Kobo refreshes eReader device lineup

Just hours ahead of Amazon’s expected new Kindle announcement, Kobo announced that it has refreshed its Kobo family of devices with the new Kobo Glo, Kobo Mini, and the Kobo Arc, a 7-inch Android tablet.

“Our focus has remained firmly on delivering a superior experience for booklovers around the world. With 11,000 booksellers and leading retail partners across five continents, we are bringing the new Kobo Family to booklovers everywhere,” said Michael Serbinis, CEO, Kobo. “The new Kobo Family provides more choice for booklovers and a superior eReading and content discovery experience – truly, an eReader for Everyone.”

Kobo 2012 device lineup
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The Kobo Glo is Kobo’ first front-lit eReader. Using ComfortLight technology, it lets users read day or night by illuminating the 6-inch XGA E Ink display with a “a soft, adjustable glow.” It will be available in Black, White, Pink Sunset, Blue Moon, and Silver Star. It will be available starting October 1st for CA$129.99.

The Kobo Mini is billed as “the world’s smallest and lightest full-featured E Ink eReader.” It will come with a 5-inch E Ink screen. Available in black or white, it will be available on October 1st for CA$79.99. Interchangeable Kobo SnapBacks in Teal, Ruby Red, and Purple will also be available to customize the Kobo Mini.

Succeeding the Kobo Vox, its first Android tablet, is the Kobo Arc. It features Kobo’s Tapestries user interface and recommendation engine to make “new personal multimedia recommendations with little effort as the engine learns what consumers love.”

Kobo arc specifications:

  • Processor: 1.5 GHz dual-core
  • Operating system: Google Android 4.0 with Kobo Tapestries UI
  • Cellular connectivity: None
  • Other connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
  • Display: 7-inch WXGA (1280×800) IPS
  • Input: Home, Back and Menu touch sensors, Power and Volume buttons
  • Memory: 1GB RAM
  • Storage: 8/16GB onboard
  • Rear-facing camera: None
  • Front-facing camera: 2MP 720p HD
  • Connectors: 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack, micro-USB
  • Dimensions / weight: 120 × 12.4 × 189 millimeters / 364 grams
  • Colours: Black and White

The Kobo Arc will sell for CA$199.99 for the 8GB model and CA$249.99 for the 16GB one. It will be available in November.

Kobo will also continue to sell its Kobo Touch eReader. The price has now been reduced to CA$99.99.

Read more: Kobo