27th June 2002
INDIA TODAY ONLINE NEW DELHI, JUNE 27, 2012 | UPDATED 17:12 IST
In a rather low-key affair, the upgraded version of Aakash, Aakash 2 was unveiled at a teacher's training workshop in the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay recently. The low-cost computing device was developed as a part of the country's aim to link 20,000 colleges and 400 universities through an e-learning program.
IIT-Rajasthan, the nodal agency for the Aakash project, had rejected the tablet for not meeting performance criteria and the project had been shifted to IIT Bombay. Thus, improvements over the original Aakash were made which now has a faster processor speed, improved battery life and a touch screen with better quality resolution.
Unlike other tablet devices, Aakash can also be used to create computer programs, in Python, C, C++ and Scilab. It has been priced at Rs. 2,999 which is slightly higher than previous version, owing to its improved features.
UK-based DataWind, the company that designed the original tablet, is contracted to deliver 100,000 Aakash-2 tablets to IIT. Bombay, which is spearheading the project.
Datawind, which had submitted about 100 tablets to IIT-Bombay for testing, said that the government has approved the specifications for the upgraded version and it will be launched soon in the market.
HRD Ministry sources said that the launch of the upgraded version could be around the first week of July.
