Kobo Launches Desktop App

Kobo Launches Desktop App

By Craig Morgan Teicher 

On September 8th, Kobo announced a new desktop app that allows users to build, manage and read their e-book libraries on their desktop computers, as well as to connect to Kobo’s own e-reader or third-party devices, such as the Sony Reader. The app works with both PCs and Macs and can be downloaded free at http://www.kobobooks.com/desktop.

As with Amazon’s Kindle desktop apps, the Kobo app connects directly to the Kobo e-bookstore and syncs bookmarks and reading progress across devices, so readers can stop reading on their mobile device and pick up where they left off on the desktop app.

Kobo has recently made several bids to become an increasingly major player in the e-reader space, launching its own inexpensive E-Ink e-reader, partnering with Borders, and launching software that allows third-party manufacturers to use Kobo to power their devices. This desktop app is another piece of that puzzle, giving Kobo users a home on yet another device.

Kobo also has e-reader apps available for Apple’s iOS devices, Android, Blackberry, and Palm’s WebOS. The new desktop app also comes pre-loaded on Kobo’s own e-reader.