Kobo increases capacity of Arc tablet to beat Kindle Fire HD
updated 01:59 pm EDT, Tue September 18, 2012
Increases to three options, highest at 32GB
Kobo is extending its oncoming tablet release by including options with a higher storage capacity. The Kobo Arc was originally set to be released with an 8GB and 16GB model, but has decided to instead release three versions with memory sizes of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. The sudden capacity change could be a response to the Amazon Kindle Fire HD having a maximum of 32GB.
The 1.5GHz OMAP 4470 dual-core processor, the 7-inch 1280x800 IPD LCD screen, and the 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera all remain the same. The battery is still claimed to last 10 hours continuously without a Wi-Fi connection and up to two weeks on standby. Other details, such as the front-facing stereo speakers with SRS TruMedia sound, the built-in microphone, and the addition of Tapestries to the user interface have only now been revealed.
Tapestries will allow users to "pin" content, such as websites, articles, eBooks, movies, and photos, and the recommendations engine willsuggest other content through a Discovery Ribbon. It's suggested by Kobo that the system will be more intuitive, as it will learn the personal tastes of the user instead of monitoring previous purchases and the browsing history. The system will run on Android 4.0 initially, however the company is working on a Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) update for the future.
Due in November, the Kobo Arc will cost $200, $250, and $300 for 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB capacities respectively.
