My new Kobo Vox

I picked up a black Kobo Vox on Wednesday and have been playing with it. My goal was to buy an eReader first and a tablet second. I didn't want to spend $500 on a tablet. I don't need 3g, wifi is good enough.

What I like:

1. Great reader, clear type, no need for an external light
2. Price $199
3. $40 cover that doubles as a leaner / stand, I had a choice of black or violet, I chose the black cover
4. Main screen with your 5 last books and 10 apps, the 5 books allows you to read a couple at a time and not have to search for them in the library
5. Not too heavy, lighter than an iPad
6. 7" screen is ideal
7. You Tube video is great
8. You can thumb type when you're in vertical mode

What bugs me:

1. Can't use the normal Android Market Place
2. Android Market Place doesn't recognize the Vox
3. Calibre (PC desktop ebook manager) doesn't recognize the Vox (there's already a ticket open)
4. Adobe Digital Editions doesn't recognize the Vox
5. You can't use the USB connection to charge the Vox
6. Had to sideload Aldiko
7. No native file manager, downloaded Files
8. Can't upload Gmail Contacts and Calendar entries

Update: Kobo issues an update to the system early in 2012 and that fixed a lot of problems. The reader is no faster, but the battery now lasts significantly longer. I've also added Battery Booster and the battery life is about 40 hours in Airplane mode.

Another player DQ'ed due to a phone-in

Win McMurray's post on Padraig Harrington's disqualification at the 2011 Dubai Open: http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.aspx?page=15199&select=41149&select2=176.

Too bad for Paddie, he's one of my favourite players. This is the second DQ this year due to someone phoning in to the officials. I have very mixed feelings about this, and I do agree with Win that the rules are the rules. I think the issue here is one of application of the rules. If an official who is on the course notices the infraction that is one thing, but I don't know about someone watching on his big-screen TV, reviewing the video to see if the ball moved one dimple's worth. (This may be a slight exaggeration, but maybe not.)

I feel if the on-course official, or someone else who is there and sees / notices the infraction and reports it before the round is closed, then that should be it. Someone outside of the venue who sees an infraction and phones it in is going too far. I read in another post that the ball rolled forward 3 dimples and only rolled back one and a half. Most of us would be DQed every round we play if that were the case. Win says that pros should be held to a higher standard and I believe that they are and that the pros are very honest. Golf is a gentleman's game, it still is and I believe that almost all of the golfers wouldn't knowingly break a rule and try to hide it. Perhaps the infraction should result in a 2-stroke penalty (whatever the penalty is for the infraction), but not a DQ.

Whether you're kneeling on a towel or picking up a ball marker, if the infraction is not noticed by an on-site PGA official or a participant, than the score should stand. It's a shame that a score of 65 is lost to a DQ on a a phone in.