Daily Archives: August 17, 2016

Kobo announces Kobo Aura One and revamped Aura Edition 2

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Kobo_aura_oneA couple of weeks ago, we got the confirmation that Kobo planned to be releasing a new e-reader in mid-August. Today, Kobo announce not only one, but two new e-readers for their line up.

The big news is the announcement of the Kobo Aura One. The device has a 300 ppi 7.8″ Carta E Ink screen with 8GB of memory. It has an enhanced IPX8 rating making it waterproof for up to 60 minutes in two meters of water. It also features a lighting system called ComfortLight PRO which allows for adjustment of the front-lighting and includes an orange nighttime reading light to cut down on blue light emissions which can interfere with sleep.

One of the most interesting features promised for the new device is the direct integration of OverDrive library software with the Kobo store. OverDrive is owned by Rakuten, Kobo’s parent company and will be available for use in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. The simplification of of library borrowing is a big, big plus in favor of this device.

There are already a few early reviews on the tech sites:

The Kobo Aura One will be available for pre-order on August 30, 2016 for $229.99. It will be available in the US on September 6, 2016.Specs and more info on the product page here.

Also announced today was the Kobo Aura Edition 2  The device has a 212 ppi 6″ Carta E Ink screen and seems to be a newer version of the Aura HD. You can see the specs here. The Aura Edition 2 will retail for $119.99 and will also be available for pre-order on August 30, 2016.

Anybody else excited to see how the OverDrive integration works and if it is coming to the other Kobo devices? That’s the feature I’m the most interested in. How about you?

Daily Links and Deals: Companies can’t legally void your warranty for jailbreaking or rooting your phone

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daily_links_1Today, a look at your actual legal rights regarding rooting and jailbreaking your phone (as opposed to what manufacturers may tell you). Also, Barnes and Noble fires its CEO, there are new Hogwarts stories coming from J.K. Rowling, and author Philippa Gregory wants accuracy in films made from her books. In deals, savings on Vizio TVs, laptops and back to school bargains on Kindle and Fire device.

Daily Links for Wednesday, August 17, 2016:

Privacy lawsuit over Gmail will move forward (Ars Technica) Although it is being allowed to continue, this case has a lot of hurdles to clear in order to succeed.

Barnes & Noble drops its CEO after deeming him ‘not a good fit’ (Techcrunch) Sigh. They might try looking for someone who has actually sold books or worked in the industry….

J.K. Rowling to publish new ‘Stories from Hogwarts’ in 3 eBooks this September (Hypable) Wasn’t the play supposed to be the final bit in the series?

Philippa Gregory insists on ‘fact clause’ in film contracts (The Bookseller) Given filmmakers’ tendencies to put drama over actual facts, this should be interesting.

Companies can’t legally void your warranty for jailbreaking or rooting your phone (Motherboard) Do you know what your legal rights are concerning your phone. This suggests that a lot of people don’t.

Deals of the Day:

Amazon’s selection of Kindle Daily Deals includes Chasing Darkness: An Elvis Cole Novel by Robert Crais.

In Today’s Deals, VIZIO 1080p Smart LED TV (various sizes), an ASUS ZenBook Pro Signature Edition Laptop (Certified Refurbished) and a Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Vacuum, (Certified Refurbished) – Corded.

In other deals, back to school savings on select Kindles, Fire tablets and Alexa devices. For a limited time, get $15 off the regular price of the Amazon Tap and$20 off the basic Kindle and the Kindle Paperwhite.  You can also find savings on the Fire HDX 8.9 Tablet (Wi-Fi and 4G LTE) and the Fire Kids Edition Tablet.

The Barnes and Noble Nook Daily Find is The Poison Artist by Jonathan Moore. The Romance Daily Find is The Asset
by Anna del Mar.

Kobo’s Daily Deal is The Whites A Novel by Richard Price, Harry Brandt. The Extra Daily Deal is Something in the House
A Supernatural Mystery by D. L. Lewis.

iTunes’ Weekly Bestsellers Under $4 includes With or Without You by Domenica Ruta.

Google Books has a selection of The Winningest Deals ebooks at up to 75% off.

(A note on Daily Deals: All prices current at the time of posting and subject to change. Most items marked Daily Deals are good for only the day posted.

Many large promotions have discount pricing that is set by the publisher. This usually means that titles can be found at a discount price across most platforms (with iTunes sometimes being the exception). If you have a favorite retailer you like to patronize, check the title on that website. There is a good chance that they will be matching the sale price.)

Daily Links are interesting links I discover as I go about my online day. The frequency and number of links posted depend upon the daily news. I also post other, different links of interest on Twitter, Facebook, and on the Google Plus eBook Evangelist Page.