The IT Nerd

Booklovers who borrow digital books from the library desire an easy way to acquire and access their favourite read. That desire has now become a reality for current Kobo eReader users. Today, Rakuten Kobo celebrates reading by adding one-touch public library lending to all of its current eReaders (Kobo Aura ONE, Kobo Aura H2O Ed.2, Kobo Aura Ed.2 and Kobo Clara HD).

Borrowing eBooks has never been easier: Readers can connect to their local public libraries right from their device with built-in, one-touch lending access. Set-up is free and easy, all that’s needed is a library card from any OverDrive-powered library, and through an integrated catalogue, booklovers can search for the title they want, and depending on the title, choose either to borrow or buy with just one click.

Kobo launched its premium Aura ONE device with one-touch library eBook access, and saw a significant increase in reading time among those customers who also read library books, and that’s what it’s all about.

See how to get started with Kobo and OverDrive here.

Rakuten Kobo today uncovers another dimension of storytelling, adding audiobooks to the Kobo experience and offering booklovers the opportunity to experience the joy of being told a story.

Readers can choose audiobooks from across all genres, including bestsellers such as Into the Water by Paula Hawkins, Dark Tower I by Stephen King, and Truly Madly Guilty by Lianne Moriarty; with new titles added weekly.

At just $9.99/month and with a 30-day free trial period, Kobo offers the best value on a subscription plan in the category. Customers can redeem their monthly credit for any audiobook at Kobo.com, even if its list price is higher. Audiobooks can also be purchased à la carte. In addition, readers earn Kobo Super Points on their monthly subscription fees or audiobook purchases, and can shop with confidence with the backing of Kobo’s Price Match Guarantee.

Customers also have access to exclusive, insightful ‘Kobo in Conversation’ interviews with popular authors: Paula Hawkins, Robert Harris, Maria Semple, Elin Hildebrand, Louise Penny, and more.

Key features include:

All your eBooks and audiobooks together in one app: Your digital reading world is all in one free app. All your eBooks and audiobooks are in one location on your Android or iOS device.

Intuitive, beautifully designed player: The beautifully designed, easy-to-use player makes it simple to move through an audiobook with a single touch. Never worry about losing your spot; see how much time is left at a glance; and choose your preferred narration speed. The player can also be set to turn off after a set amount of time—perfect for listening before going to sleep.

Expertly curated collection: Booklovers can browse the extensive catalogue and recommended titles created by our team of booksellers, based on cherished classics, the best new releases and bestsellers, and by narrator or style. Based on your ebook preferences, receive audio recommendations just for you.

For more information, please visit www.kobo.com/audiobooks.

Relaxing takes many forms, and many agree that reading is key, especially when it takes place near water whether in the bath, on the dock, by the pool, or at the beach.

In the service of relaxation and just in time for the summer reading season, Kobo, a global leader in eReading, today announces its newest addition to the family, the new Kobo Aura H2O—an updated version of the original crowd-pleasing waterproof eReader. The new device allows booklovers to easily read in direct sunlight due to its anti-glare E Ink display, for a print-on-paper like reading experience. ComfortLight PRO reduces blue-light spectrum, so while nail-biting thrillers may keep you up at night, the new Kobo Aura H2O will not.

The new Kobo Aura H2O will be available in black and will retail for $199.99 CAD (MSRP) in Canada at www.kobo.com (pre-orders will be available as of May 15) and select retailers starting on May 22; the device will also be available as of May 22 in the US, the UK, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Japan, and Turkey; as of June in Sweden; as of July in Australia and New Zealand; with Philippines, Mexico and Brazil to follow later this year.

Typically, technology and water don’t play well together, but this summer, they do. The new Kobo Aura H2O is the season’s must-have accessory to let avid readers enjoy their favourite stories in more places—relaxing in the bath, by the pool, or while on seaside excursions. The device is waterproofed with HZO Protection for worry-free reading near water. The coating technology applied to the device’s interior allows it to be fully submerged without the need for port covers.

For night owls, ComfortLight PRO reduces blue-light exposure through the course of the day, so they can read even longer without it affecting their sleep. This innovative technology was introduced with the launch of Kobo Aura ONE last year, winning the seal of approval from Colleen Carney, Associate Professor and Director of the Sleep and Depression Laboratory at Ryerson University, who said devices that eliminate blue light work well for those who enjoy reading before bed; for more from Dr. Carney, click here.

