Aakash 2 tablet brings much faster chip, capacitive touch
updated 05:00 pm EDT, Thu March 15, 2012
Aakash 2 tablet fixes problems of original
India took quick action to address quality gripes with the original Aakash tablet by releasing an upgraded version. The new Android 2.2 model is still made by Datawind but is roughly twice as fast, carrying a 700MHz ARM Cortex-A8 chip. Its much-maligned resistive, seven-inch touchscreen has been replaced with a much more responsive capacitive screen.
Battery life is still short on the tablet. Despite having a 3,200mAh lithium-ion pack, it runs for just three hours on a charge. The battery could cause issues as it wouldn't last for significantly more than one or two long courses.
The price is taking a slight increase to get to the better quality, at $40 versus the original $35. India plans to deploy the updated Aakash as soon as its education initiative receives funds. Scaling to reach every student in the country may take five to six years, however, as Datawind can't build all the tablets itself and is working with local suppliers.
Original Aakash tablets had a publicly available version for about $20 more. While not mentioned, it could carry a similar $60 to $65 price if translated over. [via The Hindu]
