Archos uses
Android for new 'Internet Tablet'.
- Wi-Fi a/g/n, GPS
and Bluetooth Too
- 4.8-Inch Touch Screen, Up to 250GB of Storage
- Comes with Lots of Applications
Archos, maker of portable media players since 2000, is the first to announce one using Google's Android operating system. The company says the new Archos 5 Internet Tablet "combines the best of Archos for HD video, TV recording and built-in GPS in 3D, with the best of the Android platform for Internet browsing and customization with applications."
The unit supports Wi-Fi versions 802.11 a/g/n and GPS but does not directly connect to a 3G mobile broadband network. Archos hinted that built-in 3G connectivity might be added in the future.
On paper, at least, the unit looks like it has almost everything a digital media hawk could want. Of course, Archos units always have a long list of "must-have" features.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
It has a 4.8-inch high-resolution touch screen, storage up to 250GB and what the company called a full-blown browser. The company says the unit has speeds comparable to a PC. Users can surf the Web on the high-resolution 800x480 touch screen, "as if they were surfing on their PC, all on smartphone-like power usage," the company said.
The touch screen displays a QWERTY keyboard and the unit's Bluetooth support allows external keyboards to be connected.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
The unit comes with several preinstalled Android apps, including eBuddy instant messaging, Twidroid for sending and receiving tweets, Craigsphone for posting or accessing classified ads, Thinkfree for viewing Microsoft Office files and Quickpedia.
Thinkfree is a full-function office suite that, when coupled with the ability to connect Bluetooth keyboards and a PC monitor, makes the unit a PC-like device that can be used in the office and on the go.
The unit comes with Mewbox, the first music download service for Android to be available in the EU. It has about 4 million DRM-free tracks from over 13,000 labels and a customizable user interface.
The five-inch Archos 5 uses Texas Instruments' OMAP 3 processor and ARM's superscalar ARM CortexTMA8 architecture and other multimedia cores, including a 2D/3D graphics hardware accelerator; IVA 2 video accelerator and an image signal processor (ISP) for video and imaging performance.
TI's OMAP 3 processor is optimized for low power usage and high performance. The company promises up to 22 hours of audio playback time and seven hours of video playback time.
Archos touts the unit's 4.8-inch screen as having much better viewing than the smaller two- and three-inch screens of most smartphones and media players--the better for browsing, watching videos, Tweeting and updating Facebook and other social networking sites.
"With the steady growth of mobile Internet adoption," CEO Henri Crohas said, "Android offers the consumer unlimited ways to customize the tablet with thousands of free and paid apps, all easily available on the device or through the AppsLib Store." In actuality, only a few apps are currently available.
Specs
- Storage is either 32GB of flash memory or 250GB on a hard drive. Archos says the unit has up to 500GB of storage but its Web page only offers the 32GB model and one with 160GB. How like Archos!
- Video resolution up to HD 720p (H.264 HD, MPEG-4 HD, and WMV HD).
- Web TV and radio: Users can stream Web TV channels and more than 10,000 radio stations.
- An optional DVR accessory lets users record live TV and play back HD movies directly on the unit or on a TV set.
- Archos Media Club offers movies, TV shows, music and games from a host of providers.
- In addition to Wi-Fi, it lets users connect to the Net with the 3.5G connection of their mobile phone, which means they don't need a second mobile subscription.
- It can play Flash videos, unlike the iPod Touch and iPhone.
Optional Plug-Ins and Accessories
Archos' pricing has always forced purchasers to pay extra for some of its most desired features, in this case using an electrical outlet to recharge rather than much slower recharging via a USB connection, recording shows being played on TV and such. They include:
- GPS in 3D, which can be tried for free for seven days.
- HD Cinema plug-in for playing WMV HD movies in 720p resolution as well as movies in MPEG-2/VOB format with AC3 sound.
- Accessories: DVR docking station ([pounds sterling]80 or $132), battery dock ([pounds sterling]25 or $42), HDMI Mini-Dock, GPS in-car holder and such can be used for recording TV shows, battery-charging, transferring photos from a digital camera and recording videos.
Pricing and Availability
The Archos 5 Internet Tablet is available from retailers, Amazon.com and the Archos Website.
Prices range from [pounds sterling]199.99 ($330) to [pounds sterling]369.99 ($610), Archos said, but its Web page listed only two models: the 32GB at [pounds sterling]275 ($450) and the 160GB model at [pounds sterling]299 ($500). Amazon is selling a 250GB model for [pounds sterling]163 ($270).
Archos introduced its first hard-drive-based MP3 player, the Jukebox 6000, in 2000.
Archos has usually been ahead of the pack when it comes to anticipating the functions digital media users want. It hasn't generally done the best job of packaging them together and adding intuitive software and online services, however. Having tried several of them over the years we can say the specs always look fantastic but the user interface has been awkward and messy. Perhaps Google, one of the parents of the new baby, can help.
