Some might say that an iPad 2 is just an expensive toy, but you probably still don’t want to hand over your new tablet to your three-year-old to play with – all it takes is one temper tantrum to turn that tablet into a glorified paper weight.
That’s what inspired Ottawa-based Rullingnet Corp. to create a tablet specifically for toddlers. Dubbed Vinci, the tablet might be made for kids, but there’s nothing junior about its specs. It sports a 7-inch touch screen runs Android 2.3, is powered by a 1 GHz processor and can shoot 720p HD video with its 3 megapixel camera.
To make Vinci appropriate for your rug rats, it is designed with a sort of tablet roll-bar surrounding the device, protecting it from any falls and providing a good grip for small hands. The device also doesn’t support WiFi or 3G connectivity, so Mom and Dad have full control over what software gets loaded on using a desktop computer program.
The firm also designs interactive storybooks and games for the tablet, so there’s no shortage of content to keep your kids occupied. ITBusiness.ca got a preview of the tablet at a recent Toronto conference. This prototype uses Samsung’s Galaxy Tab as the hardware, but is running Rullingnet’s software.
The tablet is expected to launch in mid-July with a target price of under $500.