Hands-On Review: Skoobe App on Icarus Illumina Android eBook Reader
Android eBook readers are currently quite popular. In the past, Sony reader owners had a large modding community, but now the market is evolving a bit further. It started with the Imcosys Imcov6l as the first open Android eReader on the German market. Although the implementation was good, there was still significant room for improvement due to the older operating system version and frequent crashes. The Onyx Boox T68 and Icarus Illumina are two more open Android readers that followed shortly after, equipped with a modern version of the Google operating system. This promises much greater app compatibility than previous Android solutions offered.
One of the most frequently requested features for these devices, besides the use of Onleihe, is the usability of the Skoobe app. Skoobe is a paid service for borrowing digital books, essentially an eBook flat rate. The offering starts at around 10 euros, with an attractive book selection. However, it can only be used with Android or iOS (Apple), meaning Skoobe is primarily designed for use on smartphones and tablets.
Android Brings New Possibilities for Avid Readers
With the increasingly popular and improved Android eBook readers, you can now use the Skoobe app on eye-friendly and more power-efficient E-Ink displays. I’ve captured how that looks in action in a short video.
The video demonstrates the operation of the Icarus Illumina and the program, showing what control options are available to users. A significant advantage of the Illumina is the dedicated refresh button beside the screen, which allows for a complete page refresh. This way, the ghosting effect can be quickly and easily reduced in any Android app with the press of a button. Although this is possible with the Onyx Boox T68 after an update, it requires a longer press on the menu button.
The possible use of page-turn buttons is also a big plus point for the Icarus Illumina, allowing you to use the Skoobe application like a regular reading program. Avid readers will certainly get their money’s worth with its easy usability.
Interested in the Skoobe eBook flat rate can now test the service for 30 days for free by using the promo code “MGMTDJL2L” upon registration. After signing up for a paid subscription, you can offer friends and acquaintances a test period of the same length with their own promo codes. The referrer receives a 7-day credit for each successful registration, with an additional 23 days added if the referred user opts for a paid subscription. Skoobe is now increasingly relying on word-of-mouth to boost awareness of its service.
With the new Android eReaders, the appeal of the service for avid readers significantly increases. Below is the promised short video demonstration.
