APSI's WinCE-based M480 can't quite reach Archos' level

We can't really knock the folks at APSI for trying to make the M480 into a product it's not, but in all seriousness, this thing is just two curved edges away from KIRFing the Archos 5. That said, there's no doubt this piece is trying to get all up in Archos' grille, with an expansive 4.8-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen, 30GB / 60GB of internal storage, a TV output, dual-core 400MHz OMAP2530 processor and a battery good for six to seven hours (with audio) / four to five hours (with video). There's even support for a multitude of file formats, but the lackluster Windows CE 5.0 operating system essentially murders any chance it had at being successful. Sorry, buddy -- better luck next time.

[Via PMPToday]

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 9th 2009 4:13AM]

didn't know you could KIRF a rectangle with a screen goddamn

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 9th 2009 9:32AM]

Exactly! Last time I checked, KIRF meant that it not only physically looked like the hardware it was trying to copy, but also the software looked similar. At worst just perhaps the hardware looked the same. The APSI does in no way look like an Archos and I'm guessing with WinCE 5.0 - even the software would have a hard time looking the same. Maybe someone should bring Darