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 best tablets in 2024: top 11 tablets you can buy now

Disney+ app on the iPad Air 5.

As much as we love having the best smartphones in our pockets, there are times when those small screens don't cut it and we just need a larger display. That's when you turn to a tablet, which is great for being productive on the go and can be a awesome way to unwind and relax too. While the tablet market really took off after the iPad, it has grown to be quite diverse with a huge variety of products — from great budget options to powerhouses for professionals.

We've tried out a lot of tablets here at Digital Trends, from the workhorses for pros to tablets that are made for kids and even seniors -- there's a tablet for every person and every budget. For most people, though, we think Apple's iPad Air is the best overall tablet — especially if you're already invested in the Apple ecosystem. But if you're not an Apple user, that's fine too; there are plenty of other great options that you'll find in this roundup.

Mobile

A new Google Pixel Tablet is coming, but it’s not what you think

Google Pixel Tablet on its charging dock.

It's been almost a year since the Google Pixel Tablet went up for preorder, leading many Android tablet fans to wonder when the inevitable Pixel Tablet 2 will arrive. A new rumor suggests that Google could release a new Pixel Tablet as early as next month, but it's probably not what you were expecting or hoping for.

According to @MysteryLupin on X (formerly Twitter), Google is planning to "relaunch" the Pixel Tablet without the charging/speaker dock included in the box. As you'll likely recall, the speaker dock is the Pixel Tablet's standout feature. You can use the Pixel Tablet on its own as a traditional Android tablet when you want, and when you're done, you throw it on the dock to transform it into a smart display. The idea of Google selling the Pixel Tablet without its claim to fame is an interesting one.

Mobile

Every Android tablet we’re expecting in 2024

The home screen on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.

It’s an exciting time for Android tablets. Into the vacuum left in 2023 by Apple’s first-ever dearth of new iPads stepped two new contenders offering distinct takes on what a tablet should be, while Samsung’s venerable Tab S9 lineup raised the bar by cementing the position of its largest tablet and bringing AMOLED screens to the entire family.

There’s no reason to believe that this year will be any less interesting as Samsung continues to up its game while Google and OnePlus try to refine their initial first-generation efforts into more mature products.