A Hand-Cranked Tablet Unveiled at CES

The rugged eight-inch tablet comes from the One Laptop Per Child team.

People power: This eight-inch tablet is designed to bring education to poor regions of the world.
Credit: Technology Review

More than 50 new tablet computers are expected to debut at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. But only one is meant for people in the poorest regions of the world, and comes with a hand crank as an accessory.

Known as the XO 3.0, the rugged green and white device has an eight-inch screen and was designed by the nonprofit One Laptop Per Child, which in 2008 launched the XO laptop, a device for people who are normally far from the minds of most computing companies.

At a press preview held before the official opening of CES on Tuesday, OLPC's chief technology officer, Edward McNierney, told Technology Review that the new device could be used by children as young as five.

"We're trying to provide a low-power, low-cost environment for education," he said. "One of the things we're working on now is software experiments to see if children in completely illiterate communities, who don't go to school, can teach themselves to read."

A tablet's touch-driven interface is better suited to that kind of use, said McNierney, adding that the tablet was also cheaper to make than a laptop. He wouldn't say the cost of the device, but if it matches its predecessor ($199), it could reach many people worldwide.

The tablet demonstrated was running Sugar OS, the Linux-based operating system developed by OLPC for its laptop. However, the tablet can also run Google's Android mobileoperating system, and buyers can choose which they want installed on their tablets. The demonstration tablet used an LCD, but, McNierney says, the final device could be shipped with the same kind found in the laptop, which featured a low-power monochrome mode.

McNierney also showed a nonfunctional prototype case for the tablet. The case had a built-in solar panel and battery—each hour the case spends in full sun can deposit enough energy for two hours of tablet use into the case's battery.

Although the OLPC's laptop never lived up to the project's slogan—"$100 laptop"—roughly 2.5 million of its laptops have been shipped so far, said McNierney. Most were bought for schools. As with the OLPC laptop, the new tablet is made by mobile chip and device manufacturer Marvell.

USB 3.0 to reach smartphones, tablets by year end

USB 3.0 ports will reach smartphones and tablets by the end of the year or early next year, the USB standards setting organization said on Sunday.

Smartphones and tablets will likely get a MicroUSB port based on USB 3.0 technology to fit the small size of the devices, said Rahman Ismail, chief technology officer of the USB Implementers Forum during the Consumer Electronics trade show in Las Vegas.

The ports will enable faster data transfer between mobile devices and host devices such as PCs, some of which already have USB 3.0 ports. The data transfer rates will likely be 100 megabytes per second, or roughly 800 megabits per second (Mbps). Mobile devices currently use the older USB 2.0 technology, which is slower.

"What takes 15 minutes will roughly take 1 minute and 10 seconds," Ismail said.

However, the USB 3.0 transfer speed on mobile devices is much slower than the raw performance of the USB 3.0 technology on PCs, which can reach 5Gbps (gigabits per second).

But transferring data using the current USB 3.0 technology at such high data rates requires more power, which does not fit the profile of mobile devices.

"It's not the failure of USB per se, it's just that in tablets they are not looking to put the biggest, fastest things inside a tablet," Ismail said.

Smartphones and tablets will also recharge faster through USB 3.0, as the power will flow faster than in USB 2.0, Ismail said.

The USB 3.0 on smartphones and tablets will be backward compatible with USB 2.0 on host devices.

"We're coming out with new specs, new areas where we will make it very power efficient, power friendly," Ismail said.

The organization is also looking to reduce the size of current 3.0 ports as laptops become thinner, Ismail said. The big size of a USB 3.0 port could be a hindrance in its adoption.

"The height of [laptops] is being limited by VGA, and we're next in line," Ismail said.

Intel has already said it intends to push USB 3.0 rival Thunderbolt technology to mobile devices. However, many PCs that were introduced recently have both Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 ports, signaling the coexistence of both technologies.

