Kobo has added to its family of E-ink digital readers with the launch of the waterproof Kobo Aura H2O. Kobo president Michael Tamblyn said surveys conducted by the company found that over 60% of customers wanted to be able to use their e-readers by water without worrying. The launch of the Kobo Aura H2O will allow readers "to take their e-books where ever they would like," Tamblyn said.
The new device, which will be available for sale October 1, can be submerged in water for 30 minutes with no ill effects, Tamblyn said, adding that the waterproofing will not affect any of the device's functionality.
The Aura H2O will have a suggested price of $179.99 in Canada and the U.S. and will also be available for sale in the U.K., France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain. The introduction of the Aura H2O is part of Kobo's commitment to provide consumers who want digital devices primarily for reading books with more choices, Tamblyn said.
