Jump to content

Aakash (tablet): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Undid revision 454416644 by 85.197.203.97 (talk)
Line 30: Line 30:
}}
}}


'''Aakash''' ({{lang-sa|आकाश}} "Sky") is a [[tablet computer]] designed in [[The United Kingdom]] as a low cost but full functioning device in order to attempt to bridge the [[digital divide]]. The commercial version of the tablet will be retailed under the brand name '''UbiSlate'''.<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/225614/20111005/world-s-cheapest-computer-launched-india-ubislate-35-tablet-amazon-kindle-fire.htm Will World's Cheapest Computer Launched in India Resonate?]</ref>
'''Aakash''' ({{lang-sa|आकाश}} "Sky") is a [[tablet computer]] designed in [[India]] as a low cost but full functioning device in order to attempt to bridge the [[digital divide]]. The commercial version of the tablet will be retailed under the brand name '''UbiSlate'''.<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/225614/20111005/world-s-cheapest-computer-launched-india-ubislate-35-tablet-amazon-kindle-fire.htm Will World's Cheapest Computer Launched in India Resonate?]</ref>


The original prototype named '''Sakshat''' ({{lang-sa|साक्षात्}} "Embodiment") was unveiled in 2009, purported as a "$10 laptop".<ref name="toiref">[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Hyderabad/10-laptop_proves_to_be_a_damp_squib/articleshow/4072417.cms $10-laptop proves to be a damp squib], ''[[The Times of India]]'', February 4, 2009</ref> A new prototype, costing $35 after government subsidy, was unveiled in 2010. The device was formally launched on 5 October 2011 as ''Aakash'', made by the UK-based company DataWind. Aakash will be assembled at DataWind's new production centre in the southern city of [[Hyderabad,India|Hyderabad]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15180831 |title=BBC News - India launches Aakash tablet computer priced at $35 |publisher=bbc.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2011-10-05}}</ref> Initially, the device will be sold to the Government of India at $50.<ref name="ndtv_50_Aakash">[http://gadgets.ndtv.com/shownews.aspx?id=GADEN20110185467&Sec=NEWS The $50 Aakash: The Government buys one lakh tablets]</ref> It is expected to be sold for $60 in the retail stores.<ref name="et_cheapest_60">[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/hardware/aakash-worlds-cheapest-tablet-launched-to-be-sold-for-60-in-retail/articleshow/10244352.cms Aakash: World's cheapest tablet launched; to be sold for $60 in retail]</ref>
The original prototype named '''Sakshat''' ({{lang-sa|साक्षात्}} "Embodiment") was unveiled in 2009, purported as a "$10 laptop".<ref name="toiref">[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Hyderabad/10-laptop_proves_to_be_a_damp_squib/articleshow/4072417.cms $10-laptop proves to be a damp squib], ''[[The Times of India]]'', February 4, 2009</ref> A new prototype, costing $35 after government subsidy, was unveiled in 2010. The device was formally launched on 5 October 2011 as ''Aakash'', made by the UK-based company DataWind. Aakash will be assembled at DataWind's new production centre in the southern city of [[Hyderabad,India|Hyderabad]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15180831 |title=BBC News - India launches Aakash tablet computer priced at $35 |publisher=bbc.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2011-10-05}}</ref> Initially, the device will be sold to the Government of India at $50.<ref name="ndtv_50_Aakash">[http://gadgets.ndtv.com/shownews.aspx?id=GADEN20110185467&Sec=NEWS The $50 Aakash: The Government buys one lakh tablets]</ref> It is expected to be sold for $60 in the retail stores.<ref name="et_cheapest_60">[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/hardware/aakash-worlds-cheapest-tablet-launched-to-be-sold-for-60-in-retail/articleshow/10244352.cms Aakash: World's cheapest tablet launched; to be sold for $60 in retail]</ref>

Revision as of 19:23, 7 October 2011

Aakash
Prototype of Aakash
DeveloperDataWind, Canada and DataWind, India [1][2]
ManufacturerDataWind, UK [3][4]
TypeTablet
Release date2011 (2011)
Introductory price₹1,300 (US$16) ;₹2,250 (US$27)per unit cost to government ;retail price = ₹2,999 (US$36)
Operating systemAndroid 2.2
CPU366 MHz processor ;on chip Graphics accelerator and HD Video processor
Memory256 MB LP-DDR2/DDR2
Storage2GB (Internal)Flash memory, expandable upto 32 GBmicroSD
Display7-inch ; 800x480 resolution
InputMulti-touch resistive touchscreen display, headset controls
ConnectivityWi-Fi connectivity ;GPRS
Power2-3 hours. Internal rechargeable non-removable lithium-polymer battery
Online services1 year warranty
Mass350 gm
Websitewww.akashtablet.com

