by Kaustubh Katdare, Jul 1, 2013 at 6:34 PM
Aakash 4 specifications are finally out and the Government of India has made an official statement about how they propose the next instalment in the Aakash tablet series should be like. We've been following the entire Aakash episode ever since the idea of Aakash I was conceptualised and believe that the Government has come long way in improving the tablet to an extent that you might actually 'want' to buy one. We know that Aakash I sold in the Indian markets like a hot cake but the follow up tablets made it to the news for all the wrong reasons. Now that Aakash 4 specs are out, let's see what the technical folks in the MHRD have been up to.
The uninitiated may note that Aakash is a brand name of the series of Android based tablet computers produced by MHRD. It was conceptualised to be a very low cost tablet ($35) with a 7" touch screen running Android firmware. The main aim of the government was to keep the cost so low that any student can afford it. The basic version of the tablet was made available to the students only for Rs. 1500. But that was 2010! Since then lot of water has flown under the bridge and we're already talking about Aakash tablet IV.
A few weeks ago, the technical team set up by the government started working on the draft of the technical specifications - including minimum hardware and software requirements, mechanical and environment specifications (viz. the SAR value), safety and standards compliance related parameters, maintenance and serviceability etc. was decided keeping the cost of the end product in mind.
The official specs have been made available on the official websites of Department Of Electronics & Information Technology (DEITY). If you want to offer suggestions on the specifications, the government is lending an ear to you and may update the specs if your recommendations make real sense. Prof. Rajat Moona would be receiving all your feedback on the specifications and he can be contacted on moona [at] cdac [dot] in.
Quick Overview Of Aakash 4 Technical Specifications
Hardware:-
1. Memory (RAM) - 1 GB DDR3 SDRAM 1066 MT/S or better
2. Internal Storage: 4GB+ (integrated flash)
3. External Storage: MicroSD 2.0 up to 32GB. The interface would be compatible with NFC based SD Card.
4. Peripherals: USB OTG Micro-AB Receptacle (USB 2.0 Compliant) and one powered USB Type A Standard Receptacle (USB 2.0 Compliant).
5. Suppor For External Attachments: USB storage devices, keyboards, mouse, USB hub, 2G/3G/4G dongles available in India, USB to Ethernet adaptors, USB Printers etc.
6. USB & SD Cards would work simultaneously
7. Wireless Connectivity: IEEE 801.11 b/g/n
8. Bluetooth: 2.1 [ IEEE 802.15.1 ]
9. Battery: mAh value not known - But should play 3 Hrs of 720p HD video on single charge.
10. 3-Axis Acccelerometer - Included.
11. Weight: Should be < 500 grams
Software:-
Proposed: Dual boot with GNU/Linux distro (mostly uBuntu) along with Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean. Support for most regular MS Office file formats including .doc, .docx, .ppt, .pptx, .xls, .xlsx, .odt, .odp, .ods.
For the detailed specs, we've attached the official PDF for your review.
Aakash 4 seems to be a step in the right direction that should make have the feeling of owning a worthy tablet. The specs look impressive assuming that the Government will keep the prices to the minimum it can. The bigger challenge in front of the government would be to follow the schedules it sets up for the launch of Aakash tablet. It's failed to do so for whatever reasons earlier, but the same story shouldn't be repeated with Aakash 4. It's not clear whether the original maker of the Aakash tablet, the Canada based Datawind would get the contract of manufacturing the tablets. It's likely that the the contract would go to some other Indian venture. Be ready for the debates whether Aakash 4 is Made in India or China.
We'll of course be following the story and bring you the latest updates from the Aakash world. In the mean time, take a moment to review the detailed specs mentioned in the attached PDF and share your comments.
