Nick

The news keeps coming from Pocketbook with the announcement of the Pocketbook Inkpad Color 2 e-reader. As usual, Pocketbook updates the Inkpad Color with the latest technological advances by integrating a new Kaleido Plus color screen.

Pocketbook Inkpad Color 2 as new 7.8″ color screen

The Pocketbook Inkpad Color 2 comes just after the new Pocketbook Inkpad 4 with a color version that offers a more complete model for comic book lovers, while maintaining a large diagonal of 7.8 inches.

The most important element, then, is this E Ink color Kaleido Plus screen that allows for more vivid and realistic colors. If the resolution in black and white is still 1404 x 1872 pixels (300 PPP), the color resolution is much lower: 468 x 624 pixels (100 PPP) with 4096 different colors displayable.

The design of the e-reader follows the new Pocketbook codes and we still find the buttons under the screen that allow access to the main menu, options and page turning without having to press the touch screen.

Other good news: the reader is waterproof with an IPX8 certification.

As with the Pocketbook Inkpad 4, this Inkpad Color 2 offers many possibilities for reading audio books.

First of all, the color e-reader offers a Bluetooth connection to connect headphones or an audio speaker.

Secondly, there are speakers, which makes the reader autonomous and therefore does not require the purchase of additional audio equipment.

And, in addition to reading many digital audio formats (M4A, M4B, OGG, OGG.ZIP, MP3, MP3.ZIP), the Pocketbook Inkpad Color 2 offers a text-to-speech function that allows you to transform classic ebooks into an audio book via software reading with a synthetic voice.

These audio reading possibilities, the color screen and the large format of this reader make the Pocketbook Inkpad Color 2 very attractive for demanding book readers. It is also one of the most complete readers on the market.

Rechnical specifications of the Pocketbook Inkpad Color 2 e-reader

Here are the technical specifications of the Pocketbook Inkpad Color 2:

• E Ink Kaleido Plus display, 7.8 inches, 1404 x 1872 pixels (300 PPP) black and white, 468 x 624 pixels (100 PPP) with 4096 different colors displayable
  
• 1.8 Ghz processor
  
• 1 GB RAM memory
  
• 32 GB of storage memory
  
• Bluetooth 5.2
  
• Wifi
  
• Speaker
  
• USB-C
  
• 2900 mAh battery
  
• Waterproof with IPX8 certification
  
• Ebook formats: ACSM, AZW, AZW3, CBR, CBZ, CHM, DJVU, DOC, DOCX, EPUB(DRM), EPUB, FB2, FB2.ZIP, HTM, HTML, MOBI, PDF (DRM), PDF, PRC, RTF, TXT
  
• Audio formats: M4A, M4B, OGG, OGG.ZIP, MP3, MP3.ZIP
  

Should you buy a Pocketbook InkPad Color 2?

This new Pocketbook Inkpad Color 2 is a smart addition to the Pocketbook range, offering a large 7.8″ diagonal color screen.

While the colors are still not perfect, the compromise is an interesting one, since this Pocketbook InkPad Color 2 is offered at a reasonable price (for a color reader) and allows color display while retaining the comfort of a larger-sized e-reader.

Once again, we find the good build quality of Pocketbook e-readers, and great format compatibility. You can even load your own MP3 or OGG audio files onto the reader.

Here’s a quick summary of the pros and cons of this Pocketbook InkPad Color 2 if you want to buy one.

PROS

• Price (considering it is a color e-reader)
  
• Good build and software
  
• Large ebook format compatibility
  

CONS

• Colors are not great (Kaleido Plus screen)
  

Where to buy the Pocketbook Inkpad Color 2?

There is a big problem: its price. Indeed, the Pocketbook Inkpad Color 2 price is $319.99.

The price is high for a reading device, but its characteristics justify its price, provided that the color rendering is up to the mark…

A new Kickstarter project proposes a very interesting e-reader that goes against the current trend: the HaxMini e-reader is a small, easy to carry, affordable and functional e-reader.

