El Reading FC confirmó este domingo que se retira de la Liga de Primera División Femenina para la próxima temporada 2024-2025 por problemas económicos.
Un intento tardío para hacerse cargo de la rama femenina del club en dificultades financieras fracasó durante el fin de semana. Las semifinales de la Copa FA 2019 se disputarán ahora en la Premier League de la Southern Football League, la quinta división del fútbol femenino inglés.
La FA confirmó el domingo el descenso del Reading a la Premier League después de que el club no “cumpliera con los requisitos de cumplimiento necesarios para continuar operando en el Barclays Women's Championship la próxima temporada”.
La salida de Reading significa que la liga operará con 11 clubes para la temporada 2024/25 con un lugar de descenso en lugar de dos.
Ve más profundo
La amenaza que enfrenta Reading Women debería servir de advertencia a los aficionados durante todo el partido.
Un comunicado del club de Reading decía: “El personal del club, con el apoyo de la FA, ha explorado exhaustivamente todas las opciones, incluida la financiación externa y nuevas oportunidades de inversión para Reading Women, que permitirían al equipo mantener su lugar en el Barclays Women’s Championship. Con diálogo con varios partidos.
“A pesar de nuestros mejores esfuerzos, las complejidades que rodean la propiedad separada significaron que no era posible operar Reading FC Women bajo un modelo de financiamiento separado.
“El club reconoce que el descenso al quinto nivel sería una gran decepción para todos los asociados con el club. Sin embargo, esta solución ofrece al club la oportunidad de seguir operando en la división de fútbol femenino”.
Añadió: “Avanzar más hacia abajo en la pirámide femenina de la FA permitirá al Reading Women's Football Club obtener ascensos a las divisiones superiores en el futuro, manteniendo al mismo tiempo un camino vital y una oportunidad para que las mujeres jóvenes persigan sus aspiraciones futbolísticas a través del Reading FC. ” Para damas.”
El Reading fue uno de los clubes de la mitad superior de la Superliga femenina de la FA hasta 2020 y alcanzó las semifinales. Copa FA en 2019. Los jugadores anteriores incluyen a Fran Kirby de Inglaterra y a la portera Mary Earps.
I went with the clamp since I knew it would be easy to hook onto my thin wooden side table or metal bed frame, and neither had a paint or finish that would be damaged by the clamp. Some folks also attach it to a headboard.
It was perfect for reading in bed or on the side of my couch. The Lamicall isn’t so long that I needed to add a loop to make it sit far enough away from my eye for comfortable reading, and usually I felt like I had just enough slack to perfectly place it within my preferred reading range. I could keep my Kindle’s text size tiny and put it right next to my face, or push it back farther if I wanted. It floated nicely above or near my head, whether I was lying in bed or sitting up on the couch while my son played nearby.
The base clamp is made of light plastic you secure with a screw top sitting on top of the clamp, which I liked instead of one that pinches on its own–especially since there are tiny grabby hands in my home. The clasp for the Kindle itself is also made of a light plastic, but was still stable and secure. Plus, you can rotate that upper clamp to get the perfect angle.
The neck of the arm is the most resistant part of it: It does take a little effort to move and angle the arm, but that strength and resistance are what keeps it from falling forward or out of place while you read. Even with the resistance, this Kindle holder is still plenty adjustable and goes in any direction you like.
To store it, I usually just push it out of the way toward the wall from wherever it’s clamped. It isn’t foldable, nor does it break down, so if you want it out of sight when you aren’t using it you’ll need a closet or long enough space to store its 3-foot form. It was a little weird to see it floating alone in the living room, but I didn’t find it obtrusive when I used it as a bed stand and simply pushed it against the wall when I was done using it.
It’s designed to be a universal tablet holder, so it’s big enough to hold tablets up to the 11-inch iPad Pro. It can hold a Nintendo Switch, too, along with other popular e-readers. (If only I had this in 2020!) It’s not the right dimensions to hold a bulky Steam Deck by itself, but I still used it to help me prop up a Steam Deck and take weight off my hands and wrists, though it’s not stable enough to float like a Kindle or iPad. It’s able to hold up smartphones, too, and it was similarly comfortable to read with either a Kindle or my iPhone on the Lamicall stand.
Not Quite Hands-Free
Photograph: Nena Farrell
While it won’t fall out of place, the stand is easy to jostle, and I wouldn’t call it hands-free reading—at least not on its own.
Blame it on the digital age or on the Covid lockdown years, but the way we read has changed. We’re increasingly consuming books digitally, with several of us adopting ereaders instead of buying printed books. This change in behavior could be considered better for the planet – after all, no trees are getting destroyed to make said books.
That’s not the only reason to read ebooks. Did you know that about 26% of worldwide waste is paper and paperboard? Clearly we’re not all recycling as much as we should be. UK-based waste management company Business Waste has some interesting stats on how much paper we throw away, and it doesn’t even take into account all the paperbacks and text books we might be discarding. Sure, paper decomposes, but that takes 2-6 weeks and the ink could be poisoning our soil and groundwater.
