Hasta La Gadget!

The world of tablets is not really that complicated if you were to break it down in terms of the operating system – there is either Android or iOS, where the BlackBerry PlayBook is negligible, although the release of Microsoft’s Surface tablets later this year might just change the tablet landscape somewhat. It is either an iPad or an Android-powered tablet, where the latter certainly has plenty of options for you to choose from. One of the players would be Kobo, and their latest Kobo Arc 7” tablet certainly looks as though it is shaping up to be an affordable and fun device to carry around.

For starters, this 7” tablet will run on the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. Not exactly the newest version, but at least it is not that backward, either. Available later this November, you will be able to choose from 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities. Kobo decided to approach the Arc’s design by taking a new and innovative outlook, intending to change the traditional tablet experience from searching within apps to an immersive content platform coupled with its unique interface known as Tapestries. You can now have more choice than ever before in exploring, saving and experiencing the music, movies, eBooks, and webpages that you love.

Wayne White, General Manager of Devices, Kobo, said, “We designed the Kobo Arc to let people focus on the music, eBooks, movies, website and applications they love rather than on the hardware they hold in their hand – though that is amazingly designed as well. We’ve accomplished this by offering consumers more – more storage, more customization, more choice – all in the powerful, attractive and vivid Android 4.0 Kobo Arc.”

Hardware specifications of the Kobo Arc include a 1.5GHz OMAP 4470 dual-core processor, up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge, boasting a 7″ high-definition display with 178 degree viewing angles, 215 pixels/inch and 1280 x 800 resolution with 16-million colors, tipping the scales at 364 grams. Its form factor is also easy to hold in the palm of your hand, where it features front-facing stereo speakers with SRS TruMedia sound, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, a built-in microphone, and 802.11 WiFi connectivity, not to mention Google Play support.

You will be able to pick up the Kobo Arc in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities at while retailing for $199.99, $249.99 and $299.99, respectively. Pre-orders can be placed from this fall onwards, where you can pick it up from stores later this November.

Press Release

[ Kobo Arc comes in three storage options copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

It’s only been a couple of weeks since Kobo took the wraps off of its new lineup of readers and tablets, but someone must have told the company spacier Arcs were in need. Today, the outfit announced it’s bringing a fresh pair of 32 and 64GB models to its Ice Cream Sandwich slate, opening the door to those who thought the 8 and 16GB flavors simply didn’t offer enough storage space. Kobo’s pricing the 32GB Arc at a decent $250, while the larger 64GB unit will carry a $300 tag — both are set to be up for grabs in November alongside that entry-level 16GB model, with the 8GB getting the boot altogether.

Continue reading Kobo cuts 8GB Arc tablet in favor of larger models, pricing still starts at $200

Filed under: Tablets

Kobo cuts 8GB Arc tablet in favor of larger models, pricing still starts at $200 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 15:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As the saying goes, it’s all in the timing. But look at it this way: Kobo could have announced its new line of devices the day after Amazon’s big reveal. Instead, the outfit’s looking to take some wind out of Amazon’s sails a few hours before its big event. And while the chances are extremely slim that the company will manage to undercut the looming Kindle news, there’s no question that it’s coming out of the gate swinging, with the announcement of not one, but three new readers: one glowing, one mini and one slathered in Ice Cream Sandwich. The mini and glowing Glo Comfortlight will arrive in October, with the Android-based Arc arriving in November. All told, they’ll range in price from $80 for the Kobo Mini to $250 for the top-end tablet. That’s the short version, but if you follow past the break we’ve got a full rundown of the specs, along with additional photos.

Continue reading Kobo announces three new readers: one glows, one’s small, one runs Ice Cream Sandwich

Filed under: Tablets

Kobo announces three new readers: one glows, one’s small, one runs Ice Cream Sandwich originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 02:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I have nothing against touchpads on laptops, but they aren’t exactly the easiest things to use, especially when you’re editing or cropping images. Now portable mice do fine, but they’re not the most convenient things to use if you’re left to work without a surface. I’ve tried using my regular mouse on my leg while my laptop was propped on my lap when I was rushing to meet a deadline. Let me just say the mouse slipped a couple of times and the people around me weren’t very impressed with my random yelps, gasps, and occasional curses.

In situations like this when you have to use your laptop and your mouse on a curved surface, then the Arc Mouse would be perfect.

The mouse is curved in form, so you can use it on your leg or the padded armrest of an arm chair with ease. It doesn’t look like it would be very useful if you’re using it on a normal flat surface, so it’s probably best to use and take along when you’re working out of the office.

The Arc Mouse is a concept design by Seunghoon Shin and Chang Seok Kim, which also happens to be a 2012 IDEA Awards entry. And yes, I know that Microsoft already has a mouse with the same name, but that’s where the similarities end.

[via Yanko Design]