Aakash (Sanskrit: आकाश "Sky") is a tablet computer designed in India as a low cost but full functioning device in order to attempt to bridge the digital divide. The commercial version of the tablet will be retailed under the brand name UbiSlate.[5]

The original prototype named Sakshat (Sanskrit: साक्षात् "Embodiment") was unveiled in 2009, purported as a "$10 laptop".[6] A new prototype, costing $35 after government subsidy, was unveiled in 2010. The device was formally launched on 5 October 2011 as Aakash, made by the UK-based company DataWind. Aakash will be assembled at DataWind's new production centre in the southern city of Hyderabad.[7] Initially, the device will be sold to the Government of India at $50.[8] It is expected to be sold for $60 in the retail stores.[9]

The device has been developed as part of the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology that aims to link 25,000 colleges and 400 universities on the subcontinent in an e-learning program via an existing Sakshat portal.[10]

History

While it was once projected as a laptop computer, it is actually a tablet computing device. At the inauguration of the national Mission on Education Programme organized by the Union HRD Ministry in 2009, joint secretary N. K. Sinha had said that the computing device is 10 inches (which is around 25.5cm) long and 5 inches (12.5cm) wide and priced at around $30. However, he refused to comment as to why was it being projected as a laptop when it was not.[6][11]

India's Human Resource Development Minister, Kapil Sibal unveiled a prototype on July 22, 2010. The price of the device exhibited was projected to be around $35 per piece, gradually dropping down to $20 and ultimately to $10 each.[10][12][13] After the new device was unveiled, OLPC Chairman Nicholas Negroponte offered full access to OLPC technology, cost free to the Indian team.[14]

Doubts about the tablet being vaporware were dismissed in a television program "Gadget Guru" aired on NDTV in August 2010.[15] The device was demonstrated running the Android operating system and shown to be able to deliver videos, Wi-Fi, 3G (via dongle support), 256 MB RAM and 2 GB Flash among other capabilities. [16]

As for 2011 the price of the Tablet has changed to USD$49. However the government of India said that can cover half of the price. Their hardware remains the same.

In Sept 2011, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal assured that the much anticipated slate will be released on October 5th. [17]

Design

Minimum functionality

As per the Invitation to Innovate published by MHRD,[18] Government of India, the specifications and minimum functionalities of such devices are stated as:

Support for video web conferencing facility; multimedia content viewer for example .pdf, .docx, .ods, .adp, .doc, .xls, .txt, .jpeg, .gif, .bmp, .odt, .zip, AVI, AC3, etc.; searchable PDF reader; unzip tool to unzip zip files; possibility to install suitable firmware upgrades; computing abilities such as Open Office, SciLab, cups (for printing support); media player able to play streamed and stored media files; Internet browsing, JavaScript, PDF plug-in Java; wireless communication for audio/video I/O; cloud computing option; remote device management ability; rendering YouTube and other online video services (open source Flash players, e.g., gnash or swfdec).

Other preferable

  • Playback: AVCHD
  • Multimedia I/O interfaces: DTV, IPTv, DTH
  • Internet browsing: Flash player (Adobe)

Specifications

Other preferable

  • HDMI port

Hardware

  • 7-inch 800x480 resistive touchscreen [19]
  • Rugged casing with a rubberized feel
  • Wi-Fi enabled (802.11 a/b/g WiFi)[20]
  • Mini and full USB
  • miniSD card slot
  • Subscriber Identity Module (SIM card) slot
  • Video out
  • Headphone jack
  • 256MB of RAM
  • 2 GB of storage memory. 32 GB Expandable microSD memory card. [10][21]
  • 2 Watts of power consumption with solar charging option[21]
  • 366 MHz + HD video co-processor
  • Audio out: 3.5mm jack / Audio in: 3.5mm jack
  • Display and Resolution: 7” display with 800x480 pixel resolution

Software

  • Android 2.2 operating system[15]
  • Document Rendering
  • Supported Document formats: DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX, XLS, XLSX, ODT, ODP
  • Educational software developed at Indian Institute of Technology[15]
  • Web browsing, video conferencing and word processing software[10]
  • PDF viewer, Text editor
  • Multimedia and Image Display
  • Image viewer supported formats: PNG, JPG, BMP and GIF
  • Supported audio formats: MP3, AAC, AC3, WAV, WMA
  • Supported video formats: MPEG2, MPEG4, AVI, FLV
  • Communication and Internet
  • Web browser - Standards Compliance: xHTML 1.1 compliant, JavaScript 1.8 compliant
  • Separate application for online YouTube video
  • Safety and other standards compliance
  • CE certification / RoHS certification
  • 150000+ applications

