We
can't say how much Archos's new 104 player differs from it's Gmini XS 100 in design (pictured), the
newly announced device will up the storage by 1GB to 4GB, and feature a 1.5-inch OLED color screen and PlaysForSure
support in a familiar 3.6 x 1.7 x 0.5-inch, 2.8 ounce package. Except the 104 will go for a slightly reduced and
wallet-friendly $149.95 when it ships in May.
Hey look, one of the PlaysForSure companies gets it! In order to sell MP3 players that aren't as stylish as Apple's, you have to sell them for significantly less. I'm confident that a number of consumers will opt to save $100 and forego the Nano in favor of this.
A somewhat small number, but a number nevertheless.
Also, don't forget all Archos devices will dock in nearly any computer (even ones running Windows 98) and simply show up as an external harddrive. As long as you stick to MP3's ("Plays for Sure" requires XP I believe) you will never need proprietary software. That's a HUGE selling point, imo. If Apple wants me to even consider one of their products they need to make it standardized like Archos and other manufacturers. Give ME the choice to use the software that I want to use.
What, pray tell, is so hideous? It doesn't look like Rosie O'Donnell & thus is not "hideous".
And sure, I'll buy that it's "very iPodish" if by iPodish you mean it's rectangular. I had no idea Jobs could TM the rectangle.
Most importantly, will this player "deafen" you like the "evil" iPod? Hopefully; I like my music loud... they're my ears and I'll kill myself as I please.
Nice to see another stylish PLAYS 4 SURE design with a METAL case like the new Samsung player...not flimsy plastic with no removable battery and poor battery life like the icrapper.Samsung and Archos DO GET IT.
Nice...not cheap plastic with non-removeable battery(with half the battery life) like i-crapper.Archos and the new Samsung devive do seem to get it.Yes, a little thickness does get you a decent battery.
"In addition to storing and playing music from their own CD collections, consumers can fill their ARCHOS 104 with songs purchased and downloaded from the Internet. The new ARCHOS 104 is included in the Windows Media PlaysForSure program, so consumers can purchase tracks from some of today's most popular digital music stores, including MSN Music, Musicmatch, MusicNow, Napster, eMusic and Wal-Mart Music Downloads."
So pretty much everyone EXCEPT iTunes. But thats probably because it does not support the AAC format.
"Multiple File Formats: Play MP3, WAV, WMA and protected WMA music and audio podcast files."
Shame it has no OGG support. The big questions are how easy is it to use and how good is the sound quality.
I simply state, that in my opinion, this DAP is 'hideous', and somehow you jump to the conclusion that I'm a fanboy. There was only ONE word in my comment, yet, from that you somehow inferred that I was a fanatic of some other company. And by referring to the iPod, I assume you think I'm an Apple fanboy.
well duh, #11... anyone who'd automatically call something "hideous" for no apparent reason is obviously a fanboy of some sort... You said "iPod," not me. One person says it's "iPodish" and you say it's "hideous," so which is it, seeing as many people really dig iPod design; simple and sleek, yet very effective.
Now then, with so many DAPs looking quasi-alike, are they, by extension, all "hideous?"
OK... I've used my quota of the word "hideous" for the week.
Also of note... the little Walkman Bean died a rather quick death, but the new PEBL phone will likely do really well... funny how these "chic" phone designs have that effect on people. I want to hang an old rotary phone around my neck, so when it rings everybody in the restaurant I'm in will want to choke me... or not.
#10 - Quite a lot of audiophiles, thats who. You are hardly going to save your favourite CD's into wav format for listening to on a personal device and OGG produces the highest quality audio for a lossy format.
#12: There are plenty of things that I think are less than attractive for no reason. That hardly makes me a fanboy of anything else, jackass.
Once again, I never said anything about the iPod. It was you who brought it up. In my second response I was simply stating that you inferred I was a fanboy of some company, and then began mentioning the iPod. The only thing I said about the iPod was that YOU brought it up.
Incidentally, I use WAV because I'm not copying somebody else's audio, I'm making my own (Reason, various Cakewalk products)... I'll "dumb it down" afterward to MP3 for listening in my truck. I just never heard of anyone even mentioning OGG before, that's why I ask.
and thanks #15, but I call a fanboy a fanboy... Isn't a duck by any other name still a duck? Thusly, if you hate it, don't buy it. I won'y buy one because I have no reason to carry music with me 24/7... it's in my truck where I need it most.
Man, Lee, what's the chip on your shoulder? All he said was "Hideous."
If I said "Janet Reno is hideous", does that make me an Apple fanboy? If I said that a certain dress at Hot Topic was hideous, does that make me an Apple fanboy? Granted, I am some kind of Apple fan, since I own three Macs and three iPods, but at the same time I would not have called the 104 hideous either.
