3 methods this Android E Ink pill outshines my Kobo

Boox is an attention-grabbing firm. The China-based E Ink machine maker sells so many products that it is tough to determine what one is best for you. There’s the tiny, phone-like

Palma 2
, the dear, stylus-equipped Note Max, after which the extra e-reader-like Go collection, together with the Go Coloration 7 (and shortly, the Go Coloration 7 Gen II).

Given the Boox Go 7’s 7-inch coloration display screen dimension and general design, the $250 pill is designed to compete instantly with e-readers like

Kindle’s Colorsoft
and

Kobo’s Libra Color
. Whereas I am nonetheless loyal to my Libra Coloration as a result of I respect its single-use simplicity, over the previous few weeks I’ve jumped into Boox’s versatile, Android-powered E Ink world.

There are fairly just a few issues I do not like in regards to the E Ink pill that I am going to cowl in an upcoming story, but it surely’s additionally stunned me in just a few methods, significantly with regard to how versatile it’s.

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Accessing Android apps is extra helpful than I anticipated

There’s nonetheless simply sufficient friction to stop me from doomscrolling

I at all times discover it tough to focus on studying longer-form content material on my smartphone, pill, or laptop computer. The siren tune of the endless doomscroll or a random

YouTube
video at all times calls out to me, and I discover myself ditching no matter I am studying way more rapidly than I might like. Because of this I have been huge on single-use e-readers just like the Kobo Libra Color. Regardless of their limitations, they maintain me centered and, in flip, truly studying.

However after spending just a few weeks with Boox’s Go Coloration 7, I perceive the enchantment. All through the day, I am going to typically take down Notes in Google Maintain, whether or not it is grocery lists, duties I want to finish, and even Pocket-lint headline or story concepts. Because the Go Coloration 7 is powered by Android, I can simply open up

Keep
and write down no matter I must with out having to drag out my cellphone. The expertise is not precisely easy, even once you flip up the app’s refresh charge (extra on this later), but it surely works and has me turning to my cellphone rather less, which I respect.

This brings me to my subsequent level. A part of what makes the Boox Go Coloration 7 work is which you could’t comfortably use it as an E Ink Android pill (The Verge’s David Pierce had comparable ideas in regards to the Palma). Social media apps are a laggy mess and YouTube movies look terrible on the Go Coloration 7 E Ink show, no matter how excessive you flip up the display screen’s refresh charge. However a podcast on Spotify or Pocket Casts, or launching Firefox to rapidly look one thing up? Boox’s Go Coloration 7 can simply deal with these duties if you happen to flip the app refresh charge up.

Perhaps you are bored with typing in your passwords manually and wish to set up

1Password
on the E Ink pill, similar to you’ll on a smartphone? You are able to do that too. There’s simply sufficient friction right here to stop me from diving into apps I do not wish to be utilizing once I’m centered on studying, however the Boox Go Coloration 7 continues to be succesful sufficient for easy duties like quick note-taking or listening to a podcast. This implies I am comfy leaving the home with simply Boox’s Go Coloration 7 if I wish to do some phone-free studying at a close-by park.

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Accessing my library of Kobo books was simpler than I anticipated

Simply obtain the app and also you’re in

sw

One of many causes I’ve by no means thought-about switching to a Kindle is as a result of I have already got a fairly substantial library of Kobo books. Fortunately, making the soar to Boox’s units is easy if you happen to’re

coming from Kobo land
. All I must do is obtain the Kobo app from Google’s Play Retailer and signal into my account (after all, with the assistance of 1Password), and my library is there. I am even capable of pick-up books the place I left off on my Palma 2, or Kobo Libra Coloration, making the studying expertise that rather more seamless.

This additionally makes putting in apps like Libby, which is often utilized by libraries, very simple, alongside Pocket (which you

can also use with a Kobo
), Google’s eBookstore, Moon+ (which is actually standard with Boox customers), and extra. The truth that the Boox Go Coloration 7 runs Android opens up app compatibility that is a lot wider than e-readers from Kindle and Kobo.

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I’ve by no means used a E Ink pill that is this customizable

You may actually make Boox’s Go 7 your individual

Aside from Kobo’s app for some motive, you possibly can customise precisely what you need the Boox Go Coloration 7 two aspect buttons to do. That is one thing I’ve actually appreciated over the previous few weeks. On prime of that, every app’s refresh charge will be custom-made.

I’ve rapidly discovered that the Kobo app would not want a quick refresh charge, but when I am utilizing Pocket Casts or Firefox, I’ve to show up the refresh charge significantly for the app to be usable. To do that, choose the three-line settings possibility beside the refresh button on the backside of the Go 7’s navigation menu. You may then decide between Regular, Velocity, A2, and Regal. You can too change different settings like an app’s DPI and coloration by long-pressing on its icon and deciding on Optimize.

Perhaps you wish to change the system-wide font? You are able to do that within the settings. Maybe the usual

Android System Bar
is an eye-sore for you. Don’t be concerned, simply make it solely seem once you swipe down on the show. You can too change the Dwelling Display screen to launch a number of completely different choices, together with your apps or settings. It is even attainable to vary what number of presses you must make on the display screen earlier than it does a full-system E Ink show refresh (the default is 10).

I am going to have extra on Boox’s Go Coloration 7 quickly, together with a few of the key points I’ve skilled with the E Ink pill over the previous few weeks.

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