Kobo readers may not lose Pocket integration after all, according to a recent update from Mozilla. Initially, Mozilla stated in a support document that Kobo’s Pocket integration would cease to function on August 15th, 2023, as Pocket would require users to log in with Firefox accounts. However, in a statement to The Verge, Mozilla clarified that existing users of the integration would not be affected, and Kobo would update their devices to support the new logins.
The news of Kobo’s Pocket integration potentially being discontinued was first reported by Goodereader.com and later confirmed by The Verge. However, Sarah Vasquez, a senior manager for communications at Mozilla, provided a statement stating that Kobo aims to update the Pocket login on their eReaders to support Firefox accounts. While the exact timing of the update is yet to be determined, existing Kobo users will not lose access to their accounts. It’s worth noting that new Pocket accounts created after August 15th may not have access to the existing Pocket login option until Kobo support becomes available.
At present, Kobo devices do not support the specific modern web technologies required by Firefox accounts, according to Mozilla. Therefore, without updates, Kobo devices will be unable to use Firefox logins once the change is implemented. Mozilla is implementing Firefox logins to provide enhanced security features such as two-factor authentication for Pocket users.
Kobo’s Pocket integration is highly regarded for its seamless functionality, including automatic two-way syncing, a great reading experience with pleasant typefaces and pagination for articles, and support for search and other sorting features. It is widely considered the best way to read web articles on an E Ink device. While some third-party services enable sending Pocket articles to Amazon’s Kindle devices, these solutions are one-way and lack the ease of use and integration found in Kobo’s Pocket feature.
Related Post
While there are E Ink devices from companies like Boox that support Android apps and might still support Pocket after the Firefox account transition, they rely on the Pocket Android app. Unfortunately, this app was designed for color touchscreens and does not optimize the reading experience for slow-refreshing E Ink screens used in eReaders. The Pocket Android app lacks pagination, requires vertical scrolling to read more content, and offers inferior fonts and presentation compared to Kobo’s integration.
For current Kobo users who already utilize the Pocket integration, nothing should change. However, it is possible that account access might be disrupted once Mozilla rolls out its changes later in the summer. Those who own a Kobo but have not linked their Pocket account to it may want to do so as a precaution. The updated information regarding Kobo’s plans to continue support is more promising than the original support documents that suggested the functionality would cease entirely.
Kobo and its parent company, Rakuten, have not yet issued any statement or guidance to customers regarding this upcoming change. Inquiries have been made to the company for comment, and this article will be updated if a response is received.
Update, June 29th, 1:02 PM ET: Mozilla has provided a statement, and the article has been updated throughout with the new information from the support documents.
In conclusion, Kobo readers can breathe a sigh of relief as they may not lose Pocket integration after all. Mozilla’s recent statement confirms that existing users will not be affected, and Kobo will update their devices to support the new login system. While the specific timing of the update is unknown, Kobo users can continue to enjoy the seamless experience of reading web articles on their devices.
