Mobile Technology

Jolla turns to the community to fund and help develop its new tablet

Jolla turns to the community to fund and help develop its new tablet
The Jolla Tablet is the world's first crowdsourced tablet
The Jolla Tablet is the world's first crowdsourced tablet
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The tablet packs a 7.85-inch 2,048 x 1,536 IPS panel with 330 pixels per inch (PPI)
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The tablet packs a 7.85-inch 2,048 x 1,536 IPS panel with 330 pixels per inch (PPI)
The device is powered by a 64-bit 1.8 GHz quad core Intel chip with 2 GB RAM
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The device is powered by a 64-bit 1.8 GHz quad core Intel chip with 2 GB RAM
The Jolla Tablet is the world's first crowdsourced tablet
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The Jolla Tablet is the world's first crowdsourced tablet
The company plans to ask backers to vote for their most wanted features, with the best suggestions receiving priority treatment by the development team
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The company plans to ask backers to vote for their most wanted features, with the best suggestions receiving priority treatment by the development team
The device runs on Sailfish OS 2.0, an open-source, Linux-based platform that puts a focus on quick and easy multitasking, personalisation and privacy
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The device runs on Sailfish OS 2.0, an open-source, Linux-based platform that puts a focus on quick and easy multitasking, personalisation and privacy
At 8.3 mm (0.33 in) thick, it’s not quite the thinest tablet out there, and it weighs in at 384 g (0.85 lbs)
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At 8.3 mm (0.33 in) thick, it’s not quite the thinest tablet out there, and it weighs in at 384 g (0.85 lbs)
View gallery - 6 images

Jolla has thrown its hat into the tablet ring, announcing a brand new device that it plans to develop and fund with the help of a community of crowdfunding backers. The device offers both a competitive price point and specs in line with small tablet heavy hitters.

Jolla announced the new device via a crowdfunding campaign, with the aim of both developing and funding the project by means of community input. The effort is off to a good start, with the tablet having already smashed its Indiegogo target.

The company plans to ask backers to vote for their most wanted features, with the best suggestions receiving priority treatment by the development team. It’s the same technique that the company used for its smartphone last year, and the final handset ended up carrying four of the eight top community voted features.

The device runs on Sailfish OS 2.0 – an open-source, Linux-based platform that puts a focus on quick and easy multitasking, personalization and privacy. One of the biggest problems with devices that opt for niche operating systems is their inability to compete when it comes to the volume of quality apps. To combat this, the Jolla Tablet will also be compatible with Android apps, significantly increasing its available software library.

The device is powered by a 64-bit 1.8 GHz quad core Intel chip with 2 GB RAM
The device is powered by a 64-bit 1.8 GHz quad core Intel chip with 2 GB RAM

In terms of specs, the tablet packs a 7.85-inch 2,048 x 1,536 IPS panel – the same screen specs as the iPad mini 3. It’s powered by a 64-bit 1.8 GHz quad core Intel chip, with 2 GB RAM and 32 GB expandable storage. It's 8.3 mm (0.33 in) thick and weighs 384 g (0.85 lbs).

The Jolla Tablet’s Indiegogo campaign is scheduled to end December 9, but it’s already smashed its US$380,000 target by more than 30 percent. The company is aiming for a final retail price of $249, but backers will be able to pick up the tablet a little cheaper, with the first units shipping in May 2015.

You can check out the company's crowdfunding pitch below.

Source: Jolla, Indiegogo

Jolla Tablet. We make it. You make it yours.

View gallery - 6 images
3 comments
3 comments
Otto De Steene
putting a new definition to "one handed opperation" cudos!
Dario Redkin
And community responds with more than 1 million USD, great! https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/jolla-tablet-world-s-first-crowdsourced-tablet/x/9174763
Rann Xeroxx
I'm not quite sure I understand the point of this device vs. just a regular Android device. You can get them with out any Google services or connections on them. There are other 3rd party app stores (like Amazon). The mod community has already created a host of great Android mods out there. Etc.