On the other hand, manufacturing an electronic device arguably has a bigger carbon footprint. According to a New York Times report from 2010, a single ereader needs about 33 pounds of minerals and 79 gallons of water to make, and it has a limited lifespan.
(Image credit: Future)
Sustaining digital reading
Manufacturing processes may have changed since that report was published, and while I’m not saying they’re a sustainable process, there are some ereader makers trying to make a change.
Amazon’s 2022 Kindle was the first to be made using up to 75% recycled plastic in its body and up to 90% recycled magnesium. Amazon adopted a similar stance with the Kindle Scribe a little later that same year, with the larger note-taking ereader built with 48% recycled plastic and 100% recycled aluminum.
Life without a Kindle is like life without a library nearby.
Franz McLaren, Author (Home Lost)
Japanese-Canadian brand Kobo, however, is making ereading even more sustainable. The first tablet it released that used recycled materials was the Kobo Clara 2E – the E moniker indicating its eco-friendly origins. According to Kobo, its body was 80% recycled plastic, 10% of which was ocean bound. It was the same with the Kobo Elipsa 2E as well. The company’s 2024 ereaders take it even further – the Kobo Libra Colour, Clara Colour and Clara BW not only use recycled plastics (including ocean-bound waste) in their bodies, but the packaging is 100% recycled and all the words and images printed on the boxes are soy ink, which is biodegradable.
Like other electronic devices, ereaders also have a limited lifespan – on average, a Kindle or a Kobo will give you 6-8 years of use, but several can exceed 10 years of use. Kobo, however, is trying to extend the life of its devices, with the 2024 models possibly becoming the most repairable ereaders available today. The brand has partnered with iFixit to make repair kits and instructions available to potential customers, although this initiative hasn’t gotten off the ground yet – the Libra Colour, Clara Colour and Clara BW are still in pre-order as of this writing.
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I am yet to hear about other ereader brands, like Onyx and PocketBook, moving towards a greener future, but this is a good start, particularly from Kobo.
(Image credit: Future)
Kindle your (green) reading dreams
There hasn’t been much research done on which reading habit is more sustainable. There are a handful of studies, and a 2021 article published in the Journal of Library & Information Science Research tried to collate this information to determine whether ereading was more sustainable – the results were inconclusive. So, for the more environmentally conscious reader, which option do you choose?
Well, opting for one of the latest Kobo ereaders might be a good place to start and, despite some non-renewable materials being used to make it, a report from 2009 (via CNET) suggested using an ereader might be the greener option. At the time it was estimated that around 168kg of carbon dioxide was produced over the lifespan of a single Kindle DX, which was the most popular e-ink device back then.
Despite being a big number, it can offset about 1,074kg of CO2 produced if you were to buy just three print books each month over four years. Depending on how long the ereader lasted, it could compensate for up to 26,000kg of CO2 over its lifetime. Even if you aren’t a voracious reader, an ebook reader could still have a lower carbon footprint than paper books.
Until recently, I was an ebook sceptic, see; one of those people who harrumphs about the “physical pleasure of turning actual pages” and how ebook will “never replace the real thing”. Then I was given a Kindle as a present. That shut me up.
Charlie Brooker, Writer & TV presenter
There are other reading habits you can develop that would make digital reading a greener option than buying paperbacks. For starters, borrowing ebooks and digital magazines from the library instead of buying new titles in print not only means there’s less paper being used, but you’re also saving money on buying new books – digital or otherwise. That’s a win-win.
In the US, you can use your Kindle to borrow from a library; elsewhere, Kobo is your best option, with OverDrive baked into every model. You will need to check with your local library if they have OverDrive support, or borrowing directly from a Kobo device is a no go. You can, however, use the Libby mobile app if your library supports that.
If you’re someone who prefers to buy rather than borrow, an ereader becomes the more eco-friendly option if you read upwards of five 360-page hardback titles a year or around nine paperbacks. If you don’t read as much, then purchasing second-hand printed books is the better alternative.
No matter what reading format you choose, the most important thing is to dispose of the books or the device thoughtfully.
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NASA’s Perseverance rover collects a sample from a Martian rock using a drill bit on the end of its robotic arm.Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
NASA is seeking fresh ideas for delivering Mars rocks collected by the Perseverance rover to Earth. With its up to US$11 billion price tag, the current plan is “too expensive” and its schedule is “unacceptable”, said NASA administrator Bill Nelson. In the agency’s original vision, a spacecraft would carry a lander and a rocket to Mars. The rocket would launch the lander plus samples into Martian orbit, where they would meet another spacecraft that would then return the samples to Earth.
