Today Arta Tech has announced the release of a new Android-based ebook reader with a flush glass screen called the inkBOOK Obsidian. It’s available from Onyx-Boox.com and it sells for 145 euros (117 euros without VAT).
Despite the website’s name, it’s actually not an Onyx device. The inkBOOK Obsidian is a custom version of the Boyue Shine. This is the first time this newer model has become available anywhere.
The software is based on Android 4.2.2 like Boyue’s other ebook readers, so the software is likely very similar to what’s on the various T61 and T62 models.
The main thing that differentiates the inkBOOK Obsidian from the earlier models is a new streamlined design.
It has a flush glass screen similar to the Kindle Voyage and the new Nook GlowLight Plus. The cool thing with this model is it still has physical page-turn buttons on each side, something the other brands are lacking.
The inkBOOK Obsidian has a 6-inch E Ink Carta screen, but it’s not the newer super high resolution version. It has a 1024 x 758 resolution screen (212 ppi).
Like other Android ereaders, the inkBOOK Obsidian comes with preinstalled apps for ePub and PDF files, and you can install other Android apps for additional formats, such as the Kindle app.
The device also sports a frontlight and a microSD card slot. It is an 8GB model, with probably around 5GB usable.
Arta Tech is based in Poland but they sell their ereaders worldwide. I’ll keep an eye out for the new inkBOOK Obsidian on Amazon, as it may turn up for sale there too down the line.
Tech Specs for inkBOOK Obsidian
- 6-inch E Ink Carta display.
- 1024 x 758 pixel resolution (212 dpi).
- Flat glass screen with capacitive touch.
- Frontlight.
- Android 4.2.2 operating system.
- Dual-Core Cortex A9 1.0GHz processor.
- 8 GB internal storage.
- 512 MB RAM.
- MicroSD card slot for cards up to 32GB.
- Physical page-turn buttons.
- Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n)
- Pre-installed apps: Library (Books), Internet browser, Dictionary (QuickDic), Downloads, Midiapolis Drive, Email, File manager, Images, Bookshop, Midiapolis News Reader, Midiapolis App Store, Notepad, Settings, User Manual.
- Supported formats: EPUB and PDF (reflow) with Adobe DRM (ADEPT), MOBI (without DRM), TXT, FB2, HTML, RTF, CHM.
- Battery: 2800mAh Li-ION Polymer.
- Dimensions: 158 x 118 x 8 mm.
- Weight: 196 grams.
- Price: 149 euros.
Will you be testing this? Have been running a rooted Nook Glowlight for some years now but only having Android 2.x is starting to become a limitation.
Yeah, I’ll probably review it once it becomes available on Amazon and it’s easier to get here in the US.
I would love a side by side review with the Energy Sistem pro+ 🙂 It’s less than a $20 difference but the battery span and perfomance may be the key for readers.
The battery life and overall performance are likely identical considering the fact the inkBook is basically the same exact device just in a different shell. The battery and processor and specs are all the same. The main difference is it’s thinner an lighter with the new design.
Again,another mediocre six inch e-reader in this oversaturated market!The fun part is that goodreader is investing on another six inch!
I have no problem with six-inch, I like six inch readers. My problem with it is that it does not contain the newer 1448 x 1072 screen. The reason that the market is saturated (not over-saturated) with six inch readers is that this is the size that sells best. Other sizes have been tried, but have (at best) achieved niche status.
Lucky you!No wonder why e-reader makers still produce six inch toy like e-readers! I believe tablet makers filled the gap and present large enough screen size.Don`t people like a 10 inch e-reader screen like a tablet?They passionately purchase for it.The reason is that they need large screen size,otherwise only 7-8 inch tablets might be available! E-reader makers should do something,otherwise they may lose completely market to the tablets! Look at apple,it`s going to make 13 inch tablet!I had the somy 13 inch e-reader for a while,but it`s closed,limited, and doesn`t run android.
“Don`t people like a 10 inch e-reader screen like a tablet?”
No. Larger screens are only necessary for reading fixed-formats like comics and pdfs. For text-only formats (like most ebooks), 6 inches is quite adequate, and also lighter and small enough to carry in a jacket pocket.
