Archos 605 and 705 now support Dish DVR transfers

We've always had an inkling that Archos was making some content moves around its Generation 5 PMPs, and the latest is pretty sweet: a plug-in download from Archos.com now enables the 605 and 705 to transfer shows and movies directly from Dish VIP622 and VIP722 DVRs over USB 2.0. There's no mention of pricing in the press release, so we're assuming it'll be a free download, and the plug-in should be available "today," although we're not currently seeing it. You know, with the Sling relationship and now this deal with Archos, it kind of seems like Dish actually wants customers to view its content as they see fit -- any of the other satellite or cable companies paying attention here?

[Warning: PDF read link]

[Stephen Rice @ Dec 18th 2007 3:35PM]

Any support for the Dish 625 DVR? This is cool though because all the other Pocket DISH players are sold out..........

[Jonathan Bergeron @ Dec 18th 2007 3:42PM]

Second!

[NHAnimator @ Dec 18th 2007 3:45PM]

...and yet still a loser.

[anonymouspimp @ Dec 18th 2007 3:46PM]

ZOMG JONATHAN YOU ARE FAMOUS NOW!

[Jonathan Bergeron @ Dec 18th 2007 3:55PM]

I'm hoping when I get "first" the loser stigma will go away.

[SleeplessKn1ght @ Dec 18th 2007 4:59PM]

That's not likely.

[Stephen Rice @ Dec 18th 2007 5:50PM]

haha loser i was first........:p

[Student Driver @ Dec 18th 2007 3:44PM]

Huh, I was considering a move from Dish to DirecTV but this will stop that if it pans out.

[Constable Odo @ Dec 18th 2007 3:47PM]

Damn, that's sweet. They're taking some steps in the right direction to get home video to portable video devices.

[Tommy @ Dec 18th 2007 3:52PM]

I've had a Media Center PC and Archos 504 for over a year now. I can easily convert the DVR-MS files over to MP2 and transfer over to my 504. I'm sure this would streamline the process for less adventerous users.

There may not be any recurring charge for each file that you move, but I'm willing to bet Archos will charge for the plugin that makes it possible. They nickle and dime ($20-$30) you to death for every little plug-in and adapter to get full functionality out of their devices. Their newest player, the 605-Wifi pushes its Wifi capabilities in the name, but for full web access you have to fork out an extra $30 for the Opera browser plugin. Otherwise you can only access their portal website that allows you to buy movies and music.

[Xee @ Dec 18th 2007 4:18PM]

Sounds like they do the nickle-and-diming to keep the cost of the base unit down. That way you can buy only the adapters you want to use and not have to pay for a bunch you don't.

[LC @ Dec 18th 2007 7:22PM]

"That way you can buy only the adapters you want to use and not have to pay for a bunch you don't."

Exactly. I wish more companies did this ala carte approach. I have no need for the web plugin and never bought it, but bought the plugin for MPEG for my 605. Other units with all the features included "free" were just too steep.

[NHAnimator @ Dec 18th 2007 3:53PM]

Maybe some day Comcast will listen to its customers and do things like this. Aaaaaand maybe monkeys will fly out of my butt.

I'm betting on the latter.

[quick @ Dec 18th 2007 4:11PM]

NHAnimator, you can already do this with Comcast... just get a TivoHD. Then you can transfer any shows off to your PC, and then do with it what you wish... Don't hold your breath on Comcast implementing this on their own DVRs, those things are the biggest POSS on earth.

[mattyanks @ Dec 18th 2007 4:02PM]

How long until someone takes this plugin and lets anyone with a linux system pull video from the DISH DVR and save it on their computer?

[swallman @ Dec 18th 2007 4:06PM]

The file is available on the Archos website for free download for Dish Network customers.

http://www.archos.com/products/plugins/plugins_g5.html?country=us&lang=en

[Rob @ Dec 18th 2007 5:14PM]

I downloaded and tried it this morning. This plug in is free and it works absolutely fantastically!!! I also was looking at Direct TV but no way with this out. It is so much easier to DVR shows on my 622 and then copy them over to the 605 compared to using the DVR Dock and the 605's recording capabilities.

Also, I had thought briefly about the iPod Touch systems. No way now. The 605 does so much more than the iPod.

I love my 605 even more now!!!!!!!

[Randy Dugger @ Jan 1st 2008 1:27PM]

Hi Rob,
I'm considering a 605 or 705 WiFi unit, since I see they have the DishNetwork plug-in now. Can you transfer and play HD content on your 622 to your 605?
The Archos Tech Support person told me that it will not play on the 605.


Randy

[goatpoacher @ Dec 18th 2007 5:37PM]

why no 604 support! Damn you archos!

[ramesh Podila @ Dec 18th 2007 6:09PM]

awwww... c'mon I have the 604-wifi with DVR docking station and the Dish 622 - dont hold up on me Archos !!!

[Lewislink @ Dec 18th 2007 7:05PM]

I sent my 605 80GB unit back for a refund. That thing, although very appealing in construction and appearance was the worst functioning device I ever had. I'm not exaggerating either, one example was it would play only half of a movie file and stop as though it reached the end. The whole file was on the unit and during the first 2 to 3 seconds of the movie beginning to play the time would show correctly but then it would lose half of the time. Like this: 1:51 at the beginning and 0:51 after a few seconds.

This is just one example of the glitchyness of this device. It would crash and fail from time to time and the music console was the most cumbersome I have ever experienced, I had to press to many buttons just to make a playlist play its contents.

I bought a Zune 80GB and have been a happy camper since. The Zune 80GB, although it lacks the size and resolution screen of the Archos, blows it away for convenience, functionality and style. This is a sweet little device and the screen is superb when you get used to it. It's very reliable and MS really put the effort into designing this new Zune.

My first and only experience with the Archos player has caused me to not ever want to even look at another Archos product. It was that bad.

[Bobs @ Dec 18th 2007 7:32PM]

How do you know you didnt have a faulty unit?

[Lewislink @ Dec 18th 2007 9:02PM]

It could have been simply one faulty unit, sure enough, but when the first one of anything is faulty it sends a bad signal. This Archos unit was the first Archos product I ever owned. About two years ago I researched the purchase of a, either 401 or 404, I can't remember, and read all the reviews of praise for it but when I went to the local CompUSA to actually look at one, I had to hold the little unit at a specific angle for the screen to be bright enough to see what was playing. The particular angle caused me to be disgusted with all the studying for purchase I did.

There were just too many problems I was experiencing, not only with this 605 but also, with the use of the 605. I tried to go to the Content Portal to buy the browser but it would not show up in the cart no matter what I did. I followed the online instructions for installing the free Widgets but I kept getting an error message stating that type of file isn't supported. I updated to latest firmware...if I remember correctly it was 1.6 or 16 something...and the unit, itself, showed it to be the latest firmware when I clicked for it to check for updates.

It was a bad experience and I don't generally berate a product this way unless it deserves it.

[David @ Jan 12th 2008 4:51AM]

I'm realy on the fence about the 605. I heard some bad shit about this product and i don't know if i wanna invest the cash in a crap product. If i could get some opnions about then it would help.