With average global sea surface temperatures breaking records every day for more than a year, corals have been pushed into the fourth planet-wide mass bleaching event. Over the past year, more than half of ocean waters home to coral reefs have experienced heat stress high enough to cause bleaching, in which coral turn white and sometimes die. And that number is increasing every week, says ecologist Derek Manzello, head of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coral Reef Watch program. Within a week or two, “this event is likely to be the most spatially extensive global bleaching event on record”.
Artificial intelligence (AI) systems can now nearly match — and sometimes exceed — human performance in tasks such as reading comprehension, image classification and mathematics. “The pace of gain has been startlingly rapid,” says social scientist Nestor Maslej, editor-in-chief of the annual AI Index. The report calls for new benchmarks to assess algorithms’ capabilities and highlights the need for a consensus on what ethical AI models would look like.
Researchers have identified three new giant kangaroo species that lived around 5 million to 40,000 years ago. One of them, Protemnodon viator, weighed up to 170 kilograms — about twice as much as the largest living kangaroos. While most Protemnodon species were thought to move on four legs, viator had long limbs and could probably hop long distances. “People often think we have a pretty weird modern ecosystem in Australia … but our animals are comparatively non-freaky compared to things we used to have in the past,” says palaeontologist Gilbert Price.
A near-complete fossil skeleton of the extinct giant kangaroo Protemnodon viator from Lake Callabonna, missing just a few bones from the hand, foot and tail (Flinders University).
Features & opinion
Many clinicians think that people who take obesity drugs such as semaglutide (sold as Wegovy and Ozempic) should take them for life. But the medications’ cost, brutal side effects and many other factors can force people off them. Those who quit usually regain a substantial amount of body weight, and often see a rebound in negative health effects such as high blood pressure, and increased blood glucose and cholesterol levels. So much work has gone into developing the drugs, says clinician-scientist Jamy Ard, “we need just as much — if not more — work to be done on what happens after people reach that goal in that weight-reduced state for the rest of their lives”.
Researchers often have to rely on rumours when deciding how to interact with a peer accused of harassment or bullying. Closed misconduct investigations ensure privacy — both for the accused and the accusers — but can also mean that harassers can continue their behaviour by simply moving institutions. Many advocate for semi-transparency, for example an information-sharing scheme for employers or institutions reporting anonymized misconduct statistics. Proactive policies are needed, such as conference codes of conduct, says astrophysicist Emma Chapman, who campaigned to ban non-disclosure agreements in disciplinary processes. “There is no easy answer, but that doesn’t mean that we default to having no answer,” she says.
Researchers have mapped the tens of thousands of cells and connections between them in one cubic millimetre of the mouse brain. The project, which took US$100 million and years of effort by more than 100 scientists, is a milestone of ‘connectomics’, which aims to chart the circuits that coordinate the organ’s many functions. Identifying the brain’s architectural principles could one day guide the development of artificial neural networks. Teams are now working on mapping larger areas, although a whole-brain reconstruction “may be a ‘Mars shot’ — it’s really much harder than going to the Moon”, says connectomics pioneer Jeff Lichtman.
A network of thousands of individual neurons from a small subset of cells in the Machine Intelligence from Cortical Networks project data set.Credit: MICrONS Explorer
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Expanding the story of space beyond well-known icons is key to inspiring the next generation of innovators and explorers, says planetary scientist Ellen Stofan, who oversees aspects of the Smithsonian Institution including the US National Air and Space Museum. (Nature | 7 min read)
Today, I’m considering ten of the more unconventional reasons for publishing a paper, including ‘symbolic immortality’ and revenge. The authors, career researcher William Donald and organizational psychologist Nicholas Duck, explain that their paper fulfils their own unconventional motivation: creating the citation “Donald and Duck (2024)”.
Please tell me about your unusual motivation for research — alongside any feedback on this newsletter — by sending an email to [email protected].
In April 2023, I wrote an article about how I wanted a small-screen ereader with a color display and writing features. It seems like Japanese-Canadian ereader maker Kobo heard me, releasing what I wanted – well, almost – in the Kobo Libra Colour. I would have loved an 8-inch device, but then I’ve been a fan of Kobo’s Libra line of 7-inch ereaders since the first one was launched in 2019. They’ve been TechRadar’s pick of the best ereaders since then, including the Kobo Libra 2 from 2021.
The trend continues with the Kobo Libra Colour, which is a double-whammy upgrade over its predecessor.
The Libra Colour looks identical to the Libra 2, which I think is great – why fix something that isn’t broken? The page-turn buttons and the slightly curved thicker bezel make the ereader really comfortable to hold and use in one hand. What’s new, though, is its display.
As the name indicates, the Kobo Libra Colour gets the E Ink Kaleido 3 screen that supports 4,096 hues, and is currently the best color e-paper display being used on consumer devices.
I compared the Libra Colour with what I would consider its biggest rival, the Onyx Boox Tab Mini C, and thanks to the smaller size of the screen (7 inches vs 7.8 inches), text and images on the Libra Colour are sharper and the colors slightly more saturated even though they both use the same screen technology. While I admit I prefer the slightly larger screen for note-taking, the 7-inch Libra Colour is the sweet spot when it comes to portability. It’s also a lot lighter than its competition.
While the color display alone would make it a worthy update, Kobo didn’t seem to be satisfied with just one new feature – the company also gave the Libra Colour writing capabilities. It inherits all the notebook features from the Kobo Sage and Kobo Elipsa 2E, but now lets you add some color to your notes. You can choose the ink and highlight colors, plus the type of pen, the thickness of the nib and more. And the handwriting recognition is something I’ve not been able to fault for a long time, but that, of course, depends on how badly you tend to scribble.
Writing on the Libra Colour is different to how it feels like on the Kobo Sage or the Elipsa 2E – it’s a lot smoother, not at all like writing on actual paper. It’s not quite as good as writing on the AmazonKindle Scribe either – it feels like you’re gliding over excessively smooth plastic and is my only complaint with this device.
Reading and writing in color takes a little extra power, so Kobo has updated the processor too, now using a 2GHz CPU compared to the 1GHz we saw in the Libra 2. And, of course, the same features can drain the battery, so the capacity here is larger as well, going from a 1,500mAh pack to 2,050mAh.
You still get 32GB of (non-expandable) storage, Bluetooth support so you can listen to audiobooks, and USB-C charging that debuted with the Libra 2 in 2021.
And you get all this for not a lot more than what the Libra 2 retails for at the time of writing, which is something I have to give Kobo credit for. This is arguably one of the more affordable color note-taking tablets on the market now and offers excellent value, just like its predecessor.
While not as saturated as you’d see on an LCD screen, the Kobo Libra Colour displays colors well on its e-paper screen (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Kobo Libra Colour review: Price and availability
Launch price of $219.99 / £219.99 / AU$359.95
Available to purchase off shelves from April 30, 2024
Kobo Stylus 2 and sleepcover sold separately
Available in two colors – black and white – the Kobo Libra Colour is quite competitively priced at $219.99 / £219.99 / AU$359.95. That, as I’ve just mentioned, makes it a lot more affordable than some of its competition. However, it doesn’t ship with a stylus, so if you want to take full advantage of the Libra Colour’s new features, you’ll need to invest an additional $69.99 / £69.95 / AU$119.95 for the Kobo Stylus 2. The good thing about this pen is that it charges via USB-C, so there’s no ongoing battery costs to worry about.
Even with the price of the stylus piled on, it’s still cheaper than the likes of the Onyx Boox Tab Mini C, which is currently my pick for the best color ereader and retails for $450 / £450 / AU$765. That said, it’s hard comparing the two as the Onyx ships with a capacitive stylus, has a bigger 7.8-inch screen, has 64GB of storage (compared to 32GB in the Libra Colour) and a 5,000mAh battery that’s double of what Kobo offers in its biggest ereader.
Another point of comparison would be the 7.8-inch PocketBook InkPad Color 3 that will set you back $329 / £345 / AU$595 and not offer you any writing features.
Long story short, the Kobo Libra Colour, just like its predecessor, is pretty good value. To add a little more comparison, the Kobo Libra 2 currently retails for $189.99 / £169.99 / AU$319.95 at full price, so it really isn’t a huge leap in price.
You can choose to view your library as a list or as a gallery in the My Books tab (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Kobo Libra Colour review: Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Display type:
E Ink Kaleido 3
Screen size:
7 inches
Resolution:
300ppi for B&W; 150ppi for color
Processor:
2GHz
Frontlight:
ComfortLight Pro (warm and cold)
Storage:
32GB (non-expandable)
Battery:
2,050mAh
Water protection:
IPX8
Software:
Linux based
Connectivity:
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C
File support:
10 document, 5 image, 1 audio
Dimensions:
144.6 x 161 x 8.3 mm
Weight:
199.5g
Kobo Libra Colour review: Design and display
Identical body to the Kobo Libra 2
7-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 touchscreen
Magnetic edge to hold the (optional) stylus
For someone who’s used the previous two Kobo Libra ereaders, I will admit to initially being a little disappointed that the design hasn’t changed over the Libra 2. That’s only because I’ve been seeing it since 2019, but I’ll also be the first to admit that it’s one of the most ergonomic designs I’ve used in an ereader.
Built for single-hand use, the edge of the thicker bezel is still slightly curved upward, with the two page-turn buttons perfectly placed to provide a comfortable grip. The back panel is textured, which adds to the secure grip, and the power switch on the rear is still the same round, concave. Also inherited from the Libra 2 is the round, white indicator light that glows when you pop a USB-C cable into the charging port. The entire thing is still encased in plastic, which is made from 80% recycled materials, including ocean-bound plastics.
