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Aakash (tablet)

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Aakash tablet
UbiSlate7
The initial release of the Aakash tablet.
DeveloperDataWind
ManufacturerDataWind
TypeTablet computer
Introductory priceUS$35 / ₹2,250
Operating systemAndroid 2.3
CPUCortex A8-700 MHz processor
Memory256 MB RAM
StorageFlash memory
Internal: 2 GB flash
External: 2 to 32 GB microSD slot
Display800 × 480 px
7 in (18 cm) diagonal
SoundBuilt in microphone; stereo earphones; 3.5mm jack
InputMulti-touch resistive touchscreen, headset controls
CameraNone
ConnectivityWi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n)
Power2100 mAh li-po battery, 2-3 hr life
Online servicesGetJar Market
Dimensions190.5 mm (7.50 in) H
118.5 mm (4.67 in) W
15.7 mm (0.62 in) D
Mass350 g (12 oz)
Websitewww.ubislate.com
www.akashtablet.com

The Aakash is an Android-based tablet computer produced by British company DataWind.[1] It is manufactured by the India-based company Quad, at a new production centre in Hyderabad,[2] under a trial run of 100,000 units.[3] The tablet was officially launched as the Aakash in New Delhi on October 5, 2011. The Indian HRD ministry projects introduction of an upgraded second-generation model called Aakash 2 in April 2012.[4]

The Aakash is a low-cost tablet computer with a 7-inch touch screen, ARM 11 processor and 256 MB RAM[5] running under the Android 2.2 operating system. It has two universal serial bus (USB) ports[3] and delivers high definition (HD) quality video.[5] For applications, the Aakash will have access to Getjar, an independent market, rather than the Android Market.[6]

[3] The device was developed as part of the country's aim to link 25,000 colleges and 400 universities in an e-learning program.[7] Originally projected as a "$35 laptop",[8] the device will be sold to the Government of India at US$50[3] until further orders are received to obtain the $35 committed price, and will be distributed to university students for free. A commercial version of Aakash is currently marketed as UbiSlate 7+[9] at a price of $60.[10]

The Ubislate website accessed on 7th February 2012 informs that a lakh Ubislate 7+ devices are being pre-booked each day, bookings are being taken for March, capacity for February being sold.[11]

Etymology

The device was initially called the Sakshat tablet, later changed to Aakash, which is derived from the Sanskrit word Akasha (Devanagari आकाश) with several related meanings, aether, empty space, and outer space. The word in Hindi means "sky".[5][12]

History

Aspiration to create a "Made in India" computer was first reflected in a prototype "Simputer" that went into production in a small way. Bangalore based CPSU, Bharat Electronics Ltd manufactured around 5,000 Simputers to Indian Customers during 2002-07. In 2011, Kapil Sibal announced an anticipated low-cost computing device to compete with the One Laptop per Child (OLPC), though intended for urban college students rather than the OLPC's rural, underprivileged students.

A year later, the MHRD announced that the low cost computer would be launched in 6 weeks. Nine weeks later the MHRD showcased a tablet named "Aakash", not nearly what had been projected and at US$60 rather than the projected $35. "NDTV" reported that the new low cost tablet was not a patch that was shown as a prototype and was going to cost about twice as much.[13]

While it was once projected as a laptop computer, the design has evolved into a tablet computer. 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 25.5 cm) long and 5 inches (12.5 cm) wide and priced at around $30.[14]

India's Human Resource Development Minister, Kapil Sibal unveiled a prototype on 22 July 2010. The price of the device exhibited was projected at $35, eventually to drop to $20 and ultimately to $10.[7][15][16] After the device was unveiled, OLPC Chairman Nicholas Negroponte offered full access to OLPC technology at no cost to the Indian team.[17]

Doubts about the tablet were dismissed in a television program "Gadget Guru" aired on NDTV in August 2010,[18] when it was shown to have 256 MB RAM and 2 GB of internal flash-memory storage and demonstrated running the Android operating system featuring video playback, internal Wi-Fi and cellular data via an external 3G modem.[19]

Specifications

As released on 5 October 2011, the Aakash features an overall size of 190.5 x 118.5 x 15.7 mm with a 180 millimetres (7.1 in) resistive touchscreen,[20] a weight of 350 grams (12 oz) and using the Android 2.2 operating system with access to the proprietary marketplace Getjar (not the Android Market), developed by DataWind.

