PORTABLE MEDIA PLAYER BECOMES THE INTERNET TABLET
Andy Taylor
Surprising looks and quality take the Archos Media Player to new capabilities for accessing the Internet and grabbing content online. The latest additions from the Company that has changed the way your media can travel with you have included greater interactivity with the World Wide Web and all that fantastic content that exist on it. While I enjoy the quality and touch features of the popular Apple iTouch, The Archos devices provides a larger screen and a pleasant web browsing experience while having DVR options and downloads from 3rd party content providers.
The new Generation 6 Archos 5 and Archos 7 offer larger capacity drives for storing more digital content as well as Wi-Fi found in the previous 605 and 705 Wi-Fi units. The previous Generation 5 line from Archos will continue to be offered as a solution for Personal Media Players while the Generation 6 Archos 5 and Archos 7 as well as the Archos 5G will be available as the Internet Media Tablet solution.
The Generation 6 Archos 5 delivers storage sizes from 60 GB to a whopping 250 GB of storage. The look of the Archos 5 has been refined and features a black stainless steel body and 5" (Actual Size 4.8") touch screen for navigating around the screen. The Wi-Fi capability is not the only feature that makes this unit an Internet Media Tablet, 3.5g support is possible with the addition of a dongle, air card, and purchased 3.5g Plug in from Archos as well as a Mini dock which can give users 24/7 access to the net where service is available. Browsing the web is easily handled with the 800 pixel wide resolution and with the large 4.8" screen which is vibrant and easy on the eyes, Zooming in and out to read a page is not needed to look at a site on the net, touch scroll features and a visual on screen QWERTY keyboard make navigation easy. The Included Opera web browser also allows for viewing Flash 9 video.
The Archos 5 and Archos 7 feature a new component, the first devices to use the Texas Instruments ARM Cortex processor. According to our Archos Vice President Ron Ferguson on the TechtalkRadio Show, "it really gives you the power of a PC, in the palm of your hand for uncompromised web surfing." We were impressed with the speed and excellent menu display on the Archos 5.
Another great new feature that will be added to the Archos 5 and Archos 7 is called TVPortation which can give users the ability to watch Live Home Base type television on the Archos with a Wi-Fi connection and the DVR Station or Archos TV+ base unit. If that's not enough, Web Radio and Web TV, Streaming Music, H.264 podcast playback and a slew of other features are also available. The Web Radio plug in was available on the previous generation units last May from Archos and the company found the plug in the short amount of time has become the second best selling plug-in . The Generation 6 Archos 7 offers larger sizes as well with capacity starting at 160 GB and climbing to 320 GB of space. For many, this could enable you to carry your entire media library with you. The unit, like the Archos 5, offers new looks and features to the Internet Media Tablet.
One of the directions that Archos has ventured into is providing the best quality and experience when operating a PMP and not loading every program in the world on the unit. Users could purchase plug-ins and downloads to get more out of the systems. The same theory is used here with the Archos 5 and Archos 7 models as optional extras. For the user looking to have a device to record TV, download movies from partners such as Cinema Now or connect to the net, send email and playback content on the TV, even at 720p with an optional plug-in, the Archos 5 and Archos 7 should be a product you have to look at.
The prices for the units in the Generation 6 Line are not out of the world and considering the features and expandability. The 60 GB model carries a SRP of $349.99 and the 250 GB model is priced at around $449.99. For more information take a look at http://www.archos.com or visit the interview with Archos VP Ron Ferguson http://www.techtalkradio.com/hardware/archosgen6.html