It’s quite impressive that Kobo has managed to keep the weight of the device down despite using a larger capacity battery in the Libra Colour. It weighs just 199.5g without a case, which is lighter than the Libra 2 that tips the scales at 215g.
Subtle design elements make the Kobo Libra Colour quite ergonomic (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
For anyone who’s planning on using the new Libra Colour for note-taking and scribbling, Kobo has ensured the stylus stays magnetically secure on the edge of the slim bezel. I’ve complained previously that this magnetic edge on some ereaders isn’t always very secure, but it seems quite strong here.
Speaking of the pen: it’s recommended that you use the Kobo Stylus 2 with the Libra Colour, which is the only one of Kobo’s pens that will stick to the side of the device. That said, the older Kobo Stylus will also work on the Libra Colour, but can’t be secured magnetically and requires a single AAAA battery. The Stylus 2, on the other hand, charges via USB-C and is, thus, lighter.
What stands out from a design perspective is the screen – it can display colors! It still retains the 7-inch screen size of the other Libra devices, but utilizes the E Ink Kaleido 3 display that I’ve seen in other color ereaders like the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C and the Onyx Boox Tab Mini C. While this screen tech can display 4,096 colors, they don’t appear as saturated as they look on a phone, laptop or tablet – they’re a little muted in comparison, but that’s the limitation of the e-paper screen technology.
The 7-inch screen on the Libra Colour, however, makes the colors look a touch truer as compared to what you’d see on a 7.8-inch or larger e-apaper screen, even when the bigger devices share the same screen tech and resolution. This is because on the smaller screen the pixels are packed more tightly together, providing more contrast. You get 150ppi resolution when reading in color (as with all other color ereaders using this screen), but it’s 300ppi when you’re viewing something in black and white, which is standard for monochrome ebook readers.
A textured rear panel adds to the Kobo Libra Colour’s grip (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
While Onyx uses a glass sheet as the top layer of its display, Kobo seems to have adopted plastic – one way to keep costs low. This top layer is very smooth, which you can feel when writing on the device and the experience of scribbling on the Libra Colour is likely going to take some getting used to. It feels like you’re writing over a sheet of very smooth plastic, with no friction at all and I can’t say I’m a fan.
As with all the more premium Kobo ereaders, the Libra Colour screen is also lit up with ComfortLight Pro which, when set to, automatically changes the light hue from cool to warmer tones as the day progresses. This reduces the amount of blue light hitting your eye closer to bedtime.
One issue I’ve had previously with some ereaders, particularly with a black chassis, are oily fingerprint smudges. I was sent the white colorway of the Libra Colour for this review which, like the Libra 2, shows no such thing. I haven’t seen the black version of this device so can’t tell for sure whether this will be an issue or not, but I didn’t have this problem with the Libra H2O, so I’m going to hope not.
The USB-C port can be used to charge the device or transfer files (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Kobo Libra Colour review: User interface
Easy-to-use, streamlined interface
Full suite of Kobo’s writing features
Notes easily exported to Google Drive and Dropbox
I’ve always been a fan of Kobo’s user interface – it’s streamlined, very easy to navigate and wrap your head around. It only takes minutes to figure your way around if you’ve never used a Kobo device before. That hasn’t changed but, for the Libra line, there is one major difference to the interface.
There is now the My Notebooks tab smack bang in the center of the bottom navigation bar. This gives you the full suite of Kobo’s writing features, including the Advanced Notebooks that I said made the Kobo Elipsa 2E a better note-taker than the Amazon Kindle Scribe. I will admit that writing on a 7-inch screen, particularly if there’s a lot to jot down, can feel a little constricted, but then I have been using the 10-inch Kobo Elipsa 2E as my everyday ereader and note-taker for the last few months, so dropping down to a smaller notebook size is my bias and may not bother other users.
The other change to the interface is the addition of color… and I don’t mean the book covers displayed on the home screen. Every time you select a tab from the bottom navigation bar, it changes color from black to brown. In fact, if you’re downloading books – whether from Dropbox, Google Drive or the Kobo Store – the status bar is also the same color. That’s a nice touch that I haven’t seen in other color ereaders I’ve tested.
Everything else about the Libra Colour is quintessential Kobo – good file format support, including EPUBs that Amazon requires you to jump through hoops to read on a Kindle. There are a total of 10 document file types that Kobo supports by default, and this includes text and comic formats. There are also four image files supported. The only audio file support, though, is for Kobo’s own audiobooks that you can download from the Kobo Store or via a subscription to Kobo Plus. Note that Kobo Plus isn’t available in all markets that Kobo operates in, but it is in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and select European countries.
Kobo’s user interface is very easy to wrap your head around (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
As I’ve mentioned earlier in this review, you can sign into either Dropbox or Google Drive to help transfer books. The partnership with Google is relatively new, so Kobo has a single-page instruction sheet (in PDF) already in the device’s library. It’s very seamless to use either cloud service, and that also holds true for transferring any notes or notebooks. The latter can also be accessed via the Kobo app on your phone if you need any of them in a pinch.