The processor runs at 366 MHz; there is a graphics accelerator and HD video coprocessor. The tablet has 256 MB RAM, a micro SD slot with a 2 GB Micro SD card (expandable to 32 GB), two USB ports, a 3.5 mm audio output and input jack, a 2100 mAh battery, Wi-fi capability, a browser developed by DataWind, and an internal cellular and Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) modem. Power consumption is 2 watts, and there is a solar charging option.

The Aakash is designed to support various document (DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX, XLS, XLSX, ODT, ODP,PDF), image (PNG, JPG, BMP and GIF), audio (MP3, AAC, AC3, WAV, WMA) and video (MPEG2, MPEG4, AVI, FLV) file formats and includes an application for access to YouTube video content.[7][18][21][22][23][24]

Specifications Aakash UbiSlate 7+
Price ₹2,500 ₹2,999
Central processor unit speed ARM11, 366 MHz ARM Cortex-A8, 700 MHz
Random-access memory 256 MB 256 MB[25]
Battery 2100 mAh 3200 mAh
Operating system Android 2.2 Froyo Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Network Wi-Fi Wi-Fi + GPRS phone network
Phone Call No yes
Screen Resistive Resistive
App Store [26] GetJar Android Market
Made in India India

Storage: Both tablets will have a micro-SD slot, and a 2 GB micro-SD flash memory card, upgradable to 32 GB, to store user data and programs not run from ROM. In Android 2.3 some applications' data can be moved from the ROM to the memory card.

Memory: ROM size has apparently not been stated by Datawind, but is estimated to be either 256 MB or 2 GB.[27] Both tablets have graphics processing cards, but the graphics memory size and GPU speed have not been stated .

Google Android Market: Aakash has no SIM card and insufficient processing power to use Google's Android Market, and will instead use the GetJar Marketplace. UbiSlate-7+ also will not have access to Google's Android Market confirmed by Google.

Network: Aakash supports wireless local area network (wireless LAN or Wi-Fi). It does not support any cellular networks. In addition to Wi-Fi, UbiSlate-7+ has GPRS Internet connection, a 2.5 generation Internet connection. Both tablets support an external 3G USB modem.

Browser

Datawind announced that their browser will use data compression technology to speed up data transmission. Compressed data such as ZIP files, JPEG images, MP3 audio, MPEG video will be transmitted at the basic speed, while uncompressed data will transmit typically at speeds up to 6 times faster, depending upon its nature. If and when successfully combined with Server-side web compression, 1G Analog Internet service might actually be able to compete with 2G or 3G digital internet service. Datawind claims that their browser can give up to 30 times faster speeds.[28]

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 ₹1500 (€23 Euro) each, half of which will be paid by the government and half by the institutions that would use it.[18][29] 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 put the project out for bidding again.[30]

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.[31]

The Government of India announced that 10,000 (Sakshat) tablet will be delivered to schools and colleges by late June and over the next four months 90,000 more would be made available at a price of ₹2500 device. Government will subsidize the cost by about 50%, so a student would have to pay less than ₹1,500 for the device.[32]

35% of hardware components were sourced from South Korea, 25% from China, 16% from the USA, 16% from India and 8% from other countries.[33]

Software Development DataWind, the maker of Aakash, has announced a contest for students wherein their best applications will be embedded in the Ubislate(Aakash Tablet). Top 5 application winners will be awarded Rs. 1 Lakh each.[34]

Nasscom Foundation has partnered with DataWind and announced a contest wherein 10 NGOs will have an opportunity to win 20 tablets each, mainly to improve their operations and programme implementation.

