Yeah, we already knew the
605 and
405 had been
loosed Stateside, but Archos is finally ready to unleash the whole family on the world -- pictured above, with convenient comparisons to other players you-may-have-seen-around courtesy of Archos. Unfortunately, the
Archos 705 WiFi and
Archos TV+ won't
actually be available until early next month, but the Archos 105, 405 and 605 WiFi are all out today. The players aren't terribly expensive either, with the 2GB 105 at $89; 2GB 405 at $149; the 4GB, 30GB, 80GB and 160GB 605 WiFi at $199, $299 and $349, $399, respectively; 80GB 705 WiFi at $399, 160GB at $499; 80GB Archos TV+ at $249, and finally the 250GB TV+ at $349. As for those curious about
content partnerships, the WiFi models connect wirelessly to the "Archos Content Portal" for PC-free purchasing of premium content, and there are currently over 15 partners worldwide -- with CinemaNow doing the honors in the US.
[Thanks, Peter L. Warning: PDF link]
posted Sep 13th 2007 10:08AM
Yet another company who thinks that 199 bucks = 199 euro. What makes it worse is they are a European company.
Aren't transport costs higher from Asia to Europe than from Asia to America (assuming they're manufactured in Asia)?
I mean, sure, it doesn't justify it fully, but it probably justifies a part of it.
".....What makes it worse is THE FACT IT'S a European company".
1. It works better, doesn't it? :D
2. What's up with European companies?
Forgot to mention - I'm European so this pricing hurts - 199 bucks is only around 143 euro.
Price in Europe already include VAT. Prices advertised in America does not include tax.
I am not sure why people aren'tmore amped up about the 605 wifi. Before last week's ipod updates all anyone was hoping for was a touch-screen, 80+gb ipod w/ wireless. Here's archos w/ a *160gb* wireless, touch screen media player (10x the storage as the ipod touch for the same price) and nobody seems to excited.
Well I'm excited, that's all i'm saying.
because this is Engadget and it seems to me they are owned by Apple and not AOL.
I suppose that's why they say they are bloggers and not journalists. Journalists have to be unbiased and do research on their stories.
I'm very excited.
Not a lot of people know about archos yet. Once people know how good archos compared to Apple, Zune, and Creative then people will start buying archos. Apple is overpriced, Creative is a pain to use and load videos and music onto, Zune has limited features.
People ask me "what is that" when I am using my archos and most people say that if they had known about archos then they wouldn't get an ipod.
I really wish there were more comparison shots of the 605's video alongside Iphone/touch and PSP's. All I really use my PSP for is video/mp3 playback, and while I've seen Ipod Touch's screen having better color contrast vs the PSP, I haven't really seen anything in that regard for the Archos.
@ Carbonize:
Are you sure? It seems to me that the most part of Engadget's comments - despite of a relative abundance of the Fruit's news - are pretty near the bounds of "I-can't-stand-you-anymore" with Apple...
Well, PC Mag (i.e.: not apple lovers) summed it up pretty quickly in their review of the iPod touch:
"Naysayers will have their gripes: there's no FM radio and no recording capability of any sort. The Archos line, for instance, has gigantic screens with programmable video recording capabilities. Those players, however, require expensive accessories to complete the task, have much less friendly user interfaces, and offer a far less sophisticated Web browsing experience. In fact, the Archos 605 WiFi requires you buy the Opera browser plug-in"
What Fox reporters are I wont say as this is a site open to younger people as well. But then I'm British so don't have to put up with Fox ;)
Size is a major issue for most people. If I can't pocket it, it's not going to leave the house very often, and then, what's the point of having it?
605 WiFi (30 gig model) 122 x 82 x 15 mm 190 grams
iPod Touch (largest iPod) 110 x 61 x 8 mm 120 grams
So it's 2 cm wider and taller, and almost twice the thickness. It seems like a very nice product with a beautiful screen, but I doubt I'd take it with me anywhere.
http://sizeasy.com/page/size_comparison/5210-archos-605-vs-iPod-Touch
Even more added.
http://sizeasy.com/page/size_comparison/5214-Archos-704-80Gb-vs-archos-605-vs-iPod-Touch-vs-iPod-Classic-160Gb
@ Carbonize:
"I suppose that's why they say they are bloggers and not journalists. Journalists have to be unbiased and do research on their stories."
No shit, sherlock, that's exactly why they're bloggers and not journalists. If you don't like it, only read PC Mag reviews, because they definitely are not biased. It's their site, and it's free to all users (READ: you don't have to read or comment on their articles).
