- Kobo recently pushed a fully redesigned reading app for iPhones
- Several new features have been added including a listening bar for audiobook control, vertical scrolling and guest mode
- Instapapers -Itegration will soon replace pocket support at Kobo Eraders
I’ve been a massive Kobo fan since I first started using Kobo Glo back then. I have always preferred the rakut-owned company’s user interface rather than Kindle, although I will admit that I was not very keen on its phone app and either I’m iOS or Android.
I may be inclined to try the reading app now, given that the iOS version has been fully redesigned – its first major overhaul since it was released back in 2010.
Several new features have been added where they are important that are vertical rolling. Behave more like endless scroll on web pages, you can now read a whole book by just rolling down and the pages will just continue to load. In my opinion, this is a more trouble-free reading method on a phone, although I think I still prefer tap-to-swing on an iPad (not that I use one I read on Kobo Elipsa 2e).
Other features include a new listening bar for audiobooks that ‘freeze’ the controls in place for easy access, even if you turn away from the listening area to browse the rest of the application.
A new guest mode allows you to “browse books, save previews and discover your next reading” according to the Japanese-Canadian Erader manufacturer without you needing to log into your Kobo account. This is actually a brilliant way to draw new customers into the Kobo ecosystem.
Kobo also says you no longer need to manually sync your notes, highlights and bookmarks – it needs to be done automatically. There is still an important lack of feature in the app: There is no way to find your handwritten notes on the app.
And finally replacing pocket integration-as was a fantastic reading-it-later service for web articles in long form-will brand collaboration with instapapers and support being rolled out to all Kobo Ereaders later this year. A confirmed date has not yet been announced.
Pay attention to, Kobo – We need a new Elipsa
As much as I appreciate the newly redesigned Kobo app for iPhones, I wonder if Ereaeader Maker will release any new hardware this year.
Around the joyous May, it is typical when Kobo has announced new eraders, with weight color, Clara Color and Clara BW, arriving for the plan in 2024. This year there has been radio movement, although it could be possible for the company to wait for instapapes to be completed before releasing new devices.
It would be wonderful because it is time for Kobo Elipsa 2e to receive a revision. In fact, I wouldn’t mind a new version of Kobo Sage too, but I’m partly to the larger Epaper Writing tablet.
Compared to newer models from the competition, such as the various BOOX settings and Kindle Scribe (2024), Elipsa 2e – which was launched in April 2023 – feels very dated now. They have better performance thanks to newer processors, and the screens also feel fresher – sharper and better optimized.
I would very much like to see Elipsa adopt E Ink Carta 1300 screen (the current 2E model uses Carta 1200), which also has an surrounding light sensor, just as the 2024 Kindle Scribe does, and has a 300 PPI solution (it is currently 227 PPI). I also prefer a softer tip than Kobo Stylus 2 currently uses as it may deteriorate a smooth writing experience, but it is a minor ambiguity.
Although I do not want to change a lot in UI and I am still a fan of Kobo’s advanced notebooks, the only request I have is to allow subfolders within the library collections to organize E -books better.
Beautiful thanks, Kobo, I ask nicely so I can fall in love with Elipsa again.
