DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AAKASH-2 AND UBISLATE7+

There seems to be some confusion amongst the general public regarding the difference between Aakash-2 and Ubislate7+. Let's get the things right.
Datawind developed Ubislate7 tab which was christened as Aakash/Aakash1 by the Government of India. Aakash1 was essentially a test device. Based on the feedback received from Aakash-1, the Government intends to launch Aakash-2 in May. Aakash-2 will be developed by Datawind and supplied directly to the Government. The Government will subsidise it and distribute it to the students of select technical educational institutions. Therefore, the general paublic will not have access to it.
Ubislate7+ is an Android 2.3 tab. It offers web connectivity both through WiFi as well as GPRS. It can also be used to make phone calls. Besides it has thousands of useful Apps. The device comes with pre-loaded educational content which makes it a powerful educational tool. Ubislate7+ is being sold by Datawind to the open public through it's website. Orders can be placed on http://www.ubislate.com/. The device is priced at Rs.2999/- There is an option of sending advance payments which ensures that your delivery gets prioritised. Ubislate7+ is set for an April end launch after which deliveries will begin. Those who have already sent in advance payment will receive these first.
So if you want to ensure that you get the tablet soon, go in for Ubislate7+.
Also see-

http://www.efytimes.com/e1/fullnews.asp?edid=82014&magid=11

WHY OLPC IS A FAILURE

The OLPC project has failed in its mission. The project is using an overly U.S. mindset that presented solutions not applicable to specific problems of developing nations. It has already been rejected by the Indian government. Any initiatives to get it back shall be detrimental for the country.

The OLPC project has been criticized for allegedly adopting a "one-shot" deployment approach with little or no technical support or teacher training, and for neglecting pilot programs and formal assessment of outcomes in favor of quick deployment. Some authors attribute this unconventional approach to the OLPC promoters' alleged focus on constructivist education and 'digital utopianism'.

The Scandinavian aid organization FAIR proposed setting up computer labs with recycled second-hand computers as a more economical alternative.Computer Aid International doubted the OLPC sales strategy would succeed, citing the "untested" nature of its technology.

 It needs to be remembered that the laptop by itself does not completely fill the need of students in underprivileged countries. The “children’s machines”, as they have been called, have been deployed to several countries, for example Uruguay, Peru, and in the USA, Alabama, but after a relatively short time, their usage has declined considerably, sometimes because of hardware problems or breakage, in some cases, as high as 27% to 33% within the first two years, and sometimes due to a lack of knowledge on the part of the users on how to take full advantage of the machine. The OLPC does not educate the child to self-learn from the device, a major shortcoming that the Aakash-2 device will address.

It is wiser to learn from the experiences of other countries which have burnt their fingers with the OLPC!
http://news.slashdot.org/story/12/04/07/1247250/olpc-project-disappoints-in-peru

AAKASH FOR PHILADELPHIA

The $35 Aakash tablet could soon be on its way to schoolchildren in Philadelphia if talks with an American firm that has shown interest in the project work out fine.Philadelphia-based Wilco Electronics, which is in negotiations with the Union Human Resource Development Ministry that is working on the touchscreen tablet along with its Canadian manufacturer Datawind, is looking to procure the Aakash tablet for use by schoolchildren and disadvantaged sections there.
Brigitte Daniel, executive vice president of Wilco, came to New Delhi late last year to personally see and understand how the tablet works and is learnt to be quite interested in the project.
“I did visit the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) last year to explore the options of partnership and distribution of the Aakash tablet in the US. My company, Wilco Electronic Systems, is currently in stages of exploring a relationship with...Govt of India and/or Datawind (the company responsible for distributing the tablet) and may look to pilot use of the tablets in Philadelphia,” Daniel said in an email to The Indian Express.

“We will be meeting in the US with Datawind early April. We hope to nail down details about this then and see what we can do to get a pilot going in Philadelphia,” Daniel confirmed.
Explaining that she was keen on “testing the device within schools and under-served communities”, Daniel said the number of tablets Wilco will procure would depend on the manufacturing rate of the tablet by the HRD Ministry. Wilco is said to be the primary cable and internet provider for Philadelphia Housing Authority projects and is focused on serving low-income Philadelphians.
Sourced from-
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/aakash-tablet-may-see-launch-in-philadelphia/931432/2

LAUNCH OF UBISLATE7+

Hello all!
We are all keenly awaiting the launch of the Ubislate7+ tablet. It is expected to be launched in end of april. I am sure the device will be worth the wait! I am excited for the launch for the reason that it shall open a new chapter in the history of the Indian educational system. It is a life-changing initiative for the millions of students who have been unable to gain access to computer devices because of financial constraints.
Gearing up for an educated and evolved India!

DATAWIND IN NEWS FOR IT'S BIG IDEA

Description of BIG Idea:

Datawind has delivered a solution to making internet access as ubiquitous as using a mobile phone. Datawind's innovations can deliver the web to the developing world on existing infrastructure, do it for free, and do it on our tablets and smartphones built to sell for the cost of a mobile phone.

To gather international support for our Aakash project, vote for Datawind on
http://ctiait.ctia.org/bigIdea/2012/public/index.cfm/viewEntry/24

WHAT DOES AAKASH MEAN FOR INDIA?

The Aakash project has been much in news since the historic announcement launching the project in October 2011. The project is an important component of the billion dollar NME-ICT. Analysing different aspects, a fact that has come out clearly and for which the project deserves appreciation is that it has cause a stir in the tablet market. According to a recent report, low cost tabs will hold 16% of market share by 2016. Companies manufacturing PCs and tablets were, till now, focussing on the clients having surplus money to invest on high end gadgets. 70% of India was not catered to. What the Government along with Datawind has achieved by launching a product at such a low price point is that they have highlighted the needs of this "real India".
The present scenario of Indian tablet market looks good from the perspective of customers. As more and more players are emerging the heat in price can be felt as new models of tablets are emerging with more and more features and better deals with more value to your money. The current situation can be attributed to the Aakash tablet which exposed the Indian tablet market.  The new trend includes many multinational companies collaborating with Indian Local companies to launch new models of tablets.
The effect of this poject will be felt immensely in the next decade. This will be heralded as the golden period of technological advancement in the field of computer devices for the common man.

AAKASH GETS 765 CRORE IN BUDGET

The world's most affordable tablet project has been allocated about Rs 765 crore in Budget 2012-13, which will trigger the second phase of the project expected to begin in April.

The allocation for Aakash has been made under the National Mission for Education through ICT of Ministry of Human Resource and Development. The mission had launched the low-cost tablet project, last year.

According to official sources, the money allocated is 'sufficient' for the second phase of the project. Aakash-II is likely to cost the government about 569 crore for about 50 lakh tablets.
The government plans to procure about 50 lakh tablets, in a phased manner, at 2,276 each. Half of the cost (about 1138 per tablet) will be subsidised by the central government. The rest will be borne by the state governments, who want to distribute Aakash tablets in state colleges and institutions.

Minister for Human Resource and Development Kapil Sibal said in Lok Sabha earlier this month, that Datawind will supply about 100,000 improved tablets.

Sibal also plans to launch a tender in April for Aakash-II, which are expected to come with a better processor and capacitive touchscreen, but at the same price.