RAKUTEN Kobo Inc. is launching in October in the Philippines and three other countries a handheld e-reader that is waterproof and can store up to 6,000 eBooks. In a statement on August 17, Rakuten Kobo said it will launch the 7.8-inch Kobo Aura One ahead of Japan and Brazil.
“A team of nine of Kobo’s top customers challenged the Kobo design team to push the limits on all aspects of hardware and software,” a statement by the company said. “Months of collaboration resulted in an eReader with a screen size that fits more words to a page, front-light technology that allows for nighttime reading with no impact on sleep, and an interface offering customized book recommendations to suit each and every reader.”
The company said the eReader has 300 ppi resolution, measures 195.1 x 138.5 x 6.9 millimeter and weighs 230 grams.
The company said the device reduces blue light exposure and a front-light technology. “An ambient light sensor automatically detects current light levels to emit the optimal brightness based on the time of day,” the company said. “By setting a bedtime hour, the hue of the light mimics the sun’s natural progression.”
“We’ve all heard that reading on an electronic device can hinder a restful night’s sleep due to the activating effects of blue spectrum light,” the statement quoted Colleen Carney, Associate Professor and Director of the Sleep and Depression Laboratory at Ryerson University, as saying. “We require red spectrum light to stimulate melatonin, a hormone that regulates our body clock. This device pays attention to the timing of blue and red spectrum light to protect sleep quality.”
The company that has sold five million eReaders said the Kobo Aura One is waterproof for up to 60 minutes in up to 2 meters of water.
The company said its eReader has a 6-inch Carta E Ink touchscreen (1024 x 768 resolution), 50 font sizes and 11 font types and five million titles available at Kobo.com.