Indian Ministry of Education is releasing educational videos in conjunction with IGNOU and at sakshat.ac.in. This preparation of content is meant for students with access to the Internet, India's first law-biding Online Video Library.

Reception

Problems such as low memory, frequent system freezes, poor sound quality, absence of support for all formats and inability to install free software available online were also cited by users.[35] Technical commentator Prasanto Roy criticized issues such as a low battery life, an insufficient 7" screen and absence of training and support infrastructure, especially in rural areas.[36] UbiSlate 7+ will be released by 2012. The producer has finalized the improvements of Aakash.[35]

After receiving feedback of the early release model from over 500 users from educational institutions, DataWind announced the next iteration that will have a new microprocessor of 700 MHz versus the original 366 MHz processor. This will improve the speed of the tablet and solve the existing problems of quick overheating, frequent system freeze, poor sound quality, absence of support for all formats and the inability to install free online software.[35] The amount of memory, storage, and USB ports will remain the same.

On 16 December 2011, DataWind opened Aakash ordering online in their official website at ₹2500 with one week delivery time and cash on delivery facility and its upgraded version Ubislate 7+ is available for pre-order at ₹2999.[37]

On 19 December 2011, DataWind reported that the first phase of Aakash tablet has been sold-out completely,[38] just three days since it was opened for Online order. UbiSlate 7+ production capacity of January, February and March has already been sold. Now, April production is open for pre-Booking.[39]

By 3 January 2012 1.4 million orders had been received since the UbiSlate 7+ was put up for sale online.[40]

By the end of January, 2012 pre-orders for UbiSlate 7+ have crossed two million.[11]

Future plans

The UbiSlate 7+ will be launched between January and February 2012.[41][42]

DataWind is already working on giving the device a capacitive touch screen and 3G connectivity. This version will be priced around Rs.7,000, making it, when it releases, the cheapest 3G tablet in the market. The aim thereafter is to bring down the price - through sheer volume sales - to ₹3,000.[43]

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has announced the plan to launch LTE(4G) Tablet between ₹3500-5000, with low cost Internet service.[44] This tablet will be an upgraded version of Aakash developed by DataWind.[45]

Indian Govt. HRD has revealed that Aakash 2 will be announced in April 2012, and Datawind may not be its manufacturer[4] Hindustan Computers Limited (HCL), Indian Telephone Industries Limited (ITI), and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) are Interested in bidding at the Aakash 2 contract auction.

IIT-Rajasthan's specifications are 1.2Ghz CPU and 700 MB RAM. It wanted the tablet to work after steep falls and in Monsoon season, making the cost over Rs 5000.[46] So responsibility of drafting specifications will be shifted to IIT Mumbai, IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur[47] while PSUs are being considered for procurement of the Aakash Tablet.[48] Aakash 2 could have the 1 GB RAM and a front facing camera capable of capturing video, that was announced earlier by Kapil Sibal.