DataWind boss reveals secrets behind Aakash Tablet

Four hundred thousand, that was the number of units pre-ordered in October 2011 by people eager to get their hands on the commercial version of the Aakash Tablet, the world's cheapest tablet device, slated for release this month by Montreal-based tech upstart DataWind Inc.

The government of India is expected to order up to 2 million units of the Aakash, which the government intends to sell to Indian students at the subsidized price of about US$35 (Rs 1,750).

The Android 2.2 powered, 7-inch touchscreen tablet created a global stir when it was announced late in 2011 that the device would sell for a mere US$35. Its commercial version,the Ubislate 7, runs on the more current Android OS 2.3 and comes with amenities such as HD video playback, faster WiFi connectivity, and phone features. It will retail for about US$60 (Rs 2,999) – still US$139 cheaper than the Kindle Fire.

Online pre-orders for both devices has been so massive that DataWind's Web site crashed and still has some technical issues today.

"Response to the products in the last few months has been fantastic and overwhelming," said Suneet Singh Tuli, the 43-year-old CEO of DataWind. "Back in July last year, even I myself wrote a blog saying that a US$35-tablet is impossible to build."

Today DataWind is able to manufacture the Aakash at prices below US$35/unit, he says. The Indian government buys the tablet from the company for US$49.98 and resells it for the subsidized cost of US$35/unit.

The quest for the ultra cheap tablet began in early 2011 when the Indian government put out a tender for a nationally subsidized tablet for the masses that would also help the government provide Internet access to its citizens (only 10 per cent of Indians have Web access).

DataWind, with offices in Montreal; Mississauga, Ont.; London, UK; and Amritsar, India, beat out a handful of other companies that bid for the contract.

Tuli, relates how he, his older brother Raja (DataWind's chief technology officer) and a multi-cultural team of Canadians and immigrant technicians at the DataWind office in Montreal managed the feat, which many including their bid competitors thought was impossible.

DataWind's winning strategy could be instructive of how other small and medium sized businesses engaged in other markets can hit pay dirt in an otherwise crowded arena, according to Tuli who also happens to live in Toronto.

Here are Tuli's tips on how to manufacture low-cost products:

Sell to the masses
Sell to masses, live with the classes. In Canada that line has been associated with Ed Mirvish. However this is also the winning strategy of DataWind.

While device makers such as Apple, Sony, Samsung, HP and RIM go after the mid to high level income consumers, companies like DataWind target the lower income bracket in markets like China, Asia, India, with low-cost gadgets.

Founded in 2000 by the Tuli brothers, the company has had reasonable success in making and selling low-cost wireless gadgets such as PocketSurfer (a clamshell web-enabled mobile device) and the mini netbook UbiSurfer in the U.K.

For entrepreneurs like Suneet, who focus on low-cost digital products for the disenfranchised, markets like India (and China, Asia, Africa and Latin America) are what's referred to as the "next billion."

The idea is to make more money through selling low margin devices to a greater number of people, said Tuli. "Why chase after the next million buyers when the next billion is just waiting to be served?"

Not in my backyard
NIMBY is often used pejoratively. But many Canadian tech startups have had to adopt a sort of reversed version of NIMBY in order to thrive. Many Canadian SMBs found it necessary to take a global approach to help their business prosper.

"Look at the global market, don't focus on your own backyard," advices Tuli. In his case, Tuli lives in Toronto, DataWind has a research and development office in Montreal, and sold most of its earlier products in the U.K. Parlaying the Tulis' knowledge of India's mobile market and other local business connections enabled DataWind to secure the Indian government contract.

Recently, Tuli has been fielding inquiries from officials of other countries interested in the bargain basement tablet. The list includes the minister of information and communications for Thailand, who wants 10 million tablets, and officials from Turkey, Sri Lanka, Trinidad, Tobago, Egypt and Panama.

Follow the money trail
DataWind also took notice of global investing trends. The company has its headquarters in Montreal but is actually registered in the U.K. This is mainly because most of DataWind's investors come from across the pond.