Unlike the newer monochrome Kobo devices like the Sage and Elipsa 2E, there is no dark mode on the Libra Colour because the E Ink screen used doesn’t support it and, if you want to see colors, you aren’t going to need it. However, there are amber LEDs that allow you to change the white light hue to warmer tones if you want to cut down on blue light. And you can easily adjust this by tapping on top of the screen to bring up the quick controls. Like the previous Libra 2 and the newer models, you can set the light temperature to change automatically at a specific time in the evening or night. You can also slide up and down the left edge of the screen to change brightness.
OverDrive, as with all Kobo ereaders, is still baked in and despite it being replaced by Libby on mobile, it is still supported on the e-ink tablets. This means, if your local public library also has OverDrive support, you can borrow digital books and magazines directly from your device without having to leave home – you just need a library card.
Writing and drawing on the Kobo Libra Colour feels like the stylus is gliding (or slipping) over very smooth plastic (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Pocket support is also integrated into the Libra Colour. This is a browser plugin that allows you to save online articles to read later – you just sign into your Pocket account on the Kobo and you’ll have access to anything you’ve previously saved.
Auto-rotation is also available, so you can read in either portrait or landscape mode. This can get a little annoying, though, as a small change in angle when holding the device can change the orientation of the page you’re on. So you can lock the orientation to one or the other to prevent this from happening.
Admittedly Onyx Boox devices give you plenty more options when it comes to customization and functionality within the user interface, but I think they’re overkill and it takes a steep learning curve to get the hang of it all.
You can highlight passages in color and add handwritten annotations to books on the Kobo Libra Colour (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Kobo Libra Colour review: Performance
Sharp display, with good colors due to screen size
Excellent handwriting recognition
Very responsive, but a couple of functions have a significant lag
Adding features to a tech product means it’s going to need some extra power to make sure things run smoothly and Kobo has done that by upgrading the processor for the Libra Colour. Instead of the previous 1GHz CPU, it’s now 2GHz and that seems to do the trick. After two weeks with the Libra Colour, I’ve had nothing to complain about, although there are two very specific functions that suffer from a significant lag.
Opening an ebook from either the home screen or the My Books page keeps you waiting about 7-10 seconds before something happens. Similarly, the Back To Home button on the top left corner of a page also takes a few seconds to initiate. I’m putting this down to teething problems for now and it’s a software issue, so I think it’s likely fixable via a firmware update.
Everything else, though, runs smoothly. There’s no lag when writing and drawing, neither are there any when triggering a page turn either via the buttons or tapping on the screen. Using the onscreen keyboard is also quite good.
The Kobo Libra Colour’s smaller size makes colors appear a touch more saturated than on a larger screen like the Onyx Boox Tab Mini C (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
I’ve tested color ereaders before in the 7.8-inch size category as well as 10-inch, and I’ve come to expect a lack of saturation when viewing in color. The Libra Colour exceeded my expectations, not because Kobo is doing anything differently, but because the smaller screen packs the pixels more tightly, adding more contrast which, in turn, gives some images depth and better saturation. 7 inches isn’t ideal for reading comics and graphic novels, but just to see better color saturation I would recommend it. Even highlight colors available when reading a title – which are the same across all color-screen ereaders – look a touch more saturated in comparison to larger-screen devices.
One thing that Kobo has always done well is handwriting recognition and that’s been brought over to the Libra Colour. This feature only works in the Advanced Notebooks when you want to digitize your scribbles, but it can even recognize sub- and superscripts. I had two other colleagues try this feature and Kobo almost aced it each time – it misspelt only one word that no human was able to decipher anyway.
Handwriting recognition on the Kobo Libra Colour is spot on most of the time (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
During my limited time with the Libra Colour, I experienced no ghosting – something that bothers me no end with Onyx ereaders. Two weeks with the device, however, may not be enough to say for sure that ghosting won’t be a problem, and I would expect some along the way. Still, I am impressed.
Additional functionality with a better CPU needs to be matched with enough battery life to keep an ereader going for weeks as opposed to days. So Kobo has upped the battery capacity in the Libra Colour to 2,050mAh compared to 1,500mAh in the Libra 2. This got me about 14 hours of use in total.
My testing was a little sporadic, averaging about 45 minutes of use over each day over two weeks (sometimes a little more, sometimes less). I started using the device straight out of the box at 82% battery life and didn’t top up till it hit 19% after two weeks. I’d say that’s pretty good, considering I was writing, reading and listening to audiobooks via Bluetooth. I had Wi-Fi on all the time, the screen was set at 20% brightness, and a refresh set to every 5 pages. It’s also important to note that a page refresh occurs more frequently when writing, and every erase triggers another refresh too. So the bigger battery capacity is definitely working in Kobo’s favor here.
