Bookeen HD Frontlight Released by Thalia: High-Resolution eReader Now Competing with Kindle and Kobo
Just recently, we reported that Thalia is launching a new version of the unlit Bookeen Cybook Odyssey (2013 Edition), and now there’s another launch. The Bookeen HD Frontlight is now available at Thalia. This means the bookseller has kept its promise to release the reader by the end of November.
The Bookeen HD Frontlight is the third eBook reader on the German-speaking market with built-in lighting and a high-resolution display of 1024×758 pixels. Priced at 129 euros, the Thalia reader is in direct competition with the currently unavailable Amazon Kindle Paperwhite and the Kobo Glo, which we recently reviewed.
The new reader is part of Thalia’s strategic shift to have a model available in every price range. As an entry-level device, there’s the eBook Reader 4Ink, which didn’t fully convince us in our test due to its limited functionality, but it still proved to be a good entry-level device thanks to its high-contrast display and low price of just 60 euros.
At 99 euros, the new Bookeen Cybook Odyssey is the device of choice in the mid-price segment and competes with the currently discounted Sony PRS-T2 and the Kobo Touch. The Bookeen HD Frontlight now completes the offering.
Thalia seems to have fortunately left behind its attempts to push its own reading devices in the market. The Oyo was plagued by slow and unstable software and could never keep up with the competition. However, the new lineup presents a completely different picture. The Bookeen eBook readers operate smoothly and offer direct access to the Thalia Store, making them a viable homegrown alternative to American competitors like Kobo and Amazon.
Comprehensive reviews and comparisons of all devices will be available here soon.