Personally, I like the Archos product line, but it's also easily understandable why they do not have the same hype Apple does. Do you notice any kind of campaigning? Have you ever even seen an Archos ad on TV? Don't be so naive. When Archos starts marketing their products better, they'll compete better.
I've already ordered mine like, a few weeks ago -- However the eBay seller is experiencing delays on shipments from Archos because her first batch was recalled due to some battery problem...?
I'd be a little more excited if the 605 Wifi didn't have the headphones jack in the stupidest position (the other side of where it's supposed to be).
Can someone please explain why Archos themselves have illustrated the Ipods next to thir own, uglier machinations... Isnt that slight madness? Whats their thinking?
I think they're saying:
"Look, there's room for us! See? All the gaps in the iPod product line? Here, here, here and here!"
You can't be serious! The new iPod looks like total crap. Ugliest thing I've seen in a very long time.
I suppose its down to taste; Apple do seem to love anything that looks like a bar of soap; but surely you're not suggesting these Archos gizmos have better styling? Perhaps you are... Looks to me like something Gerry Anderson would be proud of... No class...
I've been trying to decide whether to go for one of these for a while, but decided to wait to see what Apple did. I need something with a good capacity (read 80gb upwards), nice screen for watching the odd clip and wifi for the sake of it. I'd hoped to get that with Apple as their support is better, but they've not put touch onto the 'classic', leaving just the iPod Touch with it's limiting 16gb. So it's back to the Archos camp for a decent machine with the features I need. I don't understand why there's so little demand for machines with high capacity - do most people only have a handful of albums?
the apple line is very sleek, its got a great interface, and if thats all you want than great.. i had a very hard time choosing which way to go, i have a ton of albums, not to mention video and pdfs that i would love to put on one device so I had to go with the archos because the touch is just too limiting, and getting the 'classic' with just std video and music capabilities wasnt enough when archos can do all those things combined. but on looks and ui obviously apple has the advantage but thats just a gimmick and a month from now when your connecting your ipod to your computer everyday to swap out files... the nice ui will be an afterthought.
There's always a little bias in everything.
Are you telling us that Fox News reporters are bloggers? :D
Archos! still alive? I never saw anyone in US using Archos stuff..are they popular in Europe/Asia??
I used to have a Jukebox 10GB until the HDD crashed (I live in the States). Those were the days... feeling the drive spin up as you held the 3-pound player in your hands, hearing it over your headphones in quiet parts of the music. Those were the good ol' days before everything had DRM, everyone simply ripped CDs. Jackasses never came up to you and asked you what kind of iPod it was... good days.
Comparison was for Engadget, who subscribe the idea that the only company in the world worth caring about is Apple.
i love my 160GB 605
I love this part of their PDF file that is linked through Engadget.
5. Streaming Content from PC
The WiFi ARCHOS PMPs bridge the gap between PC and PMP, and PC and TV wirelessly. For
the first time, users can stream content from the PC or the Internet to the TV, all through a
wireless home network.
Looks like they have been drinking their own Kool-Aid. I have been streaming content to my TV wirelessly for a while now via my Apple TV. And I am certain that this has been happening even longer through the XBox 360.
Funny you say that Bloobie as I remember Jobs spewing how the Apple TV would let people "or the first time"...
And you think the 360 can do this??? How about the regular old xbox and XBMC? How about my old networked KISS player???
People have been streaming stuff for years and years, all archos and apple did was put it in a new box and call it innovation.
Yeah, I've had XMBC going for about 5 years now.
presumably you hang your appleTV around your neck, and stick a car battery in your pocket when you're on the bus.
I own several of archos' products including the archos multimedia, the first portable pmp with video, the 320 and 604 wifi, all are great products. I also own an ipod nano and ipod video 60g. I generally use the archos products for video because of the screen size and apple products for music.
What sort of browser if any are the wifi's sporting?
Opera Web Browser, with Adobe Flash support > Safari Mobile
it also costs you $29.99 to buy the browser, and $20 for each for more formats support
Nice hardware, but lame that you have to add $20-$30 for each codec you want added to the device (no native H.264 support unless you pay for it), and you even have to pay extra for the damn web browser.
Thats fecking crazy!
But I am sure there will be a hack/torrent/jedi-mind-trick to make that $0.