"For some reason the investor community in the U.K. is more proactive. Canadian investors tend to be more conservative," according to Tuli.

Cut production margins
DataWind is able to profitably manufacture the Aakash and Ubislate 7 because the company managed to squeeze out the smallest margin from its components.

Tuli says they are able to do this by sourcing components from various manufacturers that offer the best price for the specs they need rather than sticking with a single manufacturer.

This enables DataWind to realize deep discounts on key components. For instance, Tuli explains, many tablet markets spend anywhere from US$15 to US$20/unit on their LCD screens. DataWind was able to cut down the price to US$8/unit because the Montreal firm purchases uncompleted units. "We do the rest of the gluing and soldering needed to finish the job," says Tuli.

Touchscreen panels can cost more than US$20 per unit but DataWind was also able to source much cheaper panels from another Montreal firm.

DataWind also opted for the free Android operating system and tweaked it to work on its devices' cheaper but weaker processors (ARM 11 – 366 MHz microprocessors in the case of Aakash).

DataWind further cuts production cost by manufacturing its devices outside Canada. "The Aakash is manufactured in India not only because of the lower labour cost, proximity to the market and because the device would be the pride of India," according to Tuli.

In his talks with other countries, Tuli is pushing for a similar local manufacturing model.

Spanish Masala - Official Trailer

10 devices to look forward to in 2012

Whether our utopian wish list turns into a reality or not, there are a handful of devices that aren’t a figment of imagination and would reach markets anytime this year....

