Educational tools and software company Brainchild has begun taking $300 pre-orders for an Android 2.1-powered, educational tablet aimed at the K-8 market. Designed to run the company's web-based “Achiever” software suite, the Kineo tablet is built around an 800MHz dual-core processor and offers a seven-inch, 800 x 480 touchscreen, Wi-Fi, HDMI, USB, and SD expansion, says the company.

Brainchild showed off the Kineo at the Florida Educational Technology Conference today, and is taking pre-orders for the $300 tablet PC, with shipments expected in March, according to a story on The Digital Reader. The company's website calls the Kineo the world's first Android-based educational tablet, and claims that Brainchild introduced the first handheld computing device for students with its PLS-1000 back in 1992.

Brainchild's Kineo

Brainchild also posted specs on its site, noting the presence of an unnamed "Dual Core" 800MHz processor. This is likely an ARM11 processor, or possibly one of Marvell's Armada system-on-chips (SoCs), which are available in single- or dual-core versions. Last June, Marvell announced a project in collaboration with OLPC to develop an educational tablet based on its Armada SoCs.

The Kineo ships with 256MB of RAM and 2GB of flash, as well as an SD slot for expansion, says Brainchild. The company does not list the type of touchscreen technology used by its seven-inch, 800 × 480 display, but judging from the kids' pointers in the promotional YouTube video, it is likely to be resistive (see farther below).

The Naples, Florida-based company does say that the touchscreen is "rugged" and can "handle 500,000 impressions."  The Kineo offers 802.11b/g for wireless communications, and provides a USB port, HDMI out port, headphones, and speakers, says Brainchild.

A massive 4500mAh battery supports a classroom-ready 10 to 12 hours of life, says the company. In addition, the device is said to be secured against student tampering.

The Kineo offers an MP4 movie player, although no video quality claims were made. The tablet is also said to offer a "Flash Player," but as the device's operating system is Android 2.1, not Android 2.2, it is unlikely to offer the full Adobe Flash Player 10.1.

Aimed at the primary and middle school markets, Kineo is equipped with family filters that access only those websites that are pre-programmed by the administrator or teacher. Messaging features have also been disabled to keeps the students focused, says the company.

Kineo showing an Achiever educational animation

The device is compatible with Brainchild's Achiever web-based assessment and standards-based instruction program. The software is said to evaluate performance, then deliver tutorials and retest students to determine progress on state standards in mathematics, language arts, and science. Brainchild's GlobalSync server software keeps Kineos and computers in sync and compiles progress reports, says the company.

Kineo promotional video on YouTube
Source: Brainchild
(Click to play)

Availability

Orders for the $300 Kineo are now being accepted for March shipment, says The Digital Reader. There was no mention about bulk discounts.

The Kineo in on display at FETC 2011 (Florida Educational Technology Conference) in Orlando, Florida running through Feb. 3, at Booth 231.

More information on the tablet may be found on Brainchild's Kineo page.

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