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HCL intros trio of Android 4.0 tablets aimed at Indian classrooms
HCL, previously known for launching those budget-friendly MiLeaps, is now getting ready to take its low-cost approach to the tablet market. Earlier today, the Indian outfit announced a trifecta of ICS-packed slates, all of which are aimed squarely at the education sector. Aside from running the freshest version of Android, these 7-inch (800 x 480) slates feature an unspecified 1GHz CPU alongside 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD) as well as full and mini-USB ports. Additionally, the K-12 and HE MyEduTabs are being bundled with bonus educational content, including free NCERT books and an extra SD card on the former. The trio is set to hit the shelves later this month in India, with the ME U1 priced at 7,999 rupees (approximately $162), while the K-12 and HE are 11,499 and 9,999, respectively. [Thanks, Rakesh]
India's oft delayed $35 tablet ready to ship, unicorns shed tears of joy
India's unfortunately-named Sakshat tablet began life as a $10 laptop way back in early 2009 and, in the years since, has had more than its fair share of delays and difficulties. But, after repeatedly dashing hopes and destroying dreams it appears the $35 tablet is just about ready for take off. The Times of India is reporting the first batch of this still slightly mysterious machine will be shipped out at the end of the month to the Indian Institute of Technology for 2,200 rupees apiece -- a bit above the goal price at around $50, though government plans to subsidize the devices should cut the cost in half. With one pie-in-the-sky tablet project finally getting out the door, we're almost afraid to ask -- hows that XO-3 is coming along Mr. Negroponte?
India's $35 tablet delay dashes hopes, destroys dreams
College students eagerly awaiting India's ambitious $35 tablet are going to have to put their dreams on hold -- there's been a delay. Earlier this week, the Times of India reported that the Indian government dropped HCL Technologies, the company responsible for manufacturing the great democratic tablet, for failing to follow through on the 600 million rupee (or $13,198,416) guarantee -- apparently a disagreement over production costs is to blame. Last summer, the country's Human Resource Development Minister, Kapil Sibal, made a number of appearances toting a mockup of the Android-based tablet, and promising a launch date of January 15th. Officials say the project is still on track and should be ready this summer. However, while the government seeks a replacement for HCL, skeptics continue to sound warnings that parts alone will cost more than $35. We'd like to chalk this up to haters hating, but we can't seem to forget what became of the $10 laptop.
India's $35 tablet is apparently the Hivision Speedpad
India's $35 tablet has certainly managed to grab plenty of headlines, but it looks like the tablet itself isn't quite the one-of-a-kind device that it's been made out to be. As the folks at Androidos.in have discovered, the tablet is apparently just the Speedpad / PWS700HA from Chinese manufacturer Hivision, which was on display at CeBIT earlier this year and, at that point, was said to run about $100. What's more, Androidos.in says that the Indian government's recently announced deal with HCL is not actually a deal for the company to manufacture the tablet, but simply to provide an "infrastructure for testing the tablet." Unfortunately, the one mystery that still hasn't been solved is whether the $35 tablet will actually be a $35 tablet. [Thanks, Amit]
India's $35 Android tablet reportedly on track for January launch
It seemed like a bit of a stretch from the beginning, but it looks like India's $35 Android tablet is intent on proving the skeptics wrong -- the Indian government has just announced that it's awarded the manufacturing contract to HCL Technologies (makers of the once world's cheapest laptop), and that the first batch of tablets are slated to be available by January 10th. That initial run will reportedly only include the 7-inch model that we've been seeing all along, but there's also apparently 5-inch and 9-inch versions planned for launch at a later date. We also presume that the tablet is still hanging onto that $35 price tag (for university students, at least), but that key detail is curiously absent from this latest announcement.
India's Reliance Communications offers free netbook with contract
It's not the first carrier to hop on the netbook bandwagon, but India's Reliance Communications looks like it could be about to boost those global netbook sales numbers even further, with it announcing that it plans to offer free mobile broadband-equipped netbooks to anyone willing to sign a two-year, $30-a-month contract for its NetConnect service. What's more, while the complete specifics are still a bit light, Reliance has apparently partnered with Intel, Acer, Asus, HCL and Lenovo for the deal, which seems to suggest that you'll be able to get the Atom-based netbook of your choice, or at least choose from a decent enough selection.[Via GigaOM]
Wii fever spreads to India this month
If you're a hardware manufacturer aiming to succeed in previously untapped markets, then the two most populated nations in the world would seem like a sensible place to start. If everything goes to plan, Nintendo will be launching Wii in China later this year, and India now has a set-in-stone release date for both the Wii and DS: September 30th.Official distribution is being handled by dynamic duo Samurai-India and HCL, but Indian gamers excited at the thought of finally getting their waggle on will have to cough up a considerable wedge: there, a Wii is set to cost INR 19,990 ($445). The DS is more reasonably priced at INR 7,990 ($178).[Thanks, Abhi!]