Not sure which book to take on your daily adventures? Take them all. With 8GB of storage, the new Kobo Aura H2O stores up to 6,000 eBooks. A forgotten charger on cottage trips is no longer a cause for concern; with weeks of battery life, readers can enjoy a full book before needing a charge. The Freescale SoloLite processor ensures page turns are quick and seamless. What’s more, the 6.8” Carta E-Ink touchscreen displays print-quality text beautifully (265ppi).

No two booklovers are alike, and a customizable reading experience is a must. With TypeGenius, readers have many options to choose what suits them best, such as weight and sharpness settings, and the ability to choose from 50 font sizes and 11 font types. In addition, they can adjust margins, highlight passages, write notes, or look up a word with the built-in dictionary—all with the tap of a finger.

For a kick-start on summer reading lists, Kobo’s bookselling team has compiled captivating options to suit any reader’s taste: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/p/beachbookready

Rakuten Kobo Inc. has announced that it has acquired Shelfie, a service that was built to enable customers to get free or discounted eBook versions of books in their print libraries, and get recommendations based on print books they already own. The deal includes technology assets, IP, and the infrastructure on which the ecosystem runs; it also includes hiring Shelfie’s skilled team, which specializes in the application of big data and machine learning for book discovery.

Shelfie ceased operations this January. Kobo worked with Shelfie to offer its customers the opportunity to transfer their eBook libraries to Kobo’s platform, ensuring they would continue to have access to their digital books. Over the coming months, Kobo will work to integrate the Shelfie platform into its Android and iOS apps, enabling readers to add their print libraries to their reading history to generate ever more tailored eBook recommendations, as well as the option to get digital versions of print titles they already own.

Founded in 2013 by Peter Hudson and Marius Muja, as BitLit Media Inc., Shelfie grew to offer more than 450,000 eBooks and audiobooks that booklovers could purchase at a discount or download free of charge. Via any iOS or Android device, users snapped a photo of their bookshelf, and through patented technology, Shelfie scanned the spines of every book to identify titles and give readers a complete inventory of their collection, and served them the available equivalent titles in digital—free of charge or at a promotional price. The service also used the titles on the shelf as data, combined with digital reading data, to generate personalized recommendations.

Kobo today launched a new eReader aimed at those who put reading at the centre of their lives.

Dubbed the Kobo Glo HD eReader, it has a lot going for it:

• 300ppi screen that delivers the clearest print-on-paper experience
• Built-in ComfortLight that allows readers to read in the dark without disturbing others with bright bedside lamps
• 1GHz processor will ensure that page turns are swift
• A battery that lasts up to two months
• 4GB of storage
• Measures 157 x 115 x 9.2mm which makes it easily portable in a purse or jacket pocket
• Easy setup and a concierge service is included

Kobo has announced the launch of their app designed specifically for Microsoft notebooks, tablets and desktops running the new Windows platform including devices by Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba and the Microsoft Surface.

Similar to Kobo eReaders and tablets, the Kobo for Windows app allows users to bookmark pages and pick up right where they stopped reading. The app syncs all bookmarks so readers never lose their place, even if they switch devices. Readers can also customize their font style and size, which appears as crisp and clear as it does on Kobo eReaders and tablets. Reading in the dark is not a problem with the “night mode” feature that gives Readers a softer light for easier nighttime reading. Readers can also lock the screen in portrait or landscape mode to ensure they never lose their place, even while on the go.

The Kobo for Windows app enables Readers to access all the features they love on their Kobo device right on their Windows notebook, tablet or desktop, including the ability to carry, browse and shop for their favourite titles in the Kobo eBookstore. Exclusive to Windows 8, Readers can pin books to the Start screen and create tiles to access their favourite reads even more quickly and easily. Just like other tiles, users are able to resize them or even group them in a way that they prefer for a completely customized look.

Also worth noting, this spring Kobo will introduce the Kobo eReading app for Windows Phone to its line up of top ranked applications. The Windows Phone experience will operate with the same functions as the Windows App for notebooks, tablets and desktops, offering the best content and experience to its readers.

The Kobo eReading app for Microsoft Windows is now available in the Windows Store and the first customers in the United States and Canada that download the new Kobo for Windows app will automatically receive Robert Ludlum’s  “The Janson Command” by Paul Garrison and a preview of the upcoming Robert Ludlum’s  “The Janson Option”  in their app while supplies last.