Toys R Us has created a tablet specifically for kids with Nabi, a $199.99 Android device with a design and UI aimed squarely at the younger set. While the Nabi doesn’t wow on the hardware side — it features a 7-inch 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen, 4GB of storage, and a 533Mhz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9, all packaged with the requisite Wi-Fi and a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera — the differentiator here is the software. A custom UI skin provides large tappable homescreen targets, a custom browser offers “kiddified” web surfing, and a slew of children’s software is pre-loaded, including the math-focused Fooz Kids University, and over 30 art-centric apps in the “Design Studio.” 30 children’s ebooks are also included, and a special Nabi App Store will carry over 500 additional software titles aimed at children.
Toys R Us selling Nabi, a $199.99 kid-friendly Android tablet
Toys R Us has begun taking pre-orders for the Nabi tablet, a kid-friendly Android device shipping in December for $199.99.
Toys R Us has begun taking pre-orders for the Nabi tablet, a kid-friendly Android device shipping in December for $199.99.
For adults, the tablet offers a special Mommy Mode (ahem), which allows access to an unrestricted Android experience. This isn’t the first family-oriented Android device we’ve seen — Motorola recently began selling the Xoom Family Edition — and we don’t expect it to be the last: despite the dominance of the iPad, this type of custom experience is something only Android can provide at the moment. Toys R Us is taking pre-orders now, with the device shipping on December 1st, and is even offering a free stuffed bear or reindeer with your order. You know, if that’s your thing.
