PMP Today

The multi-talented Archos WiFi PMPs are now getting support for DVR transfers from Dish VIP622 and VIP722. All you need is one of the WiFi-enabled Archos gen-5 PMP (Archos 605 or Archos 705), download the application and you’re ready to plug and record over USB. If you don’t own an Archos PMP yet and are a Dish subscriber, I suggest you purchase an Archos PMP immediately but only the WiFi-connect 605 and 705, the 120GB version to be exact.

[via engadget]

CNET wanted to know which multi-featured PMP is best. From a number of possibilities they come up with a short list of two, namely Archos 605 and the Apple iPod Touch. Both players have multiple features, audio/video playback among others, and have WiFi connectivity enabled, but which one is better. These are the top two of the convergeance bunch with the best screens, user interface, video/audio playback, YouTube support, etc. The judges were CNET senior associate editors Jasmine French and Nicole Lee and CNET senior editor Donald Bell. The three judged the two players in five categories: Navigation, Sexiness, Compatibility (file support), Sound and Science (hardware and media playback quality), and Wallet Factor…. And the winner is Archos 605 Wifi, scoring 60 against the 54 of iPod Touch.

[via cnet]

For people who still think that PMPs are meant primarily for music playing, here’s French manufacturer Archos announcing a Charlie Chaplin edition of its new 605 WiFi-enabled PMP. The special edition will be available in 20GB, 30GB, 80GB and 120GB versions using a 2.5-inch HDD. Archos hasn’t changed anything from the original 605 except the color of the casing but they have added 10 Charlie Chaplin movies. To recap, the 605 has a 4.3-inch TFT screen with 16-million-color support. It plays MPEG-4, WMV, MP3, WMA, WAV, JPEG, BMP and PNG file formats. Price for the 20GB version is 299.99 euros at MK2 stores as well as through Archos online.

More pictures of the Archos 605 Charlie Chaplin special edition after the break.

[via zol] Read the rest »

Rumor has it that the French company Archos is releasing a new model in 2008 that has a 3G SIM card and high-speed connectivity. French tech sites say that the wireless connectivity will build on Archos’ strengths with the WiFi connectivity in their players, allowing users to access media over mobile phone networks rather than through WLAN set-ups. The story gets even juicier with reports that say the company intends to partner up with Orange at the lunch, which is the carrier that offers the Apple iPhone in France. SFR and Neuf-Cegetel are reported to have shown interest in the new PMP too.

[via pocket lint]

Archos’s biggest-screen fifth-gen PMP is the Archos 705. The 80GB version is now selling on the Archos online store for 399.98 Euros. There is some difference between the 704 and the 705, one of which is the new improved user interface. Otherwise, it’s the same old solid PMP with a 7-inch. The 705 also boots up faster, according to Archoslounge, which has published a detailed review. Here is a summary:

• browsing experience easier with a responsive virtual keyboard
• operating system boots up in a few seconds
• touchscreen is less prone to smudges, which makes viewing videos a pleasure
• easy zooming, forward and backward, drag and drop interface and subtitles all work very well
• multitasking: listen to music while browsing pictures (standard in many PMP brand these days)

[archoslounge via gmp3]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5SrAAPLcCU[/youtube]

We’ve been waiting for our friends from GenerationMP3 to post their review of Archos’s gen-5 flash player and now here it is. Unfortunately, they find the Archos 105 a little disappointing, especially with a retail price of 99 Euros or about $141. The 105 is a solidly built device with an intuitive Archos interface. Is it enough to compete with the iPod Nano? No, says GMP3. Capacity only 2GB, video playback not as good as the new iPod Nano. Most importantly, in an area where Archos usually shines, media compatibility, the 105 fares poorly.

[via gmp3]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6mFIaSw6Yw[/youtube]

Here’s a comparison video of the the Archos 605 WiFi and it’s WiFi-less little brother the 405 from GMP3. We keep coming back to Archos’ Gen-5 PMPs for one very good reason: Archos produces very functional PMPs with a lot of file support for both music and videos, very good screen and connectivity features, all in a price that is entirely reasonable. The Archos 405 is a 2GB flash player with microSD emory extension and sells a few dollars more than iPod Nano 3G.

The Archos 605 is a WiFi-enabled PMP that comes in a 4GB flash version, 30GB, 80GB and 150GB versions. It has a 4.3-inch 800 X 480-pixel touchscreen with finger or stylus input. It supports a host of video, music and text files and reads PDF documents. It also comes with an optional DVR station. The Archos 405 has a 3.5-inch 320 x 240 TFT LCD screen. Like the 605, it reads PDF and records video via a DVR station. It’s not a touch screen and it does not have WiFi. Only the 2GB version is available.

[via generationmp3]

Generation 5 Archos PMPs have finally been made available to the rest of the world. They have been slapped with official prices so we know what to expect n our next credit card bill. To enumerate.

1. Archos 105: 2GB for $89
2. Archos 405: 2GB for $149
3. Archos 605 WiFi: 4GB for $199, 30GB for $299, 80GB for $349, 160GB for $399
4. Archos 705: 80GB for $399, 160GB for $499
5. Archos TV: 80GB for $249, 250GB for $349

The hard disk players sound like a bargain, especially the 160GB Archos 605 and $705. The flash players don’t fare too well besides the higher-capacity iPod Nano video.

[via engadget]

The rest of the Fifth-Generation Archos products were introduced at the IFA today. The 705 WiFi is a 7-inch 800 x 480-pixel touchscreen PMP with WiFi connectivity, available in 80GB and 160GB versions (picture above). There’s not that much difference from the Archos 704 WiFi, but we will see when reviews begin rolling out. Coming in October for $680 for the 80GB and $816 for the 160GB.

The 105 is a mini-PMP with a 1.8 262k-color OLED screen. It plays WMV (160 X 128 @25 fps). It very slim and tiny measuring 45 X 85 X 7mm and weighing 50g. It’s available very soon this month in three colors for $136.

[via generationmp3]

Dapreview has collected three WifFi-enabled players currently on sale. The Zune link may not be working as the sale is only a one-day event. But hey, we need three players to make this a real post.

1. Archos 604 WiFi - $249.99
2. Sandisk Sansa Connect 4GB - $131.97
3. Microsoft Zune - $149.99

[via dapreview]