Whether our utopian wish list turns into a reality or not, there are a handful of devices that aren’t a figment of imagination and would reach markets anytime this year. Although there isn't an exact release date, these upcoming devices are expected to launch anytime sooner or later, this year. We’ve picked 10 devices that you can look forward to this year. iPhone 5 This celebrated device is expected to come sometime this year. Whether it’s named iPhone 5 or not, the next generation of the iPhone is expected to release later this year in fall, the same time the iPhone 4S was released in 2011. The device is suggested to come in a tapering design, while some supposed design elements were revealed recently. Besides, we obviously expect some improvements over its key feature – Siri. So, if you're boggled over buying an iPhone 4S, especially owing to the hefty price that comes with unjustifiable upgrades (at least the price tag it attaches in India says so), we suggest you might as well wait for the newer version. iPad 3/Mini iPad Whether Apple plans to launch the iPad 3 or the iPad Mini or both, is unclear yet. But, a newer version of the iPad is seemingly in the making and on its way this year. As we’ve said earlier, tablets came and went, some stayed, but one still manages to rule. Do we name it? As the rumours are rife, you can put aside a piggy bank and get the next generation iPad, which presumably may get all/some functions of the iPhone 4S, ‘siri’ously. Our successors are on the way.. Samsung Galaxy S3 If Samsung Galaxy S II managed to woo the Android masses, its successor may just add to the fanfare. Samsung’s next generation of Galaxy S smartphones, the Galaxy S III, has been making rounds and is expected to be up for grabs this year. Obviously, it will get the taste of Ice Cream Sandwich along with a set of advanced attributes that have been making rounds on the Internet, such as quad core processor that clocks at 1.8GHz, 3D display capabilities and more.   Wintel tablets Last year saw a slew of Android tablets come in, catering to almost every budget, but not many were successful at making a mark in the ‘i’-smitten tablet arena. This year, Windows has geared to step in with Intel's Clover Trail technology in tow. In the making are Wintel tablets from Acer and Lenovo (whoever gets it first) - something we are eagerly waiting to know is how would they shape up. Prime to shine in 2012 Transformer Prime Touted to be the most powerful tablet, the next generation leap of the Asus Transformer, theTransformer Prime is a device to look forward to this year. It is embedded with a 10.1-inch Super IPS+ capacitive touchscreen. Thinnest at 8.3mm and lightest at 586 grams, it comes with a full QWERTY dock, added battery pack, quad core Tegra 3 processor, A-GPS, Wi-Fi, DLNA support, Bluetooth along with USB port and SD card slot. Initially, to feature Honeycomb, the device is upgradable to Ice Cream Sandwich. BlackBerry 10 smartphones The ray of hope beaming through RIM’s abode is its new BlackBerry 10 platform, however, using a device running on this newest iteration of BlackBerry OS will reach users only after you’ve traversed through first half of the year. The BlackBerry 10 has some promising features. All we hope is that it isn’t too late for RIM and it keeps users glued onto screens, until then.   New forms of Aakash tablet and Reliance 4G tablet Aakash has been talking about improved versions, even before its device hit store shelves. TheAakash has begun shipping and the UbiSlate is expected to start shipping soon. But sometime this year, the company is expected to dish out a spruced up version of the Aakash with a better processor, improved feature set and a detachable keyboard for a price that reads Rs.3,500. Needless to say, at the rate its versions are being talked about we shouldn’t be surprised to see some more variants of the Aakash. Nevertheless, we hope they hit store shelves too, and not just remain announcements. After Aakash set the stage for extremely-low end tablet range, Reliance had stepped in with poise to regenerate the buzz with a 4G tablet as it has begun setting up 4G services in India. If the news is to be believed, then you’d be glad to shell out mere Rs.10/GB data over 4G network.   Windows smartphones We aren’t sure if the worst is over for Nokia, but Windows Phone has sure brought a bout of fresh air to a great extent. Some more Lumia handsets are set to set the stage ablaze this year. We also expect HTC and some more manufacturers push in the Windows handset across the globe. For Nokia, we don't know how easy it will be to craft affordable phones using the Windows Phone operating system for the Indian masses. Nevertheless, we’ve pinned our hopes onWindows smartphones for the year 2012.    Ultrabooks We’ve already seen Ultrabooks from Asus (Zenbook) and also from Dell and HP. There could be many to follow after the CES kick starts. An array of laptops armed with Intel’s Ivy Bridge could just load the market with powerful devices in a sleeker form factor. So, probably later this year, we could expect powerful, sleeker Ultrabooks equipped with the Intel's upcoming Ivy Bridge platform, making  it something to look forward to. Clicking-spree Canon EOS 1DX Professional photographers and photography enthusiasts can look forward to the Canon EOS 1DXthat is expected to make its debut this year. The 18 million effective pixel sensor has been roped in to offer quality images at higher sensitivities. It features a new layout, new metering system and an improved user interface. Be it ultrabooks, improved tablets or quad core smartphones, the year 2012 seems to be full of promises. So, which one of these devices are you looking forward to this year?

Making VoIP Calls With Your Android Phone

By Patrick Nelson

Many smartphones are WiFi-capable, but that doesn't necessarily mean your carrier will support WiFi for voice calling -- particularly if you bought the phone elsewhere. You can use a Nexus S purchased from Best Buy to surf the Web on any WiFi network, for example -- but not to make voice calls. That can be a problem if you spend much time in an area where your carrier's cellular coverage is weak. The answer? VoIP.

If you live or work in an area with marginal cell service and want to use your Androidsmartphone to make and receive voice calls, you can. The key is to piggyback on an Internet connection at your location using the Internet bandwidth there to carry your voice traffic.

This method of calling works using Voice over Internet Protocol technology (VoIP) -- a form of calling over computer networks without traditional telephone copper wire. You are abandoning your lackluster cellphone signal and routing your voice traffic over a WiFi router, and down into the depths of the Internet pipe.
There are two approaches to setting this up. One involves SIP, or Session Internet Protocol, a signaling technology called that's widely used in commercial VoIP applications. The other is to use the proprietary Internet calling system Skype. Skype simply involves downloading an app and opening an account, whereas SIP can be complicated to set up, with cryptic settings.
Both of these approaches let you make calls anywhere you have access to a WiFi router. As with many technology projects, it's not a bad idea to set up both for redundancy purposes, and to play around until you find the solution that suits you best. I've found the Skype Android app with paid (US$60 per year) incoming number to be better call quality than SIP, yet SIP is a significantly cheaper solution because the incoming number is free.

