One Laptop Per Child Launches XO tablet Via Walmart

For the last few years, non-profit One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) has been steadily producing rugged, low-cost, low-power connected laptops for children in the developing world.

The XO tablet is the fourth iteration of the One Laptop Per Child concept, all of which have been designed by One Laptop Per Child's chief designer, Yves Behar of San Francisco design studio fuseproject.

The first, nicknamed the "$100 laptop", followed by "the XOXO laptop" in 2008 which s further followed by "the XO-3" which was launched last year.

The new version features a rubber exterior and a carrying hook, while the bilingual English/Spanish software comes with a suite of pre-loaded apps, games and books.

XO tablet features a rubber exterior and a carrying hook

"The new tablet is an evolution of all the things we have learned with the original XO Laptop," says Yves Behar. "The new user interface is colourful and easy to use, while the protective rubber exterior features a carrying loop similar to the original XO finger hooks."

Designed by Yves Behar's Fuseproject, Fuseproject and the One Laptop Per Child Association (OLPC) just unveiled the new XO tablet, the XO-3's new design features an all plastic tablet screen which is semi-flexible and extremely durable, and just like the original XO, the display can be optimized in both transmissive and reflective modes for indoor and outdoor lighting conditions.

The XO Tablet is pre-installed with more than 100 free apps, along with more than 100 e-books, several videos and some educational games, and content can be accessed in either English or Spanish that kids can use to watch videos, play games, listen to music, and, oh, learn as well.

The Vivitar XO Tablet features a 7-inch multitouch display at 1024 x 600 resolution, and has a 1.64 GHz dual-core processor at its heart that's supported by 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of solid state storage, with microSD expansion. There's integrated 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity, cameras front (1.3 MP) and back (2 MP), micro-USB and mini-HDMI ports, and a 3800 mAh Li-ion battery that promises almost 8 hours of life between charges. It has dimensions of 193 x 120 x 10 mm (7.6 x 4.7 x 0.4 in), tips the scales at 340 g (12 oz), and comes wrapped in a protective outer casing to help the tablet survive the inevitable bumps and knocks it will likely encounter.

The XO Tablet features a 7-inch multitouch display at 1024 x 600 resolution, 1.64 GHz dual-core processor ,1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of solid state storage

XO tablet has front camera (1.3 MP) and back camera(2 MP)

It runs a basic version of Android 4.2, which has been specifically configured by Behar's studio, Fuseproject, to appeal to children. The main screen is organised by topic, rather than application, and the notion of files has been replaced by a journal-like structure centred – in a very American way – around aspirations and goals. It is the only multilingual, Google-certified tablet for kids on the market.

The organization says that every purchase will be used to further develop and enhance its XO learning software to address the needs of a larger population of children and, though the XO Tablet is not currently compatible with programs running on the OLPC Laptop, moves are afoot to change that situation.

The organization says that every purchase of XO tablet will be used to further develop and enhance its XO learning software

The tablet launches with the “I want to be a ...” screen, where a series of coloured circles provide options from artist and musician to engineer and programmer. Each then leads to further material on the topic. It also comes loaded with around 200 books, and features a front and rear camera – as well as parental controls and analytics “to help monitor use and understand their children's natural interests and computing habits”, for the ultimate micro-parenting experience.

XO tablet launches with the “I want to be a ...” screen, where a series of coloured circles provide options from artist and musician to engineer and programmer

Three separate user accounts can be created, with parents deciding on how much access each has to things like the Internet or Google Play and its world of Android apps. Levels can be adjusted over time to accommodate the needs of a maturing child, and parents can view a journal that offers an insight into how the device is being used, which apps are favored and how much time is spent actually learning.

Learning stats can be compared with others in the same age group

The One Laptop Per Child Association has distributed 2.5 million of the original XO Laptop in 60 countries, and is now launching the new $150 tablet in the US starting at Walmart, as well as in developing countries such as Uruguay, Cambodia, and Barbados.

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One Laptop Per Child Launches XO tablet Via Walmart