Ebook readers that use E-ink displays like the Kindle and Nook are great gadgets, but they have one major shortcoming… You can’t use them in a dark room because they don’t have a back light. The folks at OCTOVO have designed a sleek LED light especially for the Kindle 2 that will be available at the end of March. They sent me one of their first samples to try out and show to all of you. Let’s take a quick look…
The light is made of brushed aluminum, with curved edges, giving it a sleek style.
Weight Stats
Device without battery: 0.85 oz (24g)
Typical AA battery: 0.85 oz (24g)
Total: 1.7 oz (48g)
The first OCTOVO lights will be for the Kindle 2, but there are plans for Nook and Sony eReader versions as well. The only difference will be a new clip. The clip is made of White plastic, with a rubber bar that holds the light on the top edge of the reader.
The LED light is built in to the swivel arm on the outside of the module. When you rotate the arm 90 degrees, it will power on the LED.
According to OCTOVO:
“The led we used is designed to bring forward the text on the screen for ease of reading, i.e; there is a contrast between the text and the ‘dead’ grey space on the screen. The light is a soft tone light that allows ease of reading”
The light is powered by 1 AA battery (not included) which lasts a minimum of 25 hours in reading time. The light will start flashing to let the user know when the battery needs to be replaced. I like that it uses easy to find batteries. That said, it’s too bad that there isn’t a way to recharge the battery while it’s in the light. That’s not really a deal breaker though.
To use the light, you just slide it over the top edge of the Kindle. It attaches and is removed very easily. It should be placed on the Right side so that the LED will shine in the center of the display.
When attached in this location, the power switch and headphone jack are not obstructed.
The light isn’t super bright, but it gets the job done. It doesn’t cause a glare on the display unless you have it laying flat like you see in the image above. The top third of the display is illuminated the brightest, but the LED light does helps at the very bottom of the display as well. I do wish it were slightly brighter overall. Even so, I think the Kindle Light will be a good seller for OCTOVO. It’s sexy, sleek and easy to use.
Product Information
| Price: | $29.99 |
| Manufacturer: | OCTOVO |
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I wonder if one of those camping headlamps would work just as well or better. You would look a bit stupid but I bet it would work.
DON
@Donald Maybe… but they also might put a glare on the display… And yes, there would be the dork factor.
Is the light cool (white/blueish) or warm (orange/yellowish)?
I have a headlamp that i wear like a headband… i tried it once while in bed with my wife… it works, but the problem is you have to be careful about how you turn your head, lest you light up the room unexpectedly by shining a mirror some where.
“I have a headlamp that i wear like a headband… i tried it once while in bed with my wife…”
Ummmmm, never mind….
@Andrew I think it’s more Yellow than Blue.
I have a test version of this light and really like it. I agree it could be just a little brighter. But it is nice and compact, and the light works fine. The light is nice and soft. Without a case in your picture the Octovo light looks a little bulkier (but still small) than it looks with my Vintage Book Cover case on.
My Mighty Bright 2 was a great light but so bulky I could not travel with it and didn’t carry it around attached to my K2 case even in the house. The Octovo light will go everywhere with my K2.
Is the angle adjustable so the light shines on the screen and not in your eyes? It looks like ‘eye strain special.’
@Jackson The only way to adjust the angle of the light is to hold the Kindle at a different angle. My images in the review are a little misleading as they show the light shining pretty much straight at you. This isn’t the way it will be when you’re using it.
What if you have your Kindle in a cover? The cover I have would seem to interfere with this type of clip-on light.
I purchased this light for my wife and its bar non the best on the market. Thats probably why you cant find one anywhere, but i am not giving up till i fine another one for my daughter