Topping up via the USB-C port is quick, but like the previous Kobos, trickle charging kicks in at about 96%. It took the Libra Colour about 55 minutes to go from 19% to 96%, then another 45 minutes to top up completely. While it might seem annoying to have to wait that long for just a tiny bit more charge, trickle charging can preserve the battery, adding to its overall lifespan.
Should I buy the Kobo Libra Colour?
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Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
It’s competitively priced and possibly one of the most affordable color ereaders on the market.
5/5
Design & display
A winning design remains, with a display that works really well in 7 inches. Writing on it, however, feels awkward.
4.5/5
User interface
Kobo’s UX has always been streamlined and the winning streak continues.
5/5
Performance
Responsive and sharp, with great battery life, there’s little to fault here.
5/5
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider
I think the Kobo Libra Colour is the Japanese-Canadian brand’s best device yet, but if you’re not convinced and need alternatives, take a look at the two options below, including a specs comparison with this ereader.
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Header Cell – Column 0
Kobo Libra Colour
Onyx Boox Tab Mini C
Kobo Clara Colour
Price
$219.99 / £219.99 / AU$359.95
$450 / £450 / AU$765
$149.99 / £139.99 / AU$259.95
Screen
7-inch E Ink Kaleido 3
7.8-inch E Ink Kaleido 3
6-inch E Ink Kaleido 3
Resolution
300ppi B&W / 150ppi color
300ppi B&W / 150ppi color
300ppi B&W / 150ppi color
Operating system
Linux based
Android 11
Linux based
Storage
32GB
64GB
16GB
CPU
2GHz
2GHz
2GHz
Battery
2,050mAh
5,000mAh
1,500mAh
Connectivity
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C
Waterproofing
IPX8
None
IPX8
File support (including images & audio)
16
24
16
Speakers
None
Built-in; dual
None
Dimensions
144.6 x 161 x 8.3 mm
194 x 136.5 x 8.3 mm
112 x 160 x 9.2 mm
Weight
199.5g
310g
174g
How I tested the Kobo Libra Colour
The Kobo Stylus 2 can stay magnetically secure to the slim edge of the Kobo Libra Colour (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Used as main reading and writing device for two weeks
Listened to audiobooks via a Kobo Plus subscription
Used Google Drive to transfer files, including notes written on the device
My regular e-ink device is the Kobo Elipsa 2E, but switching to the Libra Colour was just a matter of signing into my Kobo account to sync all my ebooks, notes and also access my Kobo Plus subscription.
I also have an existing library of ebooks in the EPUB format saved in Google Drive, so signing into that via the Libra Colour’s More tab gave me instant access to those, from where I saved a handful of titles to read on the device.
While I can’t draw to save my life, I did some random scribbling on the device – both while reading a book as well as in notebooks. I even got some colleagues to try the handwriting recognition feature.
I have an existing Kobo Plus subscription which gave me access to audiobooks on the Libra Colour, and I spent about 20 minutes listening to one title during my testing of the device.
All new notes and annotations that I made on the Libra Colour automatically updated to my Kobo Elipsa 2E as soon as it connected to Wi-Fi, giving me access across multiple devices.
If you are searching for an innovative multifunctional reading light you might be interested in the ErgoRead. Relax while you read using the heated function. ErgoRead is not just a reading light, but a comprehensive gadget that offers heating and cooling features, Bluetooth connectivity, and a high-capacity battery. This all-in-one device is designed to enhance the reading experience while providing comfort and convenience to its users.
At the heart of ErgoRead is an 8000mAh high-capacity dual polymer lithium battery. It employs advanced 2C discharge technology, ensuring an impressive battery life of up to 32 hours. This robust battery performance allows users to enjoy prolonged reading sessions without the worry of frequent charging. Moreover, the device supports Type-C fast charging, a feature that allows the device to be used while it is being charged, providing continuous functionality.
Limited early bird offers are now available for the artful project from roughly $59 or £47 (depending on current exchange rates).
The motor of ErgoRead is designed to last, boasting a lifespan of up to 25,000 hours. This longevity ensures consistent performance, making the device a reliable companion for avid readers. It’s not just the motor’s lifespan that impresses, but also its quiet operation. With a minimum noise level of 25dB, ErgoRead ensures that your reading environment remains peaceful and undisturbed.
ErgoRead multifunctional reading light
One of the standout features of ErgoRead is its heated scarf function. It warms up in just 3 seconds and offers customizable temperature settings ranging from 105-140℉. This feature is designed to promote blood circulation and provide relief for neck soreness, muscle tension, and spasms. This heated function adds a layer of comfort and relaxation to your reading sessions, making it an ideal accessory for those who enjoy reading for extended periods.
