Babies to get their own tablet computer

By Trevor Mogg August 1, 2011

With the way things are going, it can’t be too long before we see the unveiling of a curved tablet with straps attached, designed to fit snugly around the protruding bulge of an expectant mother. Such a device would be pre-loaded with an assortment of educational apps designed to give little Johnny or Jane a brainful of useful knowledge prior to their arrival in the big wide world.

You see, according to an LA Times report, Amazon has started taking pre-orders for the Vinci tablet, a 7-inch device aimed at babies from zero to four years of age. Newborns tend to do little more than babble and bowel movements, but now we’re supposed to believe they’ll be able to engage with a selection of games, books and music videos. Maybe they will.

The tablet incorporates a special soft-cornered handle, making it easy for those tiny little hands to grip. It has no Wi-Fi facility, so parents needn’t worry about their six-month-old toddler – who won’t know the value of money at that age (unless an app teaches them) – emptying their bank account by filling up the hard drive with costly downloads.

Under the hood, Vinci is likely to impress many. The Android-based device uses a Cortex A8 processor, has 4GB storage space and a 3-megapixel camera. It also has a slot for a MicroSD card, a built-in speaker and a built-in microphone.

Weighing in at 1.28 lb (580 g), Vinci is a touch lighter than the iPad at 1.33 pounds (603 g), so a baby will, at the very least, get a physical workout while playing around with it. The tablet is being sold for $389 and will be launched in the US on August 1o.

Vinci’s website explains that the tablet was “invented by our founder, Dr. Dan D. Yang, who is a mother and world-renowned telecom entrepreneur.” Yang came up with the idea for a baby-focused tablet when she noticed how much her young daughter liked to play with her smartphone and computer.

There’s no doubt that a great deal of thought has gone into the design of the Vinci tablet, but it might leave you wondering – whatever happened to those more traditional kinds of toys. Rattle, anyone?

Editors' Recommendations

Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Mobile

The 6 best tablets for Roblox in 2024

Little boy playing Roblox on tablet in kitchen.

Listen up, parents, teens, or whoever this applies to. There are tablets, affordable tablets, and tablets that can run Roblox sufficiently. The latter are not even in the same class, okay? Why? Because Roblox is an incredible sandbox of fun and adventure, offering a new encounter every time you boot it up with custom worlds, experiences, and beyond. But not all tablets can run it. Heck, some computers can't even run it. So, if you're looking for a tablet that will specifically run Roblox and offer decent performance for yourself or your kids, you're gonna need a guide. The good news is you've just found it. Let's explore.
The best tablets for Roblox in 2024

Get the if you want one of the best well-rounded Roblox tablets.
Get the if you want one of the most accessible Apple tablets for Roblox.
Get the if you want a mid-grade Roblox tablet.
Get the if you're on a tight budget.
Get the if you want a gorgeous screen for playing Roblox.
Get the if you want incredible performance, a beautiful display, and one of the best experiences in Roblox.

Mobile

Save 53% on the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus tablet today

The Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus tablet, with apps on the screen.

Even with discounts, tablet deals can get pretty expensive. If you need a new tablet but you're on a tight budget, you should take a look at this offer from Amazon's Woot for the 2021 release of the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus. The 32GB model is already relatively affordable at its original price of $150, but a 53% discount brings it down to a very cheap $70. The $80 in savings will only be available for a limited time, which will probably be shorter as we expect a lot of demand for this device. If you don't want to miss out, buy this tablet now.

Why you should buy the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus
The Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus is a tablet that's powered by the Fire OS platform, which is Amazon's customized version of Android. You'll be able to use voice commands with Amazon's Alexa through the device, and Amazon Prime members will be able to easily access all of the media that comes with their subscription. The Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus features a 10.1-inch Full HD touchscreen, a 12-hour battery life, a microSD card slot that you can use to expand its storage by up to 1TB.

Mobile

Save $150 on the Google Pixel Tablet with Charging Speaker Dock

Google Pixel Tablet on its charging dock.

Are you thinking about buying a new tablet? You should think about getting the Google Pixel Tablet with Charging Speaker Dock, as its 256GB model is currently available from Best Buy at $150 off. That brings its price down to just $449 from $599, which is pretty affordable for a device that will give you all the advantages of the Google Pixel line. You're going to have to be quick with your purchase though, as there's no telling how much time is remaining before the offer disappears.

Why you should buy the Google Pixel Tablet with Charging Speaker Dock
The Google Pixel Tablet features an 11-inch touchscreen with vivid colors and adaptive brightness, which makes adjustments according to the light from your surroundings. The tablet's performance is smooth and crisp with Google's Tensor G2 chip, and it ships with Android 13. You can update it to Android 14 immediately, and as part of the Google Pixel line, it will be among the first devices to receive any updates to the operating system, whether it's a minor security update or a larger upgrade.