Yesterday we informed you that OLPC was preparing to showcase the XO-3 tablet at CES next week and today we get an official unveiling of the product. We’re dealing here with an affordable tablet, that should reach every child out there. The device is slimmer than some old concepts and it doesn’t quite live up to the expectations of previous concepts of the XO-2.
XO-3 comes with a silicone shell, a Marvell ARMADA PXA618 processor and 512MB of RAM. The device’s screen is an 8 inch unit with a 1024 x 768 resolution and there’s also a Pixel Qi panel on board. Indoor and outdoor visibility is guaranteed and silicone accessory I mentioned is in fact a peel-off cover that protects the device from scratches and bumps when place in a schoolbag. Solar panels are also on board, one of the 3 recharging options available on the OLPC XO-3. You’ll also get normal plug AC charging and a hand crank to manually power the battery.
60 seconds of cranking will generate enough battery for 10 minutes of use, which is an incredible feat, at least so says OLPC. The OS on this slate is either Android or the education-focused Sugar platform. Ports are covered by the silicone layer and include a full size USB, an audio jack and a memory card slot. The price of this gadget starts from $100 for the LCD version and the Pixel Qi unit will probably cost more. Don’t expect to buy this product from Best Buy, since OLPC will provide the tablet to educational organizations and charities.