It's too bad there isn't an MP3 player for the minority. I wonder if Apple would ever design the GeekPod, with support for ogg, flac, plain USB mass storage, runs Linux in a dual boot configuration, has a built in microphone, and an FM tuner in order to capture the 10% of the market who don't own an iPod?
#17 -- Point is, "hideous" doesn't say what's actually wrong with the thing. It's not costructive at all... I'm saying it's basically designed like every other DAP on the market; tiny box of some sort, a few buttons, headphone out, some sort of input. So somehow a tiny plastic box is "hideous" and that's just good enough for everyone? No... I just want to hear why and that silly jabroni never said exactly WHY he hated it so. And please don't buy a dress at Hot Topic... that would make you both a poser and a cross-dresser... ick. ;) (I know I twisted what you wrote)
#17 -- The point is he never said WHY he hated it. Its design is generally the same as every other DAP on the market; small plastic box of some sort, a few buttons, headphone out, data port in, various colors, etc...
Is the prupose of this site to simply bash things you hate, or maybe to discuss why you like or dislike a design/feature? I'll opt for discussion, thanks. And about Hot Topic, if you even mentioned a dress you saw at Hot Topic I'd be left to suspect you're a crossdresser. ;) kidding.
I purchased the archos 104 believing that I could access plays for sure, as live advertised on tv. I now find that plays for sure is America only. conned or what? otherwise the player is very good.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
invaderluj @ Mar 15th 2006 12:42PM
with a price like that and the features talked about this looks to be very appealing...i must see how it is reviewed
Karl Viklund @ Mar 15th 2006 12:50PM
Very iPodish???
Where did the creativity go.
Jake @ Mar 15th 2006 12:55PM
Hey look, one of the PlaysForSure companies gets it! In order to sell MP3 players that aren't as stylish as Apple's, you have to sell them for significantly less. I'm confident that a number of consumers will opt to save $100 and forego the Nano in favor of this.
A somewhat small number, but a number nevertheless.
Jon @ Mar 15th 2006 12:56PM
Archos has always made excellent players...even though their not as Sexy as Creative or Ipod. $150 is an excellent price for this.
What still no subscription service from Itunes???
Subscription services are not the future but the present. Style only goes so far.
Steve @ Mar 15th 2006 1:02PM
Also, don't forget all Archos devices will dock in nearly any computer (even ones running Windows 98) and simply show up as an external harddrive. As long as you stick to MP3's ("Plays for Sure" requires XP I believe) you will never need proprietary software. That's a HUGE selling point, imo. If Apple wants me to even consider one of their products they need to make it standardized like Archos and other manufacturers. Give ME the choice to use the software that I want to use.
LC @ Mar 15th 2006 1:17PM
"Very iPodish???
Where did the creativity go"
Yeah, it has a screen and buttons. Call out the copyright police.
diulei @ Mar 15th 2006 1:23PM
Hideous.
Lee @ Mar 15th 2006 3:09PM
#7 = fanboy.
What, pray tell, is so hideous? It doesn't look like Rosie O'Donnell & thus is not "hideous".
And sure, I'll buy that it's "very iPodish" if by iPodish you mean it's rectangular. I had no idea Jobs could TM the rectangle.
Most importantly, will this player "deafen" you like the "evil" iPod? Hopefully; I like my music loud... they're my ears and I'll kill myself as I please.
bufbarnaby @ Mar 15th 2006 3:33PM
Nice to see another stylish PLAYS 4 SURE design with a METAL case like the new Samsung player...not flimsy plastic with no removable battery and poor battery life like the icrapper.Samsung and Archos DO GET IT.
bufbarnaby @ Mar 15th 2006 3:48PM
Nice...not cheap plastic with non-removeable battery(with half the battery life) like i-crapper.Archos and the new Samsung devive do seem to get it.Yes, a little thickness does get you a decent battery.
Carbonize @ Mar 15th 2006 4:04PM
#4 should read the full press release.
"In addition to storing and playing music from their own CD collections, consumers can fill their ARCHOS 104 with songs purchased and downloaded from the Internet. The new ARCHOS 104 is included in the Windows Media PlaysForSure program, so consumers can purchase tracks from some of today's most popular digital music stores, including MSN Music, Musicmatch, MusicNow, Napster, eMusic and Wal-Mart Music Downloads."
So pretty much everyone EXCEPT iTunes. But thats probably because it does not support the AAC format.
"Multiple File Formats: Play MP3, WAV, WMA and protected WMA music and audio podcast files."
Shame it has no OGG support. The big questions are how easy is it to use and how good is the sound quality.
Lee @ Mar 15th 2006 4:20PM
#9 -- allow me to ask a silly question, as I do most of my audio file work in WAV...