Step 1: Sign Up

Open an account at a SIP trunking provider like Tpad, Callcentric, orSIP2SIP by browsing to the provider's website on your PC and entering your details in the Web-based form.
There are numerous providers out there with varying quality of service. Quality of service is generally based on bandwidth -- both yours and the provider's. Try different trunking providers if necessary.

Step 2: Gather Settings

Make a note of the SIP account number that the provider will have sent you in Step 1. Then browse to the setup instructions area of the provider's website.
Look for the server, proxy, ports and other trunking-specific settings. For example, Tpad's Server or proxy is "sip.tpad.com" and doesn't require a domain; yet SIP2SIP uses a proxy of "proxy.sipthor.net" and a separate, distinct domain of "sip2sip.info."

Step 3: Set Up the App

Download a free SIP/VoiP client like Sipdroid from the Android Market and allow it to install on your phone.
Click on the "Settings" menu option in the Sipdroid app and enter the exact syntaxes you obtained following Step 2 in the "Server or Proxy" and other fields.
Other key pieces of information to enter may include the Authorization Username, which is your account number; the password you set up; the port, usually 5060. Just follow the lead from the provider's website and enter each syntax carefully.
Choose "WLAN" in the Sipdroid app's "Settings" to route the call over the phone's WiFi radio. Then turn on the WiFi radio within the phone's "Wireless and Networks" setting.

Step 4: Obtain an Incoming Number

Visit IPKall's website on your PC and enter your details in the form there. IPKall will provide you with a free, incoming Washington state phone number that can be used by callers to reach you. They dial the number provisioned and it terminates at your SIP account -- ringing your phone.
The Web page form's field labeled "Hostname or IP address" is where you enter the same server or proxy that you entered in the Sipdroid app earlier. For example, sip.tpad.com. Some SIP trunking providers, like Callcentric, for example, offer parallel services as IPKall, but they charge you.

Step 5: Run a Test

Perform an outgoing call test by dialing the number that the SIP provider has given you for testing purposes. This varies too. Tpad provides a test number, but Callcentric doesn't. If the quality of service is acceptable, purchase some minutes on the website for calling. I'd start with the minimum -- usually $10 worth until you're sure the quality of the provider you've chosen is acceptable. SIP2SIP's minimum is $20. The per minute call charges are nominal across all of the services, including Skype.
Perform an incoming call test by dialing the IPKall number from a regular telephone. It should ring on your smartphone through the Sipdroid interface rather than the regular Android interface.
Tip: Look for a green notification tray dot on your phone to verify Sipdroid is successfully connected to the server.

Minitube Puts More You in YouTube

By Jack M. Germain

Minitube is a YouTube desktop client for Linux. I especially like are Minitube's intuitive user interface and its ability to download videos on the fly. Unlike certain other YouTube replacement clients, Minitube does not attempt to clone the website. Instead, it hits its intended mark of giving you a no-hassle TV viewing experience.

YouTube is a great source for watching an eclectic collection of videos on music, human stupidity and worldly comedy. But I find it much too easy to go far afield as I click on "also watched" videos when viewing a particular topic line. Minitube solves that problem for me.

Minitube

Not only does Minitube better filter the flow of videos I take in, but it also creates a more pleasant viewing experience that resembles a high-def TV environment. And it does this without Adobe (Nasdaq: ADBE) Flash Player or a Web browser just to get them to play.
Minitube is a YouTube desktop client for Linux. If you dabble in multiple platforms, fear not. You can also use run versions of this app on your Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) Windows andApple (Nasdaq: AAPL) OS  X gear.
I especially like are Minitube's intuitive user interface and its ability to download videos on the fly.

