

There is a browser so if you want to you can browse the Internet, although it's a little slow and navigation is rather tricky. There are a few extras hiding in the Kobo eReader too.

Of course, the Wi-Fi will chomp through the battery much faster than this, so it's worth engaging the flight-safe mode when you don't need to be connected. You'll get around a month of life from the battery, although this is governed by how much reading you do. If you don't have any existing titles, you can head off and buy them through the desktop application and we're pleased to see that PayPal is a payment option across the Kobo store, making things really simple. If you already have a Kobo account then you are good to go, you just have to plug in your details in the application on your computer and any existing content you have purchased from Kobo will appear, ready to sync to the reader.
#Kobo ereader epub software#
It isn't as independent as the Kindle - which offers PC-free operation - as getting started with the Kobo eReader requires to you download their software on your PC or Mac and connect to your device. The Kobo eReader requires you to have a Kobo account to sync the device. Operation is by touch, so there is no need for anything else. Buttons are kept to a minimum, with a top power slider and a single home button beneath the screen. In terms of connections, there is a micro USB on the bottom and a slot on the side to take a microSD card to expand the memory, if you wish. The Kobo eReader has a 6-inch E-Ink display, and like most other models, will slip easily into a jacket pocket or bag. It weighs 185g, a touch heavier than the new Amazon Kindle, but lighter than the Kindle Touch which is available in the US. The diamond patterning is surprisingly nice to hold, giving your fingers a little something extra to hang on to. Don't worry, it isn't actual quilt, but the plastic feels sturdy enough. The Kobo eReader is well built, finished with an interesting "quilted" back. In the UK this is aided by partnering with WHSmith, giving Kobo a high street presence and storefront through the WHSmith website. With the Kobo eReader, the company is moving from purely content to hardware and the content to read, so like Amazon, it gets to provide a more complete solution. Kobo has been active in the ebook market for some time, probably familiar to those smartphone users who might have seen the app preinstalled on their device. Sony (and many others) on the other hand offer open format support, but don't then have the provision across platforms, or the same integrated bookstore experience. It's a closed system, but one that's widely accessible thanks to apps for your PC or smartphone. Amazon distribute its content from its own store. The real difference between these devices is content. Some functions only apply to books you buy from the Kobo store.EPUB support means you can shop around for the best deals.
