ARCHOS Tablet Debuts With Solid Media Playback, So-So Web Browsing
As expected, ARCHOS has debuted their Android-powered tablet (PDF) today. Joanna Sterns from Gizmodo was on hand at the product launch and offers up insights. The device appears to excel at multimedia, which is no surprise — the device has deep roots in the portable media player space. The Texas Instruments ARM Cortex A8 appears up to the task for 720p video playback and the device can be docked for external displays.
Android should bring an optimized web experience, but based on Joanna’s impressions, it currently leaves something to be desired. She says the ARCHOS 5 Internet Tablet is opening mobile versions, not full versions, of websites. I’m sure that’s something that can be easily addressed via a setting or a software update, so I wouldn’t call it a deal-breaker just yet. As far as Flash support, that’s lacking too — ARCHOS is waiting for Adobe Flash 10, so the new device uses Flash Lite for now.
Full specifications are now on the ARCHOS site: 4.8-inch, 800×480 display, choices of SSD (8GB to 32GB) or hard drive storage (160GB to 500GB), 802.11n, Bluetooth, FM transmitter and receiver, and battery life of 7 hours for video playback or 22 hours for music enjoyment. You’ll save 100 grams of weight with the SSD versions, but even the hard drive units are light at 286 grams. Steve Paine at UMPC Portal is hearing that European pricing for the 8GB SSD model 229 Euros. He also heard that an ARCHOS Tablet with phone features should appear at CES 2010. I’m already booked for the show, so I can’t wait to see if ARCHOS is entering the phone business. For now, there’s no phone, but there are thousands of apps in the Android Market to keep you busy.
The new Internet Tablet isn’t just about fun and games though. I just heard from the folks at ThinkFree and they tell me that their ThinkFree Mobile Android document viewer is fully supported on the new ARCHOS 5. Although I’d rather watch some 720p vids on the go, it’s always nice to know that I’m one button press away from viewing the latest spreadsheet of my fantasy football players performance.
quick guess is that the browser id itself as the android browser, and so the sites tested sends it to their mobile version.
i have noticed cnet and gizmodo doing that lately with my n800 as well…
When shall it come out?
I was to this event too some hours ago.
The Archos Phone wil be powered with a 1 Ghz ARM processor and the display will be 854 x 480.
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Archos seem to blend with sucess archos framework and Androïd framework in the Androïd Tablet. Flash and 720p are well played. Full Internet pages are displayed. Full !
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550 $ for the Archos Windows 7 Tablet (500 €), the 8,9 Inch tablet will be available 22 OCtober.
ThinkFree Mobile Android document viewer at this time and in sometime the ability to write in ThinFree Apps
No other device has better Flash support on embedded. Joanna Stern totally misses the fact that it supports Flash pretty well, better than any other device already. They even announce Youtube HD support! Flash HD support is a worlds first.
Making Android’s default browser to not launch mobile versions of the websites is an easy fix to bring.
There is a deal with Deezer for instant music by WiFi.
http://www.deezer.com
Fix the Archos browser annoyance by downloading Opera Mini for Android and rejoice.
http://www.opera.com/mini/next/