One Laptop per Child and Vivitar Unveil Second Generation of Award-Winning XO Tablets

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- 2014 INTERNATIONAL CES -- New devices and accessories joining the multilingual award-winning line of XO Tablets were unveiled today at the 2014 International CES by One Laptop per Child (OLPC) and its strategic partner Vivitar. The new OLPC designed and developed tablets making their debut are a new 7-inch XO Tablet and a new 10-inch XO Tablet. Both new tablets offer faster, more powerful quad-core processors, plus built-in Bluetooth® and, on the new 10-inch XO Tablet, GPS functionality, all designed to expand device functionality and enhance children's learning experiences.

"The XO Tablet and XO Learning System that OLPC designed and developed has captivated a new generation of learners and earned praise from industry experts and parents for the way they encourage learning through exploration," said Jeff Saka, president of Vivitar. "These new tablets and accessories will make the XO experience even more engaging for kids, expanding their options for exploring and interacting with the world around them."

In addition to the new tablets, the opportunity for even more exciting learning activities comes from the introduction of new accessories including the new XO Digital Microscope and Telescope.  Via companion apps that integrate into the XO Learning System, the XO Microscope and XO Telescope enable kids to further explore the world around them—both up close and far away.  And exclusively for the 10-inch XO Tablet is a new wireless Bluetooth keyboard that also doubles as a cover and will enhance the interactivity between kids and their XO Learning apps and games. The new tablets and accessories are expected to hit store shelves nationwide this spring.

"The new 10-inch tablet with keyboard is the ideal hybrid of tablet and laptop and has application beyond kids and families, specifically among teachers and in higher education," noted Rodrigo Arboleda, Chairman and CEO, OLPC.

"We are thrilled by the embrace our XO Learning System has received," noted OLPC Executive Vice President, Giulia D'Amico. "Just twelve months after we introduced this educational ecosystem that provides new ways of learning, it has now been adopted by 10 countries in North America, Europe, Latin American and Asia and is available in 5 languages."

The New 7-inch XO Tablet: The Next Generation of Learning

The second generation XO Tablet features a powerful quad-core processor, the latest Android Kit-Kat OS, 1GB DDR 3 RAM and 8GB on-board storage making it a tablet powerhouse in durable, kid-friendly construction. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth allow kids (or parents) to pair the new XO Tablet with any compatible network or device, including headphones and the new XO accessories. A 2MP front and 5MP rear camera combine with a 7-inch 1024 x 600 dpi screen for hi-resolution viewing experience. The new XO Tablet runs for over seven hours on a single charge and comes with an A/C adapter and carries a suggested retail price of just $149.99.

The 10-inch XO Tablet: A Big-Screen Learning Adventure

The 10-inch tablet designed specifically for kids, the new XO 10-inch tablet packs the same powerful hardware punch with front/rear-facing cameras as the new 7-inch tablet behind a vibrant 10.1-inch multi-capacitive 1024 x 600 dpi touch screen. Also with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS built in, the tablet also features additional content on the dynamic Dreams interface optimized for the larger screen. Offering more than 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, the 10-inch XO Tablet is just $199.99 MSRP.

XO Accessories: Discovery Awaits

Now, young learners can explore the physical world far and wide with the XO Digital Microscope and Telescope, both compatible with any XO Tablet.

• Ideal for conducting experiments or bringing kids up close and personal with the miniature world around them, the Microscope features 100/200/300x magnification and uses the generously-sized XO Tablet screen as the viewfinder—which means no more squinting through the tiny viewfinders on conventional microscopes. The Microscope pairs with its own Android app for general exploration or with many Dreams options, including Scientist and Doctor.
• The XO Digital Telescope lets kids explore the night sky with 200X magnification and easy viewing on any XO Tablet screen. Built-in apps help children identify constellations, and the Telescope integrates with the Astronaut Dream to encourage young space explorers.
• The new XO Wireless Keyboard, designed exclusively for the 10-inch XO Tablet by famed designer Yves Behar, allows more in-depth interaction with apps and learning games beyond the touchscreen interface. It pairs easily with the Bluetooth-enabled 10-inch XO Tablet and features the vibrant XO color scheme with a kid-friendly design that's easy to use for small hands.

Designed and developed by OLPC, the XO Tablet is the only multilingual and Google-Certified tablet for kids on the market. Intended to empower kids to explore their dreams and spark their imaginations with interactive technology, the XO is a powerful Android tablet packed with more than 100 free pre-loaded educational games, apps, videos, e-books and more. Children can choose their own learning adventure depending on what they want to be today, or when they grow up, from a wide array of activities and content created by world-class partners including Discovery Kids, Oxford University Press, TED, Nook and more.

The flexible tablet can also grow with the family and allows parents to become actively involved in their child's tablet use and learning progress. The XO supports up to three customizable user accounts, includes access controls and comes with the XO Journal tool for tracking usage, learning progress and each child's evolving interests. The XO also functions as a full-fledged Android tablet with permissions-based access to conventional Android apps and the Google Play store.

About Vivitar

On the heels of its 75^th anniversary, Vivitar has solidified its position as a full-spectrum consumer tech company for the digital age, expanding its product line to include all the accoutrements of life in the modern era. Vivitar has evolved to meet a broader range of consumers' needs, enabling anyone to share life's moments with simplicity and ease. The company has steadily expanded its product portfolio to include cameras, camcorders, accessories, tablets, action cameras, record and share karaoke systems and health and wellness products tailored to the needs of today's families. Vivitar is headquartered in Edison, New Jersey, with additional offices across the United Kingdom, Latin America, Canada and Hong Kong, and global retail distribution spanning more than 100,000 locations in both mass market and specialty channels. For more information, visit www.vivitar.com

About XO Tablet, XO Learning and One Laptop per Child

The XO Tablet has been fully designed and developed by OLPC to harness the power of a connected touchscreen device to create new ways for children to learn. Its launch also marks the global debut of the XO Learning System, designed as a child-centric interface to empower kids to build, learn and dream as part of OLPC's mission. OLPC was launched in 2005 at the MIT Media Lab as a project to provide a modern education to every child around the world through access to laptops and connected devices. The organization has since distributed 2.5 million of its specially designed XO laptops to children in 60 countries, and the XO Tablet extends that experience into a modern tablet form factor.

Visit OLPC at http://www.laptop.org

For more information about the XO Tablet and XO Learning System, visit www.xotablet.com.

SOURCE Vivitar