Little Scholar (2014 Edition)

$170, Android

Teaches: school readiness, reading, writing

CTR Rating: 86%

CTR Review

See also the Little Scholar Mini. Note: this tablet was updated for 2014, with 42 pre-loaded SchoolZone apps that can work without a Wi-Fi connection. This new version, which is still based on an Lexibook device, is more responsive running on Android 4.4.1. The price has been reduced from $200 to $170. You can download additional apps from the SlideME app store which requires a registration. SlideME contains a selection of both free and paid apps. We were able to get to a browser, get to Google and watch YouTube content. The following review applies to last year's (2013) edition: School Zone; the Michigan-based publisher known for higher quality flash cards, software and workbooks, now has it's own digital platform, thanks to low cost Android tablets. The Little Scholar tablet is an adapted Lexibook 7 inch tablet (www.mylexibooktablet.com) with 8GB of RAM and a Micro SD card. There are no surprises on the hardware aspects of this tablet: two cameras,a Micro SD card slot, headphone jack, 1 DC port, 1 Mini HDMI port, and Lithium battery; all housed in a rubber bumper. Note that the specs for 2014 are the same. Two things set this tablet apart from swarm of similarly-priced Android competitors: the overall ease of the out-of-box experience, second only to the Samsung Kids Tablet, and the quality and quantity of the pre-loaded content, that includes nearly the entire library of SchoolZone digital content that can function without Wi-fi, plus videos, e-books and songs. It's also turned School Zone into a video publisher: they've used the new platform to deliver a series of videos called Charlie & Company that feature a dog, with music by Brian Vander Ark. We liked that there is no registration or credit card required at start-up; no apps to download; no upsells for buying more apps; no cartridges to lose; no lite or partial-version apps; no ads and no worries. This is the anti-Tabeo and it succeeds in giving parents a solid non-Leapfrog, non-vTech alternative. Weaknesses include no Google Play access (we see this as a big strike against any Android tablet), although additional Android apps can be purchased through the built-in School Zone Market which is provided by SlideMe (www.slideme.org). It is possible to download and install the Amazon Appstore; both require setting up an account, registration and a credit card. We were able to download and make accessible Netflix, YouTube and Angry Birds with no problems from the Amazon Appstore. This tablet is evidence that a smaller, passionate publisher can use partnerships with hardware producers to deliver gimmick-free content.