Comments on: Archos Child Pad offers $129 Ice Cream Sandwich

By: JRDemaskus

JRDemaskus — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:35:00 +0000

I am not about to give a child my Dell Streak 5 when I am done with it. It would be smashed the first day.
My teenager destroys cell phones, while my other teenager can make them last 2 years. It was the same way with their toys. Some kids are careful while others are destructive.
This tablet looks like it could handle a not so careful child, which I think the market wanted.
I don’t think any toddler, preschooler, or larger child is going to hack this or any device, if you want to then go right ahead and spend your money.
This looks like fun, I always enjoyed my kids toys and wished there was more tech available.
Peace

By: JRDemaskus

JRDemaskus — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:35:00 +0000

By: companyemails

companyemails — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:05:00 +0000

I agree with Tastygrove. all you have to do to let a kid play on his own with a tablet is disable WIFI. I don’t mean just turn it off. I mean disconnect and require a password every time you wish to connect (and don’t let the kid know the password). In that way, the parent can handle all the updates and work with the child to load apps and content. Once disconnected, the child can use the device to his little heart’s content. The Plus side of this is that all those apps that have in-app advertisements will not be able to display them. Also in app- purchases are rendered useless so no fear of your kid buying something you didn’t approve. the best part is that you don’t have to install any dubious parental control software.

My four year old already uses my old Droid as “her phone” in this manner. I modified it by installing launcher pro and removing the notification bar and moving the app drawer and essential controls to another carousel screens. when she turns it on, all she see is a page with all her app icons and nothing else. once every few weeks we update the device and install new or remove old apps. It’s ended up being far cheaper and much more usable than any specialized “child tablet”.

By: companyemails

companyemails — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:05:00 +0000

By: Han

Han — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:46:00 +0000

This thing will be hacked within 10 minutes of going on sale.

By: tastygroove

tastygroove — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:26:00 +0000

Leaving kids unsupervised is fine as long as you know how to turn off WiFi. Use a YouTube downloader (tubex, use medium setting) to let them pick videos during supervised use. Help them pick out games and learning apps (learning apps still well behind ios but budding at least.)

When you turn off WiFi, you forget the network, so there is no chance of accidental access.

My oldest boy, 6, is busy working his way through the original NES collection. (On his mini tablet, a $70 used Droid X, a recent birthday upgrade) It’s safe to leave kids alone with a Nintendo, so I think that’s safe. If he trys to play around me he knows I’ll eventually snatch it and get lost playing metroid or super Mario 2.

My youngest boy, going on 3, takes his optimus into his room when there’s too much noise in the living room or play room. He watches the Mario supershow and phineas and ferb I snagged off YouTube. His favorite apps are fart apps, bowling (he can easily beat any noob) and basketball (a horse type free throw game.) And my little pony soundboard (yeah… He’s a little brony.. damn sisters..)

Summation, no, don’t leave your kids access to the internet, but you can give them their own devices to care for. We simply delete apps that require internet access as part of the curation process. (Protip, open apps while connected, many download additional media required, you can then use it disconnected.)