Beyond the iPhone, other new products took a bow this week
— -- Now that the Apple dust has settled, a host of other companies have taken the wraps off their new products. Let's rewind to see what new tech toys were introduced this week.
The world's cheapest tablet relaunches with $35 price tag intact
You might have heard about the world's cheapest tablet. It's Aakash, the slate the Indian government began selling last fall for the low, low (subsidized) price of $35.
While version 1 was impressive for its price point, it had some noticeable shortfalls: no speakers, a pressure-sensitive screen that was slow to respond and a cheap plastic cover, to name a few. Now India's trying for a more polished v2 to win over the naysayers from last time around.
VIDEO::World's cheapest tablet relaunches in India
Ahead of its announcement Tuesday, I was one of three reviewers in the States who played with the new slate. As was the case last time around, it's impressive for the price. There are still some kinks, but hopefully a software update will address them before shipping in October. Without raising the cost to consumers, the Aakash 2 now includes an improved multitouch capacitive screen (allowing for familiar finger gestures, such as swiping), an accelerometer, built-in speakers and the latest version of Android. Though the Aakash 2 will retail for $63 in India, the government will buy it for $41 a piece, and then sell it to students for $35. Consumers will have the option to buy 2 GB data plan for less than $2 a month.
We know the potential of the One Laptop Per Child program. In India, though, the focus is mobile. A commonly cited stat is that more Indians have cell phones than access to toilets. Now imagine if those phones were replaced with tablets; it could bring the world -- and all the information, videos and apps it has to offer -- to a billion people. And that's just in India. A higher-end version of this tablet is expected to sell in the U.S. early next year for $79.
Fitbit unleashes two new smart pedometers
Among the smart pedometers on the market, Fitbit has been my favorite for its low profile, minimalist design and gorgeous dashboard.
On Monday, the company debuted two new products replacing its popular Ultra tracker: Fitbit Zip and Fitbit One. The former, which sports a squarish shape in five fun colors and a small screen, is the company's entry-level pedometer. The water-resistant device logs steps taken, distance traveled by foot and calories burned. Features noticeably missing include a sleep monitor, ability to track stairs climbed and a rechargeable battery, but those limitations mean the Zip comes at a $40 discount over the flagship model.
Like the Ultra it's phasing out, the full-featured Fitbit One tracks steps, distance, stairs, calories burned and sleep quality. Giving the Lark sleep monitor a run for its money, One includes a silent alarm clock that gently vibrates to wake users up without disturbing their partners. In addition to syncing via a USB dongle, both Fitbits now integrate Bluetooth (finally!) so they can send data to select smartphones and tablets. The company is also refreshing its mobile app to include messaging capabilities and a leaderboard, though no specific date for the update was announced.
Fitbit Zip is available now for $59.95. Fitbit One, expected to be available mid-October, will retail for $99.95.
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