Its a low cost tablet computer which has 7-inch touch screen tablet has an ARM 11 processor and 256 MB RAM^[5] running under the Android 2.2 operating system. It has two universal serial bus (USB) ports^[3] and delivers high definition (HD) quality video.^[5] For applications, the Aakash will have access to Getjar, an independent market, rather than the Android Market.^[6]

As a multi-media platform, the Aakash project was beset by delays and setbacks.^[3] The device was developed as part of the country's aim to link 25,000 colleges and 400 universities in an e-learning program.^[7] Originally projected as a "$35 laptop",^[8] the device will be sold to the Government of India at US$50^[3] and will be distributed at a government subsidized price of $35. A commercial version of Aakash is currently marketed as UbiSlate 7+^[9] at a price of $60.^[10]

By January 3, 2012 1.4 million online orders for the Aakash had been received.

The device was initially called the Sakshat tablet, later changed to Aakash, which is derived from the Sanskrit word Akasha with several related meanings, aether, empty space, and outer space. The word in Hindi means "sky".^[5][11]

Aspiration to create a "Made in India" computer was first reflected in a prototype "Simputer" that went into production in a small way. Bangalore based CPSU, Bharat Electronics Ltd manufactured around 5,000 Simputers to Indian Customers during 2002-07. In 2011,Kapil Sibal announced an anticipated low-cost computing device to compete with the One Laptop per Child (OLPC), though intended for urban college students rather than the OLPC's rural, underprivileged students.

The device was projected to be designed by the students of Indian Institute of Technology Rajasthan – at the time uncredentialed in research or product development. The announced computer had been purchased off the shelf. The project remained dormant for about a year.

A year later, the MHRD announced that the low cost computer would be launched in 6 weeks. Nine weeks later the MHRD showcased a tablet named "Aakash", not nearly what had been projected and at US$60 rather than the projected $35. "NDTV" reported that the new low cost tablet was not a patch that was shown as a prototype and was going to cost about twice as much.^[12]

While it was once projected as a laptop computer, the design has evolved into a tablet computer. At the inauguration of the national Mission on Education Programme organized by the Union HRD Ministry in 2009, joint secretary N. K. Sinha had said that the computing device is 10 inches (which is around 25.5 cm) long and 5 inches (12.5 cm) wide and priced at around $30.^[13]

India's Human Resource Development Minister, Kapil Sibal unveiled a prototype on 22 July 2010. The price of the device exhibited was projected at $35, eventually to drop to $20 and ultimately to $10.^[7][14][15] After the device was unveiled, OLPC Chairman Nicholas Negroponte offered full access to OLPC technology at no cost to the Indian team.^[16]

Doubts about the tablet were dismissed in a television program "Gadget Guru" aired on NDTV in August 2010,^[17] when it was shown to have 256 MB RAM and 2 GB of internal flash-memory storage and demonstrated running the Android operating system featuring video playback, internal Wi-Fi and cellular data via an external 3G modem.^[18]

As released on 5 October 2011, the Aakash features an overall size of 190.5 x 118.5 x 15.7mm with a 7 inches (180 mm) resistive touchscreen,^[19] a weight of 350 grams (12 oz) and using the Android 2.2 operating system with access to the proprietary marketplace Getjar (not the Android Market), developed by DataWind.

The processor runs at 366 MHz; there is a graphics accelerator and HD video coprocessor. The tablet has 256 MB RAM, a micro SD slot with a 2 GB Micro SD card (expandable to 32 GB), two USB ports, a 3.5 mm audio output and input jack, a 2100 mAh battery, Wi-fi capability, a browser developed by DataWind, and an internal cellular and Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) modem. Power consumption is 2 watts, and there is a solar charging option.

The Aakash domar is designed to support various document (DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX, XLS, XLSX, ODT, ODP,PDF), image (PNG, JPG, BMP and GIF), audio (MP3, AAC, AC3, WAV, WMA) and video (MPEG2, MPEG4, AVI, FLV) file formats and includes an application for access to YouTube video content.^{[7][17][20][21][22][23]}

Storage: Both tablets will have a micro-SD slot, and a 2 GB micro-SD flash memory card, upgradable to 32 GB, to store user data and programs not run from ROM. In Android 2.3 some applications and data can be moved from the ROM to the memory card.

Memory: ROM size has apparently not been stated by Datawind, but is estimated to be either 256 MB or 2 GB.^[25] Both tablets have graphics processing cards, but the graphics memory size and GPU speed have not been stated .

Google Android Market: Aakash has no SIM card and insufficient processing power to use Google's Android Market, and will instead use the GetJar Marketplace. UbiSlate-7+ does have access to Google's Android Market.

Network: Aakash supports wireless local area network (wireless LAN, Wi-Fi). It does not support GPRS/3G cellular networks. UbiSlate-7+ has GPRS Internet connection, a 2.5 generation Internet connection. Both tablets support an external 3G USB modem.

Datawind announced that their GPRS modem and browser will use lossless data compression technology^{[clarification needed]} to speed up data transmission. At a base speed of 5KB/s, compressed data such as ZIP files, JPEG images, MP3 audio, MPEG video will be transmitted at this speed, while uncompressed data will transmit typically at speeds up to six times faster, depending upon its nature.

Kapil Sibal has stated that a million devices would be made available to students in 2011. The devices will be manufactured at a cost of 1500 (€23 Euro) each, half of which will be paid by the government and half by the institutions that would use it.^[17][26] In January 2011, the company initially chosen to build the Sakshat, HCL Infosystems, failed to provide evidence that they had at least 600 million (60 crore) ($12.2 million) in bank guaranteed funds, as required by the Indian government, which has allocated $6.5 million to the project. As a result, the government put the project out for bidding again.^[27]

In June 2011,the HRD announced that it received a few samples from the production process which are under testing. Also it mentions that each state in India provided 3000 samples for testing on their functionality, utility and durability in field conditions.^[28]

The Government of India announced that 10,000 (Sakshat) tablet will be delivered to IIT Rajasthan in late June and over the next four months 90,000 more would be made available at a price of 2500 device. Government will subsidize the cost by about 50%, so a student would have to pay less than 1,500 for the device.^[29]

35% of hardware components were sourced from South Korea, 25% from China, 16% from the USA, 16% from India and 8% from other countries.^[30]

Software Development DataWind, the maker of Aakash, has announced a contest for students wherein their best applications will be embedded in the Ubislate(Aakash Tablet). Top 5 application winners will be awarded Rs. 1 Lakh each.^[31]

Nasscom Foundation has partnered with DataWind and announced a contest wherein 10 NGOs will have an opportunity to win 20 tablets each, mainly to improve their operations and programme implementation.

Indian Ministry of Education is releasing educational videos in conjunction with IGNOU and IIT at sakshat.ac.in. This preparation of content is meant for students with access to the Internet, India's first law-biding Online Video Library.

Problems such as low memory, frequent system freezes, poor sound quality, absence of support for all formats and inability to install free software available online were also cited by users.^[32] Technical commentator Prasanto Roy criticized issues such as a low battery life, an insufficient 7" screen and absence of training and support infrastructure, especially in rural areas.^[33] UbiSlate 7+ will be released by 2012. IIT Rajasthan has finalized the improvements of Aakash.^[32]

After receiving feedback of the early release model from over 500 users from IITs and other institutions, DataWind announced the next iteration that will have a new microprocessor of 700 MHz versus the original 366 MHz processor. This will improve the speed of the tablet and solve the existing problems of quick overheating, frequent system freeze, poor sound quality, absence of support for all formats and the inability to install free online software.^[32] The amount of memory, storage, and USB ports will remain the same.

On 16 December 2011, DataWind opened Aakash ordering online in their official website at 2500 with one week delivery time and cash on delivery facility and its upgraded version Ubislate 7+ is available for pre-order at 2999.^[34]

On 19 December 2011, DataWind reported that the first phase of Aakash tablet has been sold-out completely,^[35] just three days since it was opened for Online order. UbiSlate 7+ production capacity of January and February has already been sold. Now, March production is open for pre-Booking.^[36]

By 3 January 2012 1.4 million orders had been received since the Aakash was put up for sale online.^[37]

By the end of January, the pre order for Aakash have already crossed 2.0 million mark.

The UbiSlate 7+ will be launched between January and February 2012.^[38][39]

DataWind is already working on giving the device a capacitive touch screen and 3G connectivity. This version will be priced around Rs.7,000, making it, when it releases, the cheapest 3G tablet in the market. The aim thereafter is to bring down the price - through sheer volume sales - to 3,000.^[40]

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has announced the plan to launch LTE(4G) Tablet between 3500-5000, with low cost Internet service.^[41] This tablet will be an upgraded version of Aakash developed by DataWind.^[42]

Indian Govt. HRD has revealed that Aakash 2 will be announced in April 2011, and Datawind may not be its manufacturer^[4] Aakash 2 should have the 1 GB RAM and a front facing camera capable of capturing video, that was announced earlier.