See also

References

  1. ^ Kurup, Saira (9 October 2011). "'We want to target the billion Indians who are cut off'". Times of India. Retrieved 9 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ Timmons, Heather (6 October 2011). "Aiming for the Other One Billion". New York Times.
  3. ^ a b c d "Meet Aakash, India's $35 'Laptop'". New York Times, October 5, 2011, Pamposh Raina and Heather Timmons. 5 October 2011.
  4. ^ a b Datawind loses government edge
  5. ^ a b c "Aakash tablet will end 'digital divide'". Montreal Gazette, Jason Magder, October 6, 2011.
  6. ^ "Aakash: We want to target the billion Indians who are cut off, says Suneet Singh Tuli, CEO of DataWind". Economic Times, October 9, 2011, Saira Kurup. 9 October 2011.
  7. ^ a b c "India unveils prototype for $35 touch-screen computer". BBC World news-South Asia. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  8. ^ "Low Cost access –Cum-Computing Device Unveiled by Kapil Sibal". Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  9. ^ "DataWind rebrands UbiSlate 7 as UbiSlate 7+]".
  10. ^ "Aakash: World's cheapest tablet launched; to be sold for $60 in retail". Economic Times. 5 October 2011.
  11. ^ a b Tuli, Suneet Singh. "UbiSlate 7+". http://www.ubislate.com. DataWind Ltd. Retrieved 7 February 2012. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  12. ^ "India Announces World's Cheapest Tablet". India Real Time, viaThe Wall Street Journal, Tripti Lahiri, October 5, 2011. 5 October 2011.
  13. ^ "Show » The Aakash: Not $35 But Still India’s Cheapest Tablet » $35 tablet: From prototype to reality". NDTV. 5 October 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  14. ^ India to unveil the £7 laptop, The Guardian, 2 February 2009
  15. ^ "Why India's $35 computer joke isn't funny". The Economic Times. New Dehli. 25 July 2010. Retrieved 25 July 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) [dead link]
  16. ^ PIB Press Release PIB Retrieved 26 July 2010
  17. ^ "OLPC's Negroponte supports India's $35 tablet concept". 9 August 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  18. ^ a b c NDTV Gadget Guru Gadget Guru exclusive: $35 laptop is here. Retrieved 13 August 2010
  19. ^ "Aakash: World's Cheapest Tablet is here". 5 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  20. ^ http://venturebeat.com/2011/10/26/aakash-android-tablet-exclusive/
  21. ^ "UbiSurfer Browser of India's Aakash Android Tablet". Gary, Mark.
  22. ^ "India's $35 tablet is here, for real. Called Aakash, costs $60". Engadget. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  23. ^ "Aakash Tablet Hands On Review". Hungry N Foolish. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  24. ^ Halliday, Josh (23 July 2010). "India unveils cheapest laptop". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  25. ^ "Aakash Tablet: UbiSlate Netbook: Datawind Ubislate". UbiSlate. Datawind.com. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  26. ^ "Aakash Tablet Faqs". UbiSlate7+. Datawind.com. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  27. ^ 2 GB internal flash memory in the specification could be the ROM.
  28. ^ Datawind press release
  29. ^ Guardin-India untiels cheapest laptop Retrieved 25 July 2010
  30. ^ Harsimran Julka & Gulveen Aulakh, "Tender for $35 laptop project cancelled", The Economic Times, ET Bureau 18 Jan 2011. News clipping by Pragadeesh Sekar on public interest
  31. ^ "HRD press release". Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  32. ^ "News Article about launch". Pluggd.in. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  33. ^ "Aakash Tablet's commercial variant in November". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  34. ^ "Develop apps for Aakash, get rewarded". Times of India. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  35. ^ a b c Chauhan, Chetan (3 November 2011). "Better, faster Aakash-2 to be launched in Feb 2012". Hindustan Times, New Delhi.
  36. ^ "Why India's Cheap Tablet May Not Work Out". 31 October 2011. The cheapest mobile handset doesn't compromise on the basics: calls, SMS, battery life. Nor does the Tata Nano. The Aakash does
  37. ^ "World's cheapest tablet Aakash goes on sale for Rs 2500 Online with One week Delivery- www.aakashtablet.com". Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  38. ^ "World's Cheapest Tablet - Aakash sold out". Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  39. ^ Ubislate official website, Retrieved December 31, 2011.
  40. ^ "1.4 million orders for world's cheapest tablet in India". AFP. 3 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  41. ^ "Upgraded version of UBISlate". TechTeria. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  42. ^ "Better Faster Aakash 2 to be launched in Feb 2012". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  43. ^ "Aakash Tablet Review". InToday. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  44. ^ "RIL to Hit Data Services Market with 4G Technology on RS. 3500 Tablet". Reliance Industries. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  45. ^ "Datawind,RIL talk on Chepaset Tab". Business-Standard. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  46. ^ [1]
  47. ^ [2]
  48. ^ Clouds of doubt over Aakash
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