Kobo introduced its 7-inch Kobo Arc Android tablet, the successor to the Kobo Vox. The Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich-running Kobo Arc will be available in November for $200 for the 8GB model and $250 for the 16GB model. Although Kobo doesn't have its own app store, the device is pre-installed with Kobo's own Tapestries widget to help you navigate Kobo's library of over 300 million free and paid titles, let's you pin your choice of books and movies, and offers recommendations based on your personal tastes. The Kobo Arc is certified to access Google Play.
What Else You Need To Know
- The device has a dual-core 1.5Ghz Texas Instruments processor with 1 gigabyte of RAM, an iPS LCD 1280 x 800 pixel resolution display, a 2MP front camera for Skype calls, dual front facing speakers, and support for eight languages.
- Also launched by the Canadian company is a rival to Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight: the $129 Kobo Glo, an e-reader that has a glow feature dubbed "Comfortlight" for night reading, a six inch e-ink XGA screen with a very solid resolution of 1024×768, Wi-Fi connectivity, and 1 GHZ Freescale CPU.
- The partner to the defunct Borders also introduced Kobo Mini, a pocket-sized e-reader with a 5-inch screen, and priced at only $79.99.
- The Kobo Vox met poor reviews last year due to among other things, its lack of access to the Google Play store because the tablet was not Google certified during launching.
Other sources
Acquired by Japanese company Rakuten in January this year, Kobo has been selling ebook readers since 2009. At three million titles – over a third of which are free – Kobo has one of the biggest ebook libraries, and around 10 million users.- Laura Hazard Owen, GigaOM
It’s not clear how the “Tapestries” feature will work but it seems unlikely that this alone is a reason to purchase the Arc – which lacks a native content store – over other seven-inch budget tablets like Google’s Nexus 7, a new version of the Kindle Fire, or the iPad Mini that Apple is rumored to release this fall.- Jamie Carter, Tech Radar
- Other
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Kobo Announces Updated Tablet, New E-Readers
While Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Apple battle it out for your e-book dollars, it’s easy to forget that Kobo is out there on the front lines and in independent book stores with its tablet and line of e-readers.
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Kobo to launch new tablet device, more compact e-reader
Once aligned with the now defunct bookseller Borders, the new 6-inch e-Reader and 7-inch longshot competitor faces a battle from not only the aforementioned companies, but also Google with its Tegra 3-powered Nexus 7 tablet.
- Gizmodo
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Kobo Arc and Kobo Glo: Can a Tablet and eReader From an Underdog Upstage Amazon?
The one upside of the Arc is its 1280x800 pixel display, which is really top notch
- Good E-Reader
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Exclusive: Kobo Glo, Kobo Mini, and Kobo Arc Announced
The new Kobo Arc is the next generation tablet that really gives you a ton of value for the hardware it has.
- GigaOM
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Kobo takes aim at Amazon with two new e-readers and a tablet
Kobo doesn’t have its own app store; it gives users access to apps and games through Google Play. The Arc’s main selling point appears to be an “exclusive interface” called “Tapestries,” which users “build” based on their interests and favorite content.
- TechCrunch
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Kobo Unveils $99 Mini And $129 Glo E-Readers, Takes On Amazon With Android-Powered Arc Tablet
You can’t blame them for taking a another swing at concept when you consider how underwhelming Kobo’s previous Vox tablet was, but this particular segment is seeing plenty of action from more established players.
- Pocket-lint
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Kobo Arc 7-inch Android tablet announced, pins hopes on Tapestries
Arriving as a fully-fledged Android device, you'll be able to watch movies and play games on the Kobo Arc, as well as traditional reading, although naturally, you'll struggle to read this by the pool thanks to glare off the screen.
- Other
- Kobo expands ereader range with an Android tablet
- Tech Radar
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Kobo outs second-gen Arc tablet and two ereaders
For now it operates over WiFi only, though a 3G version could follow.
- TN
- Kobo Launches Arc Tablet, Mini and Glo E-Readers, Priced at $199, $99 and $129 Respectively
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