
Finally, the much awaited low-cost Indian tablet PC Aakash has been launched by Govt of India. The earlier unveiled tablet Sakshat has been renamed to Aakash. The world's cheapest tablet, as it's said to be, is completely made in India. Indian Govt aims to provide one full-featured tablet for every student to help reduce digital illiteracy. On the occasion of its launch, 500 Aakash tablets were distributed to children.
However, a simple search will tell you that Aakash is not the world's cheapest tablet available. There are many Chinese tablets available for low prices than Aakash tablet PC, and even with better features and specifications than of Aakash.
Key Features
- Aakash is powered by Google Android 2.2 OS, a leading OS which runs on over 50% of the smartphones.
- It has a big 7-inch display and touchscreen.
- Access to thousands of educational & Learning content available for free and created by using open source software from Sakshat Portal and other websites.
- It comes with a bunch of preloaded apps, Additional apps can be downloaded from the dedicated store coming soon.
- Aakash can play and view wide verity of multimedia contents.
- The graphics accelerated processor enables Aakash to play HD videos.
- The tablet is developed and fully made in India by Datawind.
- Allows video conferencing and cellular on unsubsidized tablet pcs.
Specifications
Hardware Specifications
Processor | 366 Mhz supporting graphics accelerator and high definition HD video |
Memory | 256 MB RAM |
Storage | 2 GB Internal Flash Memory Up to 32 GB Expandable External Memory |
Input Devices | 7 inch Resistive Touch Screen External USB Keyboard (optional) |
Display | 7-inch screen with the resolution of 800x480 pixels |
Audio | 3.5 mm Audio Jack in 3.5 mm Audio Jack out |
Connectivity | WiFi IEEE 802.11 a/b/g Bluetooth Cellular (2G on unsubsidized version only) 3G 4G connectivity not provided |
Battery | Backup of 180 Minutes |
Software Specifications
Operating System | Google Android OS 2.2 |
Document Editor | Text Editor Supported Formats: DOC, DOCX,PPT,PPTX,XLS,XLSX,ODT,ODP |
Document Viewer | PDF Viewer |
Supported Multimedia Formats | Image: PNG, JPG, BMP, GIF Audio: MP3, AAC,AC3, WAV, WMA Video: MPEG2, MPEG4, AVI, FLV |
Web Browser | Default browser xHTML, Javascript Compliant Additionally, UbiSurfer Browser with compression/acceleration and IE8 rendering is provided |
Youtube | YouTube Application to Stream Videos |
Sakshat Portal
The learning contents and content development tools can be accessed from the Sakshat Portal.
http://www.sakshat.ac.in/
After registering on the website students and teachers can access the digital repository, ebooks, eJournals, forums, eLibrary etc.
When the first Low Cost Access cum Computing Device was unveiled by name of Sakshat Tablet, Govt had aimed to provide the device at the cost of $35. But Aakash will cost the government around $49 (inclusive of all taxes etc) approximately Rs. 2,276 according to the exchange rate of that time.
It will be given to students after subsidizing the price by up to 50 percent. In the first phase of the pilot project, 100,000 devices will be provided then based on the feedback of different climate condition etc.. the device will be manufactured in mass increasing features and reducing the cost.
In my state, Chhattisgarh 20 pieces of the tablet were sent to Nationality Institute of Technology
NIT Raipur. Students of other colleges like Bhilai Institute of Technolgy are also very much interested to own this tablet. Let's See when will BIT Durg get Aakash Tablet PC, most probably it will be listed in the next phase of the project.
Even without Govt's subsidy, the price is very low. I too hope to get hands on this very soon. So when are you getting yours?
Shekhar Sahu
3 comments for this post
So coooooool but my frnd bought in Rs.1500
Its features are cool but the processing is very poor.
Hello this is santosh from kolkata. I have booked a tablet., but i did not get any information about my booking. I request the concerned authority to please contact me soon, my emai-id is shaw.santosh20@gmail.com