ErgoRead also features a 4-way channel design with three adjustable wind speeds. This design offers a comfortable neck-hanging experience, adding to the overall comfort of the user. The device also incorporates micro-perforated air outlets and an embedded bladeless turbine design. These features not only enhance the airflow but also prevent hair from getting caught in the device, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
Assuming that the ErgoRead funding campaign successfully raises its required pledge goal and the project completion progresses smoothly, worldwide shipping is expected to take place sometime around April 2024. To learn more about the ErgoRead reading light project survey the promotional video below.
In addition to its heating and cooling features, ErgoRead also houses built-in dual speakers and supports Bluetooth wireless voice calls. The upward sound projection ensures superior sound quality, making it possible to enjoy audiobooks or take calls while reading. The clarity of sound reception adds to the multifunctionality of the device, making it more than just a reading light.
The reading light itself is designed with the user’s comfort in mind. It features high CRI, anti-blue light, and flicker-free technology. These features work together to reduce eye strain, making it easier to read for extended periods. The device also allows users to adjust the color temperature and brightness settings, offering a tailored reading experience.
ErgoRead is a multifunctional reading light that goes beyond providing illumination. Its high-capacity battery, heating and cooling features, and built-in speakers make it a versatile device. Whether you’re looking for a reading light that reduces eye strain, a device that promotes blood circulation, or a gadget that offers excellent sound quality for audiobooks and calls, ErgoRead offers it all. It’s a comprehensive gadget that enhances the reading experience while providing comfort and convenience.
For a complete list of all available early bird specials, stretch goals, extra media and system requirements for the reading light, jump over to the official ErgoRead crowd funding campaign page by proceeding to the link below.
Source : Kickstarter
Disclaimer: Participating in Kickstarter campaigns involves inherent risks. While many projects successfully meet their goals, others may fail to deliver due to numerous challenges. Always conduct thorough research and exercise caution when pledging your hard-earned money.
Filed Under: Gadgets News, Top News
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Once trying to find the best reading light that gave plenty of illumination and allows you to turn the pages with ease, would have been a difficult job. However since the launch of the Bowio reading light or other reading lights look inferior. Now the development team that brought the original has launched a second-generation version of in my opinion the best reading light at the in the aptly named Bowio 2.0.
The Bowio 2.0’s design is not just aesthetically pleasing, but it’s also functional. One of its standout features is the ability to control the brightness by touch. This ensures an uninterrupted, tailored reading session, allowing readers to adjust the light to their preference without having to pause their reading.
Bowio 2 reading light
This feature, combined with the light’s uniform illumination, ensures that your reading session doesn’t disturb sleep or others around you. This makes the Bowio 2.0 an ideal choice for personal reading setups, or even as a thoughtful gift for book lovers. Backer early bird pledges are now available for the ground-breaking project from roughly $59 or £49 (depending on current exchange rates).
In addition to its functional benefits, the Bowio 2.0 is also mindful of the environment. Its packaging is made from 100% recycled materials and premium 380gsm FSC-certified Kraft board. This environmentally friendly approach is a reflection of the brand’s commitment to sustainability, ensuring that readers can enjoy their favorite books while minimizing their environmental impact.
The new Bowio 2.0 doesn’t just stop at improved lighting and environmentally friendly packaging. It also boasts a richer color palette, an intuitive color-matching dial, and premium leathers, all in a sleeker, lighter form. These upgrades are powered by entirely upgraded electronics, demonstrating the brand’s commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.
But the Bowio brand isn’t just stopping at reading lights. They’re also expanding into gaming with the Bowio GameLight. This new product is designed for Game Masters and is compatible with both carton and wooden screens. The GameLight enhances visibility during gameplay without disrupting the ambient dimness, casting a gentle glow over game components. This reduces fatigue during long gaming sessions, making the gaming experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
Assuming that the Bowio 2.0 funding campaign successfully raises its required pledge goal and manufacturing progresses smoothly, worldwide shipping is expected to take place sometime around July 2024. To learn more about the Bowio 2.0 the best reading light project observe the promotional video below.
The best reading light
The Bowio 2.0 stands as a testament to the brand’s commitment to creating a superior reading environment. Its unique design, brightness control, uniform illumination, and environmentally friendly packaging make it a standout in the reading light market. With the addition of the GameLight, Bowio is expanding its reach, creating innovative solutions for both readers and gamers alike. Whether you’re a book lover or a gaming enthusiast, Bowio’s products promise to enhance your experience with thoughtful design and innovative features.
For a complete list of all available project pledges, stretch goals, extra media and full specifications for the the best reading light, jump over to the official Bowio 2.0 crowd funding campaign page by following the link below.
Source : Kickstarter
Disclaimer: Participating in Kickstarter campaigns involves inherent risks. While many projects successfully meet their goals, others may fail to deliver due to numerous challenges. Always conduct thorough research and exercise caution when pledging your hard-earned money.
Filed Under: Design News, Top News
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Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, timeswonderful may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
