpad on the back that you can touch with your finger like the PS Vita, it doesn't have to be anything fancy, just something you tap to turn the page, except its on the back of the device, it would be so comfortable to use especially for fast readers.

Likewise a simple mic whereby you could click your tongue to turn the page, that ones probably for people who live alone though!

[HLS]

I want an 8" that is affordable at 32GB or 64GB under $250 and can hold audiobooks. Wireless charging Qi-compatible a must otherwise the KOBO ereaders are near perfect.

[rashkae]

Originally Posted by davidfor

The specs I can see, both the Aura ONE and Forma have a 1200mAh battery. So, I'm not sure how this is "technically has a smaller battery". The battery life improvements are possibly the LEDs, but the Forma also has a newer CPU that might be more efficient.

And I'm surprised about the comment on image rendering quality. If they are running the same firmware version, the really should be no difference. I can't think of any comments made about this (which just means someone will point to a thread I participated in, but forgot about).

Grey Scale dithering on the Aura One in Kepub leaves patterns that are very visible to the naked eye. All the other Kobo models, including the older, low res devices) have a randon dithering that, to me at least, least, is almost completely transparent.

It's usually not much of an issue, you don't use a Kobo to look at colour images, and the Manga's are mostly B&W line art. But having noticed it, it was always a bit of sore tooth. The Touch screen issues were by far the worst though.

I was under the impression that Aura One had a 1300 mAh battery. I can't find a source now, and my mistake if that's not the case. Either way, the Forma is noticeable better. The battery life of the Aura One was *way* less than the smaller battery would account for compared to the previous generation H20. This is something I attributed to the Aura 1 using RGB LED's, (even if comfort light was turned to the lowest colour temp, the Aura One still uses the RGB led's to create white light.). Later generations of Comfort light replaced the RGB leds with orange / Dark Yellow LED's, and the battery life in terms of reading hours almost doubled.

I have no actual facts to back up this idea/impression.

[droopy]

Something you don't have to hold.

Something directly connected to your brain (or to your brain's visual cortex).

Something where forgetting what you have read is a ”2019 problem”. You're able to remember every word.

[azayn]

5" Mini
300ppi
Frontlight
Waterproof
Weighs 135g or less

A man can dream can't he?

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by latepaul

Mini with a light.

(not gonna happen though)

Me too.