14 DAY TRIAL // Talk about the Kobo Aura H2O eReader surfaced back in July when we told you THAT the company might be readying a new waterproof reading device.
Now the same product has been spotted paying a visit at the FCC not so long ago, indicating Kobo is getting ready to launch the product on the market.
But is there interest for such a product among customers? The future of eReaders is quite sketchy. For one, Sony realized that and pulled out of the eReader business in the States.
A short while after, it became apparent that the company will be renouncing building digital reading products altogether and focus on tablets and smartphones instead.
Amazon seems to be the only remaining company where eReader sales thrive. The Kindle Paperwhite remains a hailed device and the tech company has been rumored of cooking up a successor that’s said to be extremely light and thin.
On top of that, the device could take advantage of a flexible Mobius display with TFT technology.
Nevertheless, a lot of customers today opt for a tablet instead of an eReader for the simple reason that slates can do more. You can’t access Google Play or browse the Internet on most digital readers and people need variety in their lives.
That’s why eReaders have become a niche, but some companies like Kobo persist in their idea that the world needs more digital reading devices.
The new Kobo Aura H2O is supposed to arrive with a 6.8-inch display, which is exactly the same with what last year’s Kobo Aura HD brought to the table.
However, it boasts IP67 rating so it means the device is dust proof and won’t be harmed by water (at depths of up to 1 m / 3.3 ft). So as you can see, you can easily take it to the beach or to the pool if you want to read to pass the time while you get a tan.
Other details about the device are unknown, but it’s interesting to note that the H2O will be manufactured by Netronix. The company has an eReader of its own that interestingly comes with a Wacom pen in the bundle.
Anyway, if the Kobo Aura HD is anything to go by, the H2O model could arrive with an illuminated display, 1440 x 1080 pixel resolution, Wi-Fi, microSD.
When it makes a debut, the Kobo Aura HD won’t be the sole product of its kind on the market. Customers looking to read and spill can also pick up the Pocketbook Aqua eReader.