HCL's MiLeap handled in the wild, likened to V-Tech toy
HCL's MiLeap has long been forgotten amongst the swarm of other low-cost laptops to emerge post-CES, but a kind fellow over in Bahrain was able to handle one for a tick, snap a few photographs and dish out some early impressions. Essentially, this 7-inch netbook was more akin to a V-Tech toy than a bona fide computing instrument, and typing on the thing was apparently a very non-enjoyable experience. Still, those anxious to see what this critter looks like in the flesh can head on down to the read link, but don't even pretend that you're not going there with full intentions of pointing and laughing.[Thanks, Mo]
HCL and Microsoft team up for "world's cheapest Windows laptop"
India's HCL is certainly no stranger to low-cost laptops, and the company is now apparently looking to expand its budget-priced empire even further, with it recently announcing that it's teamed up with Microsoft to roll out what it claims to be the "world's cheapest Windows laptop." While the company isn't exactly saying as much, the new laptop, dubbed the MiLeap H, appears to be a revamped version of the company's MiLeap Y unit, with it boasting the same swiveling 7-inch touchscreen, an unspecified Intel processor and Intel 945 GU Express chipset, 1GB of RAM, a 30GB hard drive, an integrated 1.3 megapixel webcam, built-in WiFi and, of course, Windows XP Home for the OS. No word on a release date just yet, but those in India can expect to pay 17,000 Indian rupees (or about $425) for the laptop.[Via TechWeb/Yahoo! News]
HCL MiLeap Y series tablet / UMPC in the wild
HCL managed to get our attention when it announced its MiLeap X series laptop and Y series tablet/UMPC last month, and now thanks to the Tech Ticker blog we have better look at the more interesting of the two, the MiLeap Y. As you can see above, however, the device is unsurprisingly a little less sleek looking than it was in the polished press photos, but still far from an eyesore. What's more, while it didn't delve into a full review, Tech Ticker did say that the Y has a "good" build quality, and that the keys are "nicely spaced out." Be sure to hit up the link below for plenty more pics, and decide for yourself if it's worth the $800+ price tag.[Thanks, Chirag]
MiLeap X and Y laptop details get fleshed out
We already had a pretty good indication of the specs for HCL's new low-cost MiLeap X and Y laptops, but those that still haven't had their curiosity satisfied can now get their fix courtesy of PCLaunches, which has the complete rundown on both systems. As expected the lower-end MiLeap X is Classmate PC through and through, including a 900MHz Celeron M processor, 512MB of RAM, 2GB of flash memory, two USB ports, and the usual 7-inch 800 x 600 display. The more UMPC-like MiLeap Y, on the other hand, boasts an Intel A110 processor, 1GB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive, a 1.3 megapixel webcam and a higher resolution 1024x600 7-inch screen. Still no word on a release date, however, though they sure seem about ready to drop.
HCL rolls out low-cost MiLeap laptops for India
HCL's already brought some low-cost desktops to India, and it looks set to do the same for laptops as well, with the company now taking the wraps off two budget-priced models made "with a little help from Intel." As you can see above, one of those, the MiLeap X, is more than a little familiar-looking, although HCL seems to be doing its best to distant itself from the Classmate PC brand, and claims that the laptop has been "designed exclusively for India." Suffering from no such confusion is the slightly higher-end and more UMPC-like MiLeap Y model, which boasts the same 7-inch screen and built-in WiFi, but adds an 80GB hard drive, Bluetooth, and Vista Home Premium in place of the MiLeap X's Linux OS, among other features. No word on a release date for either just yet, but the MiLeap X will apparently be available starting at Rs 13,990 (or about $350), while the MiLeap Y will start at under Rs 30,000 (or roughly $760).[Thanks, Sandy]