Click and Watch

Minitube's user interface is clean and simple. It requires nothing to learn to use it from the get-go. When this app loads, it presents a relatively stark window whose focus is search.
Navigational controls and a few program options fill the top edge of the app window. But you do not need these to start or for actually viewing videos. Minitube plays non-stop a continuing stream of videos on your search topic.
To use it, all you have to do is enter a video topic or search term and click on the search button. Minitube keeps a recently used search list as links immediately below the search window for quick and easy return viewing of previous sessions.

Filter Phenom

Minitube takes much of the hit-or-miss approach to finding what you want out of the YouTube phenomenon. Its filtering acumen is much like what you get in a Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) search.
For example, typing the search term "gymnastics" into the opening screen's topic window produced 10 related topic compilations. The list narrowed to several very specific slices of the topic. This is a much better approach than randomly bouncing from related topic indexes within the YouTube interface.
Scroll through the list of search results and click the View button. Then the fun begins. Lest I forget, you can resize the application window any way you like. You can also opt to view in full-screen mode with a click of a button in the tool bar. Right-click options anywhere on the screen exists this mode and offers essential controls.

Seamless Streaming

When I clicked a sub topic called "Gymnastics Bloopers," the search panel window faded into the video viewing screen. The series of videos began playing instantly. As one ended, the next began. All I had to do was sit back and enjoy the show.
The playback controls remained on top of the window in case I wanted to go forward or back or pause. An adequate drop-down menu of options also remained accessible through the viewing.
A list of the most relevant videos related to the topic displays in a resizable left panel. That list is topped with further filtering buttons to show the most recent and most-viewed videos.
The actual video-viewing area fills the rest of the app window. The maximum video definition setting is displays in a status window in the bottom right of the app window. You can change this definition with the CTRL-D key combination or clicking the status window to cycle among 360p, 720p and 1080p.

A Cool Keeper

I notice very little resource degradation when I run Minitube on my well-powered desktop computers. Surprisingly, this app plays extremely well on my older laptops as well.
Since Minitube does not fire up Flash Player, the battery drain is not accelerated. Neither is the heat build up. Clearly, Minitube consumes less CPU.

Feature Fit

One of the things I dislike about viewing directly from the Youtube website in a browser is the advertisements that permeate so many of the videos. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that no ads appear when viewing the same videos in Minitube.
The one-click download feature makes saving videos effortless. Videos download in MPEG4 format. This is compatible with other mobile devices. I have easily copied downloaded videos to my bevy of other devices and had no trouble viewing them.
Compact Mode is another nifty feature. It retains the app window's orientation but maximizes the viewing real estate by removing the side panel. You can access this mode from the Video drop-down menu in the toolbar or the right click's context menu.

Channel Choosy

I also like the degree of flexibility that Minitube gives me. From both the video and the right-click menus I can select the YouTube Channel to switch to the native website view.
Minitube does not show comments and descriptions that accompany videos on the YouTube pages. This option provides a work-around. It automatically opens the default Web browser in another window. I can move back and forth at will.
Similarly, I can copy the YouTube link and the video stream URL. Both of these make it very easy to share a specific video by pasting the link directly into an email message or posting it on a social networking feed.

Getting It

The latest version is 1.6, released on Oct. 29. This version fixed a number of issues that cropped up in previous releases. So if you tried Minitube earlier and were unhappy with it, this latest version may give you a better result.
Minitube is readily available in resident package managers for leading Linux distros. These include Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Gentoo, ArchLinux, OpenSUSE, and Slackware. If you run a Debian-based distro, you can find the installation package here.

Bottom Line

Minitube puts a new view on the tired original YouTube Web interface. Requiring no setup, it is a snap to use.
Unlike other YouTube replacement clients, Minitube does not attempt to clone the website. Instead, it hits its intended mark of giving you a no-hassle TV viewing experience.