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A tablet kids will love

WITH CHILDREN increasingly living in a wired world and aping their parents when it comes to use of technology, US toy-maker Toys R Us has jumped into the fray with Tabeo, a new tablet that is staking its claim to the upcoming holiday season, with a product that will cost $149.99.

The product comes with a 7-inch touchscreen tablet and is pre-loaded with some 50 apps that are a hit with kids, including Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja, and a book app called istorybooks. The tab comes equipped with WiFi and runs on Google Inc.’s Android 4.0 operating system. The upscale toy maker already sells the iPad through its store but offering an in-house brand at the $150 mark could be good strategy in rough times when households have to keep a sharp eye over big-ticket purchases.

With tabs now a big rage with young and old alike- last year the LeapPad was a hit with holiday buyers —Toys R Us is obviously cashing in on a passing fad. Other kids tablets in the market include Kurio Kids Tablet from TechnoSource and the Meep Kids Tablet from Oregon Scientific, both of which sport the same price tag. Remains to be seen if kids will want this offering aimed exclusively at them or want the iPad which is largely seen as a cool, trendy gadget to flaunt.

prashant.vadgaonkar@hotmail.com