While most e-reader designers are starting to offer models with ever larger screens, color and even foldable, HaxMini is a e-reader with a small 5.83-inch screen, a powerful processor and – most importantly – a small footprint for easy carrying.

The case of the HaxMini e-reader is reminiscent of those of higher-end e-readers like the Kobo Libra 2 or the Kindle Oasis. We find physical buttons on the sides of the screen (on the left this time) for a good grip.

In addition to its e-ink screen with a resolution of 648 x 480 pixels from another time, it should be noted that this HaxMini meets the needs expressed by many readers:

• Presence of an expansion port for SD card up to 128 GB
• Very fast quad-core processor
• Android 8.1 with Google Play installed and allows the addition of Android applications (Kindle, Kobo, etc.)
• Low weight of 155 grams
• Dimensions of 138.5 mm x 113 mm x 6.8 mm
• Night mode to display white characters on a black page
• Native support for EPUB, PDF, MOBI, TXT and FB2 formats
• 16GB of storage
• USB-C charging
• Wifi

Of course, there are also some shortcomings compared to the e-reader models that have come out in recent years.

The first is the resolution of the screen with 648×480 pixels. This reminds us of the cheapest 6-inch e-reader models released 10 to 5 years ago.

Nevertheless, this should not hinder the experience of reading ebooks on such a small screen. But, it will seriously handicap the reading of PDF documents and manga.

There is no lighting either, let alone a blue light filter. So, the Haxmini e-reader is a matter of compromise that will not suit all reading lovers.

That being said, this reader offers a very small footprint that makes it easy to carry around and it should be possible to easily add additional reading applications. This is an aspect that is difficult to find today on e-readers that all have a screen of 6 inches and more.

The project is only in the funding stage and if all goes well, the Haxmini e-reader will be available this summer – in July – at a price of $138. But, you can get it for $79 by participating in the Kickstarter campaign.

If your are looking for a very small e-reader, you can see this Woxter ereader review with a small 4.7-inch screen.

Readmoo is an Asian company that is starting to make a name for itself by adopting the latest technologies available to offer innovative reading machines.

After announcing the Readmoo MooInk Plus 2C and its new Kaleido 3 screen, the company presented a prototype of a color e-reader with a folding screen designed in collaboration with the company E Ink, which offers the e-ink screen based on Gallery 3 technology.

Not only is the screen foldable, but it is also color, with a diagonal of 8 inches and uses Gallery 3, a new way to display colors with electronic ink. It is thus a real innovation which is proposed here for a reader whose use will be undoubtedly dedicated to the mobile readers.

Indeed, a screen of 8 inches offers a nice reading surface for a maximum comfort. The fact that this machine folds on itself – like the recent smartphones proposed by Samsung – makes the reader much easier to carry.

One can easily imagine folding it and storing it in one’s bag at the end of reading in transportation.

A foldable machine also has another advantage: the screen is protected when you are not reading. So there should be no need to add protection to the screen to keep it in shape (or a protective cover).

The Galery 3 screen (based on ACeP: Advanced Color ePaper) will offer color display, which makes this machine particularly attractive.

All this is as exciting as it is intriguing, although we’ll have to judge it on the spot. We know that smartphones that use foldable screens tend to be quite thick when folded. We may have this same feature with this Readmoo reader. If this is the case, it could affect the compactness of the machine and therefore make it less useful and easy to store.

Still, this is only a prototype and, as always, it may never see the light of day. Readmoo and E Ink are nevertheless reassuring, because for both companies this is a reading device that will demonstrate their technological know-how.

A know-how that could pave the way for other ever more innovative readers.

Press : https://www.techbang.com/posts/105649-readmoo-cooperated-with-yuantai-technology-to-launch-the-eink

The year 2022 has been rich in new hardware (Kobo Clara 2E and new Kindle to name a few) and the year 2023 also promises some nice things. The opportunity to see what we can expect as new readers…

A new Kobo Nia?

The first thing that seems obvious is that Kobo must work on an affordable e-reader that would compete with the new Kindle.

