Blog Post – Kobo Arc HD Review

Kobo released the Arc in 2012 as competitor to Barnes & Noble's Nook Tablet and HD series, and Amazon's Kindle Fire. A few months back, Kobo brought us the Arc HD, as a way to get into the high definition market, as well as offering a 10-inch model to supplement their 7-inch device. The difference between the two devices in some ways makes the HD a step up from the standard Arc, but a few features make it merely a lateral move. I'll start with the less-than-stellar changes to the Arc HD, beginning with the audio. The Arc offered dual front-facing speakers, allowing a stereo listening experience, while the Arc HD moves the single speaker to the back. If you're using headphones with the device, you're not really losing anything. However, sharing video or audio with friends may suffer. I also am not fond of the change from the power button to the slider on the top of the device. The projected battery life is down two hours from the Arc (10 hours) to the Arc HD (8 hours), and the 64 GB storage option is no longer available. Like I said – there are just a few features that don't stack up with the previous model. But now onto the changes for the better. Obviously, the high definition screen is a step up from the standard definition of the older Arc model, especially now that they offer a 10-inch device, in addition to the 7-inch model I reviewed. No matter what size Kobo Arc HD you have, OverDrive Streaming Videos will look fantastic. If your library hasn't added Streaming Video to your OverDrive collection, contact your Collection Development Specialist to get started with this new popular format. The processor has been upgraded from a dual-core to a quad-core, making the device more responsive and faster. Apps open and screens load super quickly, including web pages. You get Jelly Bean as the Android OS, meaning you get a relatively current Android experience with minimal overlay from Kobo. This gives you the feel of an Android tablet that just happens to have Kobo integration. Another change from the Arc to the Arc HD that I really enjoyed was the exclusion of "Tapestries." With Tapestries, Kobo offered a way to organize apps in much the same way as the Android OS allows through the use of folders; however, they felt a little unwieldy on the Arc. Instead, they now offer a home screen page called "Collections" which arranges your groups of apps into a configuration resembling a bookshelf – it's a nice aesthetic touch for the avid reader. The Arc HD is also Google Play certified, giving you instant access to Google's large collection of Android apps. This means you have quick access to install OverDrive Media Console on the device, and jump right into reading. Justin Noszek is a Support Services Specialist at OverDrive.

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