Leak: New Kobo Glo Successor, Kobo N514 Unveiled with Photos and Details
Kobo can look back on a particularly successful year in 2012, which not only brought tremendous growth and wide expansion but also introduced new eBook readers. With the Kobo Aura HD, they also celebrated a bit of a surprise success, as the device stands out on the eBook reader market due to its very high screen resolution and larger screen size.
It’s hardly surprising then that Kobo will be unveiling a new device for this Christmas season, intended as the successor to the Kobo Glo. Apparently, images of the yet unnamed successor were posted online by an E Ink Holding employee on his personal blog. Although the blog post has since been removed, it was, of course, too late. Nate from The Digital Reader managed to save the following images of the “Kobo Glo 2” in time.
Kobo N514 with a New Design … and New Touchscreen?
The photos reveal an even edgier design than what we already know from Kobo. The minimalist layout of the device remains, with the frame under the 6-inch screen now slimmer. Hopefully, the usability and handling won’t suffer as a result.
Kobo Glo and its successor
While the exact hardware specifications have not been mentioned, there seems to be at least a significant change in the screen construction or material choice. If you look closely at the photo below, you can see that the frame around the screen no longer appears to be made from the same matte (but quickly smudge-prone) material as the Kobo Glo.
Instead, smooth, slightly reflective plastic seems to be used—possibly quite similar to what you see on Kindle devices. That would certainly be an improvement, as every touch is currently visible on the black model of the Kobo Glo.
No Infrared Touchscreen?
Additionally, the touchscreen now seems to be directly integrated with the housing. The reflections transitioning from the frame to the screen are uninterrupted, which is usually the case with recessed infrared touchscreens. The other light reflections in the upper part of the photo (or the lower end of the reader) also support this. It could, of course, be an optical illusion due to the angle of light, but I doubt it. What do you think?
The rear design has also been changed. Kobo is moving away from the large checkered design of the Kobo Glo to a tighter pattern, presumably intended to better hide fingerprints and smudges. Additionally, there are slightly hinted contours, similar to those seen on the Kobo Aura HD.
The lighting and power buttons are still located on the top edge of the device, with the micro-USB port and microSD card slot on the bottom edge.
We’ll have to wait until at least August 30th for Kobo to officially unveil the secrets of the “Kobo Glo 2”. Until then, the manufacturer Netronix has entered into a confidentiality agreement with the American telecommunications authority FCC.
