If you are a Geek or a Computer addict then this post is not for you. You can close the browser and get back to your work.
If you are someone, a light internet user who likes to have the comfort of browsing internet on your Television then this post is for you.
Vodafone recently launched a gadget which looks like a Keyboard which you can directly plug into your Television. (No HDMI cables, just like old days Audio/Video). Basically Inside the keyboard there is a processor and an Operating system is running. If you want to know the operating system then its none other than Android 2.1.
You can place your SIM card into the keyboard and connect to internet via the mobile network. You can connect even in 3G. It uses an optimised version of Opera and it renders and shows web pages very fast compare to ordinary Android browsers. Also you can send SMS, Email, listen to music, watch video and read and edit documents such as Word and PDF. It supports SD card too.
You can see the Home Screen below. It has easy navigation to SMS, Email, Audio Video, Chat etc.
Now lets come to the availability in Sri Lanaka. Dialog introduces the device here for 12490 LKR. You can also pay in installments (1190 for 12 months OR 650 for 24 months).
IMHO, I won’t go for this device. Its a low-end Android device with a Physical Keyboard and output to Television. Nothing Much! Even Vodafone itself made it clear that this device is for emerging markets only so its targeted for countries like Sri Lanka, India, Russia, Pakistan etc.
“The Webbox is a simple yet very innovative product. It has the potential to make a powerful difference in the lives of people in emerging markets who have limited access to the internet, but where TV penetration is typically very high. The simplicity of the product is striking – it brings the internet to the TV, be that at home for the family, in schools for education or in small businesses to assist local economic growth.”
But it’d be suitable for Kids and Senior Citizens who have trouble learning computer and geek stuff on Android mobiles.
And a bonus video of Webbox demonstration.
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Will this sell at all?
If the out put is AV then the resolution must be pretty bad.
They should have built a regular VGA out too. At least in SL a CRT or even some entry level LCD monitors are lot cheaper than a TV of same size.
/Rakhitha
It won’t sell to houses where ppl like you and I live 🙂 probably newbie internet users may love to have something @ their TV.
If the price is below 5K, I’m sure quite a lot of people would have bought it 🙂
Google s Chromecast is a cost-effective way to turn your regular television into an internet-connected smart TV
Yeap I agree. This post was written long ago and doesn’t apply to current world scenario.