IIT-B launches much-awaited Aakash-2 tablet
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After the ignominous criticisms of the cheapest tablet in the world - Aakash - the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT Bombay) was entrusted with the responsibility of the first phase of its improved version - Aakash 2. On June 25, HRD minister Kapil Sabil inaugurated the new and improved Aakash 2 at IIT-B. The new tablet has a faster 800 MHz processor, a capacitive touchscreen, Android-based software, and battery power that lasts for three hours. Read more
Aakash 2 has also been empowered to create content. For the purpose, IIT-B had set up a special Aakash lab at its Computer Science and Engineering department at the Powai campus. Around 150 people worked on the project, including PhD scholars, project engineers, interns, and M.Tech students. Surprisingly, the price for the new tablet has been pegged at Rs 2,263, which is Rs 13 less from the price of the original Aakash tablet.
During the inauguration, sample Aakash tablets were presented to the Principals of four engineering colleges, namely VJIT College, Somaiya College, PIIT Panvel, and COEP, Pune.
Professor D B Phatak, who is overseeing the project, told DNA that the Centre will be funding around one lakh tablets that will be deployed in more than 500 engineering colleges. About 168 engineering colleges will receive 100 tablets each by coming September.
IIT-B has partnered with CDAC to do lab tests on the samples and may continue to work with it to enhance Aakash in the future. It has done its best to avoid the ugly spat between Datawind and IIT Rajasthan over the quality parameters of the original Aakash table. More about Aakash failure
It has also been decided that 30 Aakash tablets given to each college will be given to final year students to develop applications for Aakash. The original release of Aakash 2 was planned to be in April this year but the inauguration was delayed to ensure that it is really worth the publicity.
Aakash is not only meant for students in technical institutions and universities. It will also be made available to general public. See details
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