Who cars - the 160GB 605 Wifi supports DivX out of the box, which you can't get on the iPod touch. Even at $30 more than the iPod touch after you buy the browser, you're still getting a 1" larger screen, DivX playback, a REAL browser that supports flash, and resolution so much higher than the iPod that you don't have to zoom in and out to actually read pages (800x480 on the Archos vs 480x320 on the iPod touch). Plus there's the 160GB vs 16GB thing.
In addition to that the 605's battery lasts a half hour longer for video, it views PDF files, doesn't require iTunes (there are other apps for iPods, I know, but they suck), the 605 plays WMV, and plays back video at full native DVD resolution.
Worth the extra $30? Yeah, I'd say so.
where does it say it supports Divx out of the box? I couldn't find that on the spec sheet.
yea im excited about the archos 605 i already ordered mine but there on backorder from amazon, the cheapest place i found to get it.. 329 for the 80 gb[which is what i ordered] and 279 fro the 30GB.., cant wait for it to get here...
I pumped my fist when I refreshed Engadget and SJ revealed the Touch. I refreshed again and saw the capacity. Clicked over to Amazon for my 80G 605 wifi and I absolutely love it.
My mother is 80 years old. Never used the net. I bought her a top of the line dell laptop 7 years ago and she tried and failed, the computer sits in her home office unused and is not pretty much worthless. The 705 looks like something she might be able to figure out how to use. How simple is it to navigate the web on that thing?
I can only speak for the 605, but I'd call it very simple. However, though the resolution is great, it's a small screen for 80 year old eyes, and I wouldn't call it easier than navigating on a laptop.
How are the user support areas? Any development teams working on bringing more free support to the Archos line? I'm tempted and actually want to compare the two when the Touch is actually in stores.
I find it amusing that once the Touch came out, the Archos sold out. Just goes to show, the public wants a touch screen, but also wants the capacity and isn't willing to wait for Apple.
Btw, how's the interface? I know that's one of the slicker aspects to the Touch and was curious if it was nice looking or clunky. Hard to tell from the pictures.
Man are you kidding? These things are ugly as hell. Can they even fit in your pocket comfortably? Don't you have to pay extra for wifi and bunch of other shit?
I want a 705 badly. I am using my PSP for veiwing movies on my weekly plane rides. It is okay but the low res screen and small size makes it hard on my eyes. The 705 is 7 inches at 800x480. The PSP is 4.3 at 420x234 (about can't remember exact of the top of my head). This is like a protable dvd player that stores my recorded programs, divx movies, music, pictures, and backup personal files. I won't need to take my PSP, external hard drive, memory stick, or ipod. Not to mention it is a standalone DVR and web browser (for more $ of course). I for one am very excited to get one and I hope it does all these things right.
I would love to have an Archo. But my question is do they support podcast downloads? I will using it mainly to download podcast content.
They'll support it as long as you're willing to part $19.99 for the plug-in. Wish they just stop nickel and diming me to death with the plug-ins. Just include them in the package and I'll decide if it's worth my cash.
If Archos had a line with GPS integrated into their products they would seriously dominate! I have been waiting for something that does that and although there are a few from unknown companies Archos would make a quality product. It would be a perfect travel accessory for those not wanting in-dash products.
i dont understand why everyone wants GPS in their PMP, what is the need for that?
you know what, I wish Apple has the Touch with 160 GB..but is Archos will be the right choice for me now?
I don't know...I never played with Archos Media Players..but I think that the 160 GB classic will be my choice.
If they only had better industrial designers, these would rule the world.
I'm looking for something like the 605 or 705 to use as a digital photo album: I want to upload photos from my camera and then show them to people on its screen. I really need for it to be hackable, so that I can install my own photo-viewing application. But Archos have "tivotised" their bootloader so that, even though they comply with the GPL (v2) by distributing the source code to the Linux kernel that it runs, you cannot change it (it has a checksum). This loophole has been closed in GPL v3, but it seems that Torvalds is happy with the practice and will stick with v2. So if anyone knows of something that's vaguely like this but is hackable, I would love to know about it.
What is wrong with the embedded photo viewer it comes with? You obviously don't have the 604, which has a beautiful photo viewer, and I hear this one is only better.
This is different because it is a personal media player, aka mp3 player.
Half of what you want can probably be handled by websites out there, and the wifi would allow this. This product is not released as a photo viewer only, it shows the photos great, but what you want is a tablet pc.
This doesn't have to run the software it is supplied with, in the past on the gmini I could run NES, gameboy, gamegear, and Sega master system emulators. Archos has no problem with you hacking their stuff. They did in fact release the linux source, or a portion of it at least on the 604. It does have the hardware capable of running software like you want, just you will have to do it yourself.
In fact, if archos ever became as popular as ipod, I could see them having no qualms about outside companies producing software to run on their pmp's, unlike apple who just bricked alot of iphone 3rd party hacks.
Is it really that much harder than hacking an iphone. I can't imagine Archos has more security protection than apple. Its just that there are way more hackers attacking apple products than the iphone. On the older models, one guy found some kind of exploit and used that to run his own OS that could run emulators ported from the GP2X. I have been hoping for another opportunistic hacker to take a crack at these.
> What is wrong with the embedded photo viewer it comes with?
I haven't used it, but I've read reviews. Does it superimpose the photos on a world map based on GPS data? Does it let me search based on tags that I've given the photos? Does it let me view photos stored on my NAS over WiFi (and if it does, does it cache downscaled versions)? Does it let me choose which cropped portion of the image I want to see by default? I've implemented all of this and more in the photo viewer that I run in my DIY wall-mounted picture frame, and I'm looking for a hardware platform for the portable version.
(But there's the more philosophical point: would you suggest the PCs or laptops could be locked down to only run the software that they're supplied with? Why is something like this any different?)
> This doesn't have to run the software it is supplied with
> They did in fact release the linux source, or a portion
> of it at least on the 604
Although they released the source, if you change it you can't run the changed version: the bootloader verifies a checksum. This is what people call "tivotisation". I'm not aware of anyone cracking this, having searched - please correct me if I'm wrong! Yes, there were hacks for the earlier models (e.g. the gameboy thing); they were less well protected.
I almost want a tablet PC, but they have quite a lot of stuff that I don't need and cost a lot more. The 605 or 705's hardware is almost exactly what I want, but their software upgrade policy cripples it for me.
The reason why they lock it down is their pay-for-features idea for codecs etc. If it were more hackable, people would produce free codecs and they wouldn't be able to sell the upgrades. It doesn't look as if the pay-for-codecs business model is very popular with people here, so maybe if they can be convinced that an all-inclusive package would be more popular then they would have less reason for the lockin.
Nope, just a marketing team like they have over there at apple. Ever since I knew this company existed, they have produced products a year or two ahead of anything done by any competitors. The only thing better about Apple is their marketing.
And Archos is the first company to stream content wirelessly to a PMP, regardless of what some fanboys have tried to say. They prefer to compare apples and cardboard, oranges are to similar for them.
Weird, the 160Gb 605wifi is a lot more expensive here in holland than in the US...
485 euro !!
http://www.mp3shop.nl/product/44217/archos-605-wifi-160-gb.html
is the screen resolution really better? I seem to remember some really sucky archos big screens - very big gaps between the pixels. Has somebody seen the screen on the 605 wifi? And does the touch screen work with fingers?
At 800x480, the resolution is almost twice as good as anything from apple. I have the 604 which has a lower resolution and it looks great.
I can't imagine an archos product that had gaps inbetween pixels unless you are talking about something from back in 2002.
The touchscreen works fine with fingers, but internet browsing is faster with a pointer. If you zoomed into a page you would only need fingers, but with such a high resolution, most pages can be viewed with no zoom unlike the iphone/touch.
Somebody need to be "stone" compare Archos with iPod with different sides? Why they not put on same level? with by with and hight by hight? Screen is much better and bigger by Archos and actualy new 605 is much greater than iPod, i test with internte and all pages works fine - who cares about iPhone - i think its much better ideas when talking on the phone and watching your news or internet pages but not ony by one think like on iPhone.
Archos makes the best PMP.. just read the specs, they are amazing.
Apple just isnt there yet. All hype, cramped specs and restrictive functionality.
Does anybody know where you can buy the 605 160 gb? It is sold out everywhere I've looked.... Thanks
I'm a 605 owner for now almost 3 weeks and i love it! Other than what has already been said, one HUGE advantage the 605 has, in IMO, is wireless streaming from your home PC. So you can download a torrent movie, wirelessly play it on the 605, but display it on your big TV. It supports divx, xvid, etc out of the box, which will play most torrent movies.
Plus it streams and plays movies, tv shows, etc directly from www.joox.net! Incredible!
John
@ John
Does streaming from Pc-> TV through the 605 require the DVR dock or any other accessory? I am hoping it is out of the box.
unless ur another teenage girl w/ too much of daddys money than the archos is the only and obvious option. ***Supreme***