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Updated: Kobo’s New eReader Clears the FCC, Photos Leaked Online

1[5]Kobo’s newest ereader showed up on the FCC website on Friday, and even though the more interesting details are embargoed this filing told me a lot.

If the hints dropped in the test reports are correct, this is probably going to be a 6″ ereader with Wifi, an HD E-ink screen, a microSD card slot, and a frontlight. And if the date for the embargo is correct the more interesting details will be revealed on 30 August, suggesting that this ereader will likely ship some time next month.

Update: I’ve just learned that someone posted images of this ereader on his blog. See the end of the post.

Few of the hardware details are explicitly spelled out in the paperwork, but the test report does describe this device as a 6″ ereader. Netronix (Kobo’s hardware partner) was also so kind as to let us see far more detail about the backside of the new device than was strictly necessary.

This image told me a lot:

new Kobo fcc NOIKBN514 6 inch

If you look closely you can see that the upper edge includes 2 cutouts. Based on the design of the Kobo Glo, I think one is for the power supply while the other probably controls the front light. And if you look closely at the bottom edge you’ll see a cutout for the microSD card slot and the USB port.

And as you can also see from the image, the overall design of the backside of this ereader faintly resembles that of the Kobo Aura HD, Kobo’s 6.8″ ereader. That suggests that Kobo is no longer working with Ideo, the design firm that crafted the refined appearance of Kobo’s previous ereaders.

That might be a mistake. I and many other people felt that (compared to previous models) the Kobo Aura HD was unpleasant to look at and to hold, with poorer construction quality and a less pleasant hands on experience. If Kobo really did switch to a new designer we could be seeing a lot of rejection this Fall as customers pick up a device and put it back down again with an Ewww expression.

Update: I’ve just learned that photos of the new ereader have been posted to a Chinese language blog by what I assume is an E-ink employee (that’s what his Facebook page implies).

Lookee:

7

As you can see from this gallery, the new Kobo ereader is going to look nothing like last year’s models. It’s also going to look a lot better than the Kobo Aura HD, thank goodness.

This ereader has the ugly red button for the frontlight found on the Aura HD, but it also has a polished metal front and a textured backside. Clearly this is a more polished design than the Aura HD, thus supporting my supposition that the Aura HD was a rushed design.

FCC (NOIKBN514)

eReaders.nl

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Comments


Johannes July 23, 2013 um 8:07 am

Look what i’ve found 😉 http://www.lesen.net/ereader/kobo-n514-neuer-6-e-book-reader-kommt-ende-august-7068/


Patrick July 23, 2013 um 11:01 am

Looks good, I’m guessing the early release date is so they can trump, or try to trump, Amazon, though you could argue they’ve already done that with the Aura. Still, looks nice.


David July 23, 2013 um 2:14 pm

Amusingly reminds me of the bezel of the classic iPad.


kw July 23, 2013 um 4:49 pm

Aura ordered and now I don’t know if I wouldn’t cancel? Be or not to be?

Nate Hoffelder July 23, 2013 um 5:37 pm

I would wait for the new device.


Tyler July 23, 2013 um 9:11 pm

And it probably won’t be here in the US until when????


The Ogre July 24, 2013 um 7:04 am

Definitely passing on this. The textured backplate, which looks rubbery, definitely solves one HUGE problem of the Aura – this won’t be slipping out of your hand nearly as much. But it still has the idiotically-shaped back is still going to make it uncomfortable to hold for anyone whose fingers aren’t the right size.

Such a shame they keep downgrading the case designs with each generation. From the soft, almost fuzzy diamonds of the originals (ie, they had gotten it right the first time) to the hard rubber diamonds of the Touch, to the flat (though at least matte so you could get a grip) plastic back with grooves to make a diamond pattern on the Mini/Glo/Arc, to the horrible wave pattern in slick plastic for the Aura HD. This new one is the first time they actually took a step forward from the previous model when it comes to the backplate, though it’s a very tiny step and is still horrible compared to the original. (on the other hand, the screen gets better with every generation)

Nate Hoffelder July 24, 2013 um 7:30 am

The backside of this ereader is flat, mostly. I don’t see the problem.


Leo Vega July 25, 2013 um 1:55 pm

Don’t you think the screen looks less recessed, similar to pw kindle’s capacitive screen? I don’t have a glo nor any other kobo, but I understand all their models use the IR techonology from older kindles and sonys…

Nate Hoffelder July 25, 2013 um 2:02 pm

I’m not sure a recessed screen means anything. The Glo has a recessed screen and an IR touchscreen.


kw July 25, 2013 um 2:28 pm

IR vs. capacitive screen. For me IR is more convenient.

Leo Vega July 27, 2013 um 1:29 pm

I prefer IR too. I don’t like how the text looks behind the screen in the pw; in fact, that´s the reason I passed on it. And Nate, I recall Amazon assuring the shallowness of the ktouch’s screen was IR fault. I didn’t believe it, cause my prs t1 was not that shallow, but well..

Anyways, as said, my comment was from someone who has never ever seen a kobo, so had no comparison point.


Kobo Launches New 6" eReader, New 7" and 10" Android Tablets – The Digital Reader January 25, 2014 um 10:32 pm

[…] launched the 6″ ereader that cleared the FCC last month. It’s the new Aura, and there is no new Aura HD model just yet. The Aura comes with 4GB of […]


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