Who uses OGG format?
diulei @ Mar 15th 2006 4:55PM
#8 = Moron.
I simply state, that in my opinion, this DAP is 'hideous', and somehow you jump to the conclusion that I'm a fanboy. There was only ONE word in my comment, yet, from that you somehow inferred that I was a fanatic of some other company. And by referring to the iPod, I assume you think I'm an Apple fanboy.
Lee @ Mar 15th 2006 5:07PM
well duh, #11... anyone who'd automatically call something "hideous" for no apparent reason is obviously a fanboy of some sort... You said "iPod," not me.
One person says it's "iPodish" and you say it's "hideous," so which is it, seeing as many people really dig iPod design; simple and sleek, yet very effective.
Now then, with so many DAPs looking quasi-alike, are they, by extension, all "hideous?"
OK... I've used my quota of the word "hideous" for the week.
Also of note... the little Walkman Bean died a rather quick death, but the new PEBL phone will likely do really well... funny how these "chic" phone designs have that effect on people. I want to hang an old rotary phone around my neck, so when it rings everybody in the restaurant I'm in will want to choke me... or not.
Carbonize @ Mar 15th 2006 5:25PM
#10 - Quite a lot of audiophiles, thats who. You are hardly going to save your favourite CD's into wav format for listening to on a personal device and OGG produces the highest quality audio for a lossy format.
diulei @ Mar 15th 2006 5:35PM
#12: There are plenty of things that I think are less than attractive for no reason. That hardly makes me a fanboy of anything else, jackass.
Once again, I never said anything about the iPod. It was you who brought it up. In my second response I was simply stating that you inferred I was a fanboy of some company, and then began mentioning the iPod. The only thing I said about the iPod was that YOU brought it up.
Silver @ Mar 15th 2006 5:45PM
"anyone who'd automatically call something "hideous" for no apparent reason is obviously a fanboy of some sort"
Is actually looking hideous reason enough to call something hideous? Indeed it is.
We just can't talk about a DAP without someone throwing the "fanboy" card, can we Lee?
Lee @ Mar 15th 2006 6:09PM
#13 -- OK... now I get the format.
Incidentally, I use WAV because I'm not copying somebody else's audio, I'm making my own (Reason, various Cakewalk products)... I'll "dumb it down" afterward to MP3 for listening in my truck. I just never heard of anyone even mentioning OGG before, that's why I ask.
and thanks #15, but I call a fanboy a fanboy... Isn't a duck by any other name still a duck?
Thusly, if you hate it, don't buy it. I won'y buy one because I have no reason to carry music with me 24/7... it's in my truck where I need it most.
Louis @ Mar 15th 2006 10:18PM
Man, Lee, what's the chip on your shoulder? All he said was "Hideous."
If I said "Janet Reno is hideous", does that make me an Apple fanboy? If I said that a certain dress at Hot Topic was hideous, does that make me an Apple fanboy? Granted, I am some kind of Apple fan, since I own three Macs and three iPods, but at the same time I would not have called the 104 hideous either.
It's too bad there isn't an MP3 player for the minority. I wonder if Apple would ever design the GeekPod, with support for ogg, flac, plain USB mass storage, runs Linux in a dual boot configuration, has a built in microphone, and an FM tuner in order to capture the 10% of the market who don't own an iPod?
Tareq @ Mar 16th 2006 10:06AM
I may get the 4GB version when it hits UK shores
Lee @ Mar 16th 2006 10:18AM
#17 -- Point is, "hideous" doesn't say what's actually wrong with the thing. It's not costructive at all... I'm saying it's basically designed like every other DAP on the market; tiny box of some sort, a few buttons, headphone out, some sort of input.
So somehow a tiny plastic box is "hideous" and that's just good enough for everyone? No... I just want to hear why and that silly jabroni never said exactly WHY he hated it so.
And please don't buy a dress at Hot Topic... that would make you both a poser and a cross-dresser... ick. ;) (I know I twisted what you wrote)
Lee @ Mar 16th 2006 10:23AM
#17 -- The point is he never said WHY he hated it. Its design is generally the same as every other DAP on the market; small plastic box of some sort, a few buttons, headphone out, data port in, various colors, etc...
Is the prupose of this site to simply bash things you hate, or maybe to discuss why you like or dislike a design/feature?
I'll opt for discussion, thanks. And about Hot Topic, if you even mentioned a dress you saw at Hot Topic I'd be left to suspect you're a crossdresser. ;) kidding.
John @ Sep 29th 2006 1:07PM
I purchased the archos 104 believing that I could access plays for sure, as live advertised on tv.
I now find that plays for sure is America only.
conned or what?
otherwise the player is very good.