Gadgets that are specifically designed for children have never been very popular, as they usually are either too modestly equipped or too expensive. Also, many parents avoid getting their kids tablets or smartphones, to protect them from the dangers that lurk on the web and within mobile apps.
The Archos ChildPad is the latest tablet designed with children’s needs in mind, and it might actually be the most competitive such gadget ever released. The aptly named ChildPad comes with a pretty good quality to price ratio, and a bunch of security features that parents can use to turn it into a kids-safe device.
Available for sale from childpad.us and pegged to be offered by some US retailers in the near future, the tablet goes for just $130. Packing a single-core 1 GHz Arm Cortex A8 processor and featuring 1 GB of RAM, the ChildPad is not exactly a powerhouse machine, but it should provide enough oomph for some fun games and educational apps for your children.
The 7-inch resistive TFT LCD (800 x 480 resolution) display is far from ideal, however. The resolution is not that bad, it’s true, but we all know that capacitive touchscreens are far better than resistive ones, so that’s a big minus for the Archos ChildPad.
On the flip side, in terms of software things are much better. The Archos Childpad runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but doesn’t offer full Google Play access for security reasons. The slate does come with a bunch of pre-loaded apps that will surely keep your kid busy for a while. You’ve got Angry Birds, dozens of other fun games, some learning, drawing, and coloring apps, but also some “exclusive Alvin & the Chipmunks 3” content, including behind the scene clips, wallpapers, and an online game.
If that’s not enough and you want to fill the tablet with some additional apps, you also have partially censored access to the AppsLib app store. Finally, the tablet comes pre-equipped with a six-month subscription for the Mobile Parental Filter app, which blocks access to anything that could be deemed unsuitable for children.
Other features of the ChildPad include 4 GB of flash memory, expandable via a micro SDHC slot, a micro USB 2.0 port, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n connectivity, a front-facing camera, a G-sensor, and built-in speakers. As far as design goes, the 7-incher is bright enough to catch the eye of any kid, age 0 to 12, and also decently portable and light (380 grams weight and 12.2 mm thickness). Then again, we’re not very convinced about the tablet’s build quality, as it’s entirely made out of a kind of cheap-looking plastic.
If you think that the Archos ChildPad is the ideal gadget for your kid, hit the source link below to find out additional details about the tablet and to purchase it. Also, don’t forget to drop us a comment and tell us what you think of it!
This article, Kid-friendly Archos ChildPad 7-inch tablet now available for $130 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com – Your Android News Source.
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