I actually started eReading on a 5 inch Pocketbook 360. I now have both a 6 inch eReader for eBooks and a 10.5 tablet for comics and pdfs — and the former is definitely the more comfortable for text-only reading.
That’s very intriguing,but having two devices for the same purpose is optional choice but not completely wise enough to convince me get them.Besides,at my age,large e-screen is a blessing.I waited for Samsung Galaxy S2 to arrive for testing its reading mode.Completely disappointing in terms of reflecting light right into your eyes!Eye strain is somewhat annoying for people who heavily invest on academic reading,not half an hour fun reading in bus or metro! Academic people or students are the people that I mentioned earlier are the ones who need large e-screen,but not definitely on the tablet!The unfortunate is that they are forced to stick to tablets because other fun readers persuade ereader makers that we are quite happy,build up 6 inch screen forever for us,we will change them in the years ahead like our old fashioned shoes!
Amir — RE: “That’s very intriguing…”
1) Since the rise of smartphones, phablets and tablets, eInk eReaders have become a niche market. Larger (7-8″) ones are a niche of a niche, and very large (10+”) ones are an extreme niche of a niche. It is therefore hardly surprising that not many OEMs are concentrating on them (Onyx Boox seems the only one these days).
2) For most users, ***portability*** is a major feature of an eReader, so a large (and particularly a 10+” one) eInk eReader is ***NOT*** an adequate substitute. It is quite unreasonable to expect us to sacrifice this feature (as well as face a higher price) to increase sales of larger eReaders to meet your needs. My 10.5″ tablet has never left the house since I got it, and seldom moves more than a couple of feet (its charging station is right beside my reading chair).
I too want a 6 inch reader with the 1448 x 1072 screen, it’s the most convenient size for ease of carrying (fits in my jacket inside pocket) but still large enough for easy reading (I don’t read comics etc). Physical page turn buttons are a must and I’d dearly love it to have a reasonable amount of internal memory for apps. The C67 for example is reputed to only have 350MB available for this use. I’d like to see more reviewers cover the available space for apps in their reviews too.
@Hrafn-“Since the rise…”
Thanks for the informative feedback.This is what I call it:”Tyranny of the majority”!Because so many people like versatile but portable device,others should follow them as well.I had my Sony 13.3″ e-reader all the day by my side:In university,in lab,in my teaching class,etc.What you have mentioned is dedicated for entertainment,but for me not!You see,in this philosophical argument,we have different points of view,just because we have different purpose of using e-reader!Unfortunately,e-readers fail to comply with their customers and this is sadly mistaken.They will eventually lose the market to the cellphones,phablets,tablets,etc.This is the price that they will pay for when e-reader makers pretend to be deaf and dumb.Consumers are not fool to only adjust their expectation to what e-reader makers are making.Look at the news.The era of owning e-readers are falling! Tablets are going to replace the netbooks and probably notebooks in the near future.The overall screen size in each series is going to rise.This is not pretty convincing to say that 10 inch tablet is convicted to be remained home,just because small screen fits my needs!As I told you before,lucky you,you are swimming against the river stream!
1) Call it rather the ‘tyranny of reality’ — in this case the reality of “Economies of Scale”, the fact that for most products the more people that buy it the cheaper it becomes to sell it. eReader buyers are under no moral obligation to buy an eReader that ***DOES NOT*** meet their needs than a bald man is under obligation to buy shampoo.
2) The reason why people read is far less economically relevant than their willingness to put down money for an eReader. If a billion people suddenly became willing to buy an eReader to read silly limericks, then you can guarantee that an OEM would very quickly build one designed for this purpose. You should in fact be grateful to the people who read “for entertainment”, because without their numbers eInk would not have gotten off the ground in the first place. Far from for-entertainment eReading obstructing ‘serious’ eReading, ‘serious’ eReading is riding for-entertainment’s coattails. I would further point out that for-entertainment uses drives the majority of electronics development more generally.
3) You might think that this is a “philosophical” argument, but it seems to me that it is primarily an ***economic*** argument, grounded in a number of economic facts, and that any “philosophical” argument, that does not admit these facts, is too hypothetical and counter-factual to be remotely relevant.