Indeed, the Kobo Nia (current e-reader of the range at less than $100) is starting to show its age with its rather slow screen and its not always top definition.

Clearly, if Kobo wants to get back in the race and offer something very good in the entry level, it will have to release a new version of the Kobo Nia.

Let’s hope that 2023 will bring us this new e-reader!

A new Kindle Oasis?

On the Amazon side, we have already had a renewal of the Kindle Paperwhite with the very good version released in 2021 that offers a great value for money with its 6.8-inch screen.

A few months ago, a new Kindle was released for less than $100.

Logically, it’s the turn of the Kindle Oasis to get a makeover – if Amazon still wants to market it. Indeed, with its price close to $300 and the competition of cheaper and excellent models like the Kobo Libra 2, nothing indicates that Amazon will continue the Oasis adventure.

But, if a new version is to be released, the year 2023 seems to be the right time for Amazon.

New color readers are a key trend

With the arrival of the new Gallery 3 color screen technology, we can expect to see new color readers.

As previously mentioned, the Pocketbook Viva has already been announced and we’ll see what this reader offers in terms of color. The first echoes indicate much better colors than on the Pocketbook Color (for example), but a screen that takes longer to refresh…

I will show you where you can find manga and how you can download them and read them on your Kindle e-readers.

First of all, the reading of digital manga is exploding in the world. It is particularly noticeable in Japan where there are more readers of digital manga than paper ones.

But, I think that the "manga ebook" has also the possibility to develop widely outside Japan.

Indeed, because of the absence of color, digital manga weighs less to store than other comics. Moreover, as they are already published in a small format in paper version, e-readers with a screen with a high resolution are at ease for their display (even in 6 inches).

If we add to this the available 7 and 8 inch e-readers and low cost touch tablets, we can think that manga can make a nice digital place in our reading devices.

The problem now is that we don’t necessarily have digital versions of all the manga that are released…

The Kindle Library

At Amazon, there is a comic book section that allows you to see, on a case-by-case basis, if the volume you are looking for is available on the Kindle e-reader (or the reading application on tablet, smartphone or PC/Mac).

For popular series like Naruto, the digital version costs $4.99 compared to $6 for the paper version. So that’s a nice savings of almost $2 per episode.

What is not bad is that you can search directly and only in the mangas that are available in digital using the search engine of your Kindle e-reader (or on Amazon).

So you can find a lot of things, even if everything is not yet present. I also noticed that recent releases tend to come out in digital too.

So, reissues like GUNNM, have their digital version.

Prime Reading or Kindle Unlimited

With Amazon, you can subscribe to a service like Prime or Kindle Unlimited.

Kindle Unlimited offer the larger choice but you’ll have to pay a small fee each mounth to access the books and the mangas available.

If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you can access to a catalogue of free ebooks and mangas and the Prime Reading (read this article to know more about it) section of the Kindle Library on your Kindle e-reader. (no extra fee if you already a Prime customer)

Transfer PDF, CBR and CBZ files to your Kindle e-reader

If you’re interested in digital comics, you’ve probably come across files in slightly exotic formats like CBR or CBZ. Here’s how to convert them to PDF.

> Note : there is a full tutorial on the website to help you read CBR et CBA on Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite (click here).

The CBR or CBZ format requires the use of special software to read them.

Fortunately, thanks to Calibre you can transform these files into PDF files that are easier to use on your different devices: e-readers, tablets, smartphones, PC and Mac.

The advantage of using Calibre to do the conversion is that it offers optimizations regarding the images, in order to display the comics more clearly on a reader (with a black and white screen). But, you can also use another software to do the conversion.

The first thing to do is to install Calibre if you don’t have it on your computer yet. You can go to this site to download it: https://calibre-ebook.com/fr/download

Now you have to import your CBR or CBZ file into Calibre.

You can now transfer PDF, CBR and CBZ to your Kindle device.

If you wan to choose the right e-reader for reading manga you can read this article.