Development and Testing

Kapil Sibal has stated that a million devices would be made available to students in 2011. The devices will be manufactured at a cost of ₹150 (€23 Euro) each, half of which will be paid by the government and half by the institutions that would use it.[15][22] In January 2011, the company initially chosen to build the Sakshat, HCL Infosystems, failed to provide evidence that they had at least ₹600 million (₹60 crore) ($12.2 million) in bank guaranteed funds, as required by the Indian government, which has allocated $6.5 million to the project. As a result, the government has put the project out for bidding again.[23]

In June 2011,the HRD announced that it received a few samples from the production process which are under testing. Also it mentions that each state in India provided 3000 samples for testing on their functionality, utility and durability in field conditions.[24]

The Government of India announced that 10,000 (Sakshat) tablet will be delivered to IIT Rajasthan in late June and over the next four months 90,000 more would be made available at a price of ₹5,000 device. Government will subsidize the cost by 50%, so a student would have to pay only ₹1,100 for the device.[25]

Launch

File:UbiSlate7.jpg
Home of UbiSlate7 Tablet

The device was launched under the name Aakash on 5 October 2011 in India.[9][26] The maker of the device is DataWind, based in Montreal, Canada, DataWind is a leading developer of wireless web access products and services owned by a Suneet Singh Tuli, a Canadian of Indian descent.

The 7-inch tablet has resistive touch screen with 800x480 resolution and weighs 350 gm, 256 MB RAM and internal storage of 2GB flash memory. The tablet also supports expandable memory of 32 GB and USB port. The pre-loaded software includes internet browsers, PDF reader, video conferencing facilities, open office, sci-lab, media player, remote device management capability, multimedia input-output interface option, and multiple content viewer.[27]

Senior Datawind company officials told IANS that the base version of the device for students will come in partnership with telecommunication service provider Aircel which would provide SIM cards which can then be used for accessing the internet through the 3G network. [28]

The device also features telephony to make and receive calls over GSM band.[29]

The Government of India purchased 100,000 units of the device at $50 each. The tablet is expected to be sold for $60 in the retail stores.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ John Ribeiro. "India's low-cost tablet is made by Canada's DataWind". Computerworld. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  2. ^ Jack, Frank. "India launches "world's cheapest" tablet". Vancouversun.com. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  3. ^ "Indias 35 tablet to be unveiled tomorrow - Mobile Phone | ThinkDigit News". Thinkdigit.com. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  4. ^ "India's $35 tablet computer meant for students to be launched tomorrow | MF Monitor". Microfinancemonitor.com. 2009-11-15. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  5. ^ Will World's Cheapest Computer Launched in India Resonate?
  6. ^ a b $10-laptop proves to be a damp squib, The Times of India, February 4, 2009
  7. ^ "BBC News - India launches Aakash tablet computer priced at $35". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  8. ^ The $50 Aakash: The Government buys one lakh tablets
  9. ^ a b c Aakash: World's cheapest tablet launched; to be sold for $60 in retail
  10. ^ a b c d India unveils prototype for $35 touch-screen computer BBC World news-South Asia Retrieved 25 July 2010
  11. ^ India to unveil the £7 laptop, The Guardian, February 2, 2009
  12. ^ "Why India's $35 computer joke isn't funny". The Economic Times. New Dehli. 25 July 2010. Retrieved 25 July 2010. This article appears to have been withdrawn, without apology.
  13. ^ PIB Press Release PIB Retrieved 26 July 2010
  14. ^ "OLPC's Negroponte supports India's $35 tablet concept". 9 August 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  15. ^ a b c d NDTV Gadget Guru Gadget Guru exclusive: $35 laptop is here. Retrieved 13 August 2010
  16. ^ "Aakash: World's Cheapest Tablet is here". 5 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  17. ^ "India's $35 tablet said to ship in October, do dreams really come true?". Engadget. 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  18. ^ Expression of Interest for Low-Cost Access Device Expression of Interest by Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development
  19. ^ "India's $35 tablet is here, for real. Called Aakash, costs $60". Engadget. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  20. ^ "Aakash Tablet Hands On Review". Hungry N Foolish. Retrieved 2011-10-06.
  21. ^ a b India unveils cheapest laptop, The Guardian, Retrieved 25 July 2010
  22. ^ Guardin-India untiels cheapest laptop Retrieved 25 July 2010
  23. ^ Harsimran Julka & Gulveen Aulakh, "Tender for $35 laptop project cancelled", The Economic Times, ET Bureau Jan 18, 2011. News clipping by Pragadeesh Sekar on public interest
  24. ^ [1] HRD press release
  25. ^ [2] News Article about launch
  26. ^ [3]
  27. ^ India to launch world’s cheapest tablet PC today
  28. ^ India launches world's cheapest Tablet with 3G Network connection from Aircel
  29. ^ [4]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aakash_(tablet)&oldid=454435637"