- 4.8-Inch Touch Screen, Up to 250GB of Storage
- Comes with Lots of Applications
Archos, maker of portable media players since 2000, is the first to announce one using Google's Android operating system. The company says the new Archos 5 Internet Tablet "combines the best of Archos for HD video, TV recording and built-in GPS in 3D, with the best of the Android platform for Internet browsing and customization with applications."
The unit supports Wi-Fi versions 802.11 a/g/n and GPS but does not directly connect to a 3G mobile broadband network. Archos hinted that built-in 3G connectivity might be added in the future.
On paper, at least, the unit looks like it has almost everything a digital media hawk could want. Of course, Archos units always have a long list of "must-have" features.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
It has a 4.8-inch high-resolution touch screen, storage up to 250GB and what the company called a full-blown browser. The company says the unit has speeds comparable to a PC. Users can surf the Web on the high-resolution 800x480 touch screen, "as if they were surfing on their PC, all on smartphone-like power usage," the company said.
The touch screen displays a QWERTY keyboard and the unit's Bluetooth support allows external keyboards to be connected.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
The unit comes with several preinstalled Android apps, including eBuddy instant messaging, Twidroid for sending and receiving tweets, Craigsphone for posting or accessing classified ads, Thinkfree for viewing Microsoft Office files and Quickpedia.
Thinkfree is a full-function office suite that, when coupled with the ability to connect Bluetooth keyboards and a PC monitor, makes the unit a PC-like device that can be used in the office and on the go.
The unit comes with Mewbox, the first music download service for Android to be available in the EU. It has about 4 million DRM-free tracks from over 13,000 labels and a customizable user interface.
The five-inch Archos 5 uses Texas Instruments' OMAP 3 processor and ARM's superscalar ARM CortexTMA8 architecture and other multimedia cores, including a 2D/3D graphics hardware accelerator; IVA 2 video accelerator and an image signal processor (ISP) for video and imaging performance.
TI's OMAP 3 processor is optimized for low power usage and high performance. The company promises up to 22 hours of audio playback time and seven hours of video playback time.
Archos touts the unit's 4.8-inch screen as having much better viewing than the smaller two- and three-inch screens of most smartphones and media players--the better for browsing, watching videos, Tweeting and updating Facebook and other social networking sites.
"With the steady growth of mobile Internet adoption," CEO Henri Crohas said, "Android offers the consumer unlimited ways to customize the tablet with thousands of free and paid apps, all easily available on the device or through the AppsLib Store." In actuality, only a few apps are currently available.
Specs
- Storage is either 32GB of flash memory or 250GB on a hard drive. Archos says the unit has up to 500GB of storage but its Web page only offers the 32GB model and one with 160GB. How like Archos!
- Video resolution up to HD 720p (H.264 HD, MPEG-4 HD, and WMV HD).
- Web TV and radio: Users can stream Web TV channels and more than 10,000 radio stations.
- An optional DVR accessory lets users record live TV and play back HD movies directly on the unit or on a TV set.
- Archos Media Club offers movies, TV shows, music and games from a host of providers.
- In addition to Wi-Fi, it lets users connect to the Net with the 3.5G connection of their mobile phone, which means they don't need a second mobile subscription.
- It can play Flash videos, unlike the iPod Touch and iPhone.
Optional Plug-Ins and Accessories
Archos' pricing has always forced purchasers to pay extra for some of its most desired features, in this case using an electrical outlet to recharge rather than much slower recharging via a USB connection, recording shows being played on TV and such. They include:
- GPS in 3D, which can be tried for free for seven days.
- HD Cinema plug-in for playing WMV HD movies in 720p resolution as well as movies in MPEG-2/VOB format with AC3 sound.
- Accessories: DVR docking station ([pounds sterling]80 or $132), battery dock ([pounds sterling]25 or $42), HDMI Mini-Dock, GPS in-car holder and such can be used for recording TV shows, battery-charging, transferring photos from a digital camera and recording videos.
Pricing and Availability
The Archos 5 Internet Tablet is available from retailers, Amazon.com and the Archos Website.
Prices range from [pounds sterling]199.99 ($330) to [pounds sterling]369.99 ($610), Archos said, but its Web page listed only two models: the 32GB at [pounds sterling]275 ($450) and the 160GB model at [pounds sterling]299 ($500). Amazon is selling a 250GB model for [pounds sterling]163 ($270).
Archos introduced its first hard-drive-based MP3 player, the Jukebox 6000, in 2000.
Archos has usually been ahead of the pack when it comes to anticipating the functions digital media users want. It hasn't generally done the best job of packaging them together and adding intuitive software and online services, however. Having tried several of them over the years we can say the specs always look fantastic but the user interface has been awkward and messy. Perhaps Google, one of the parents of the new baby, can help.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий