• Sarkaar Launches Aakash

    Sarkaar Launches Aakash

    Chandrakant 'ck' Isi, Oct 06, 2011 0341 hrs IST

    The 7" ultra-low-cost tablet is finally a reality.

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India's much awaited super-cheap tablet is now officially launched. Originally known as the Sakshat, the device has now been named as Aakash. Manufactured by UK based DataWind, the tablet costs the government Rs 2250 per unit. A total of one lakh units will be acquired initially. During the launch event, the generous HRD Minister Kapil Sibal distributed 500 gadgets in New Delhi.

Aakash is powered by a 366 MHz CPU with graphics accelerator and 256 MB RAM. Its 7" resistive touchscreen display has pixel dimensions of 800x480. Other features include GPRS, Wi-Fi, 3.5 mm jack, USB port, and 32 GB memory card support. The device will run Android 2.2 (Froyo) and will be capable of running 720p videos.

Here's the list of supported file formats:
  • Document formats: DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX, XLS, XLSX, ODT, ODP, and PDF.
  • Image formats: PNG, JPG, BMP and GIF.
  • Audio formats: MP3, AAC, AC3, WAV, and WMA.
  • Video formats: MPEG2, MPEG4, AVI, and FLV.
The device will initially be made available to post-secondary students for expected price of Rs 1750. It will also go commercial by end of November, when it is expected to retail at Rs 2999. A keyboard portfolio case for the tablet will also be made available during the commercial launch at an additional cost of Rs 300.


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Discussion Board
(22) Comments
TRIDEEP GHOSH
,SAINTHIA,BIRBHUM,PIN-731234, on Dec 14, 2011 10:09 AM
Dear sir ,I am interested in your product .But the problem is Where to bye this product in West Bengal.
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Chandrakant Isi
,TechTree, on Dec 14, 2011 03:50 PM
Follow this link for the update, including the info on how to purchase it http://www.techtree.com/India/News/Aakash_Tablet_Available_Online_Now/551-116229-615.html
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Shomik Gupta
,Delhi, on Oct 10, 2011 07:02 PM
With the introduction of Aakash, a tablet PC worth $35, the government accomplishes its endeavor to e-empower the country. The ultra low-cost tablet PC which eliminates the age old software and hardware structure focuses on inclusive education. The tablet doesn’t have a hard drive but boasts of a memory card that can be used to store data. It runs on Google’s Android Platform with Wi-Fi connectivity, cloud storage and has 256MB of RAM, 32GB expandable memory and has two USB ports.
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y.pagay
,Nasik Road, on Oct 10, 2011 11:06 AM
From the comments so far I read that the tablet is powered by a slow processor. It will be better that the processor is advanced to updated technology. After all a similar tablet manufactured by a leading company is available in the market at a very costly price. How can the manufacturers of Akash afford such a low price for their product ?
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muruganantham
,Thanjavur, on Oct 08, 2011 01:48 PM
where it's buy this item.
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Sanditech
,Pune, on Oct 06, 2011 09:13 AM
Is that pic morphed?? what is anna doing on a tablet presented by kapil sibbal?
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citizen
,city, on Oct 06, 2011 12:36 PM
LOL ANNA ON SIBAL TABLET!!!
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BADJAG
, TechTree, on Oct 07, 2011 10:36 PM
Yes, it has been morphed. Looks like you're one of the few people to have spotted it. Congratulations, you win a grand prize of nothing from TechTree! :)
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Student
,City, on Oct 06, 2011 12:47 PM
How it will available to students? By institutevise or statevise? What is criteria to get it?
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Nitin Mishra
,Mumbai, on Oct 07, 2011 06:43 PM
You first take addmission in primary school....
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sunil
,Jammu, on Oct 07, 2011 02:15 PM
I saw the Interview of CEP of the company that manufactures these tablets on NDTV Gadget Guru. The person was confident that the price can go even below Rs 1000 if a minimum order of 1 Million tablet is placed. this clearly means: 1. Evenif govt stops the subsidy..tablet can still be purchased by students below 1500; For common person, the tablet will be below 2000Rs. 2. Imagine the big players making the profit margins on these products; since Aaakash exposed the actual cost (though adding a 1 Ghz processor, 512 mb Ram and capacitive screen may raise the price further by 2000 Rs)
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sunil
,Jammu, on Oct 07, 2011 02:16 PM
It's CEO (rather than CEP in my last post)
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dhiren sengar
,Bardoli,Surat, on Oct 06, 2011 06:53 PM
I want aakash tablet any how as soon as posible
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Rotanguli
,Mumbai, on Oct 06, 2011 04:48 PM
Quote:"During the launch event, the generous HRD Minister Kapil Sibal distributed 500 gadgets in New Delhi.", Techtree this is getting ridiculous, do you think Sibal is funding this project out of his pocket, its all tax payers money. Also I am yet to get the concept of this low cost tablet, whats the point of it when people do not have PCs to transfer data or internet connectivity. Anyways I appreciate the attempt.
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Nachiket
, TechTree, on Oct 06, 2011 06:14 PM
Sarchasm (n): The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
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Ryan
,london, on Oct 06, 2011 06:09 PM
Steve jobs died off shock when India launched a 7" tablet @ $35 !
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sidhartha
,noida, on Oct 06, 2011 03:41 PM
the two things that are here and should have been on other devices are 1. proper USB port 2. external keyboard for ease of use when required to type for long durations.
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marex77
,vadodara, on Oct 06, 2011 02:23 PM
I really surprised/disappointed to see that this site has not updated the demise of steve jobs....Being a daily, it needs to be fast or it's going to lose loyal visitors.
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SHAIKH HAJI
,MUMBAI, on Oct 06, 2011 01:24 PM
how we can buy it?i want to take this & also me and my friend....
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Sachin
,Goa, on Oct 06, 2011 11:58 AM
Even a 600Mhz processor struggles to load a web page,how 366 Mhz processor going to run Android 2.2? Sibal is most likely to show fake number of tablets given to students & eat the subsidised money....this is a comman practice in education system.
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msramkrish
,Trichy, on Oct 06, 2011 04:05 AM
Once in a while something good like this happens from government towards citizen's growth and care. Let us appreciate this as this never happened and no one is sure when this sort of good thing will happen again! Whoever behind this initiative requires appreciation for making this initiative the reality in spite of well know hurdles! Hope this product will not be launched on some politician's name. Strange but true that all the government schemes though created with hard earned Tax Payers money are strangely being named after individuals and politicians and projected as if they do it on their own or inherited family money!
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Pinak Ghosh
,Calcutta, on Oct 06, 2011 08:59 AM
Lets look at the reality here. Students are being provided with a device that will help them in their studies. Its fair enough. However, would anyone be interested after looking at that specs. Its has very slow processor (for Android 2.2) and resistive touchscreen - how long it it take before the screen becomes unresponsive and the device becomes useless. We don't even know about the battery life as yet. Also, it is another ploy of the Government to hoodwink people. By selling these useless devices to students, they want to make quick money. My bet is to wait for few months. The capacitive screens are becoming cheaper these days. Coupled with a competitive market witnessing a tablet war, it will be very soon when we can get much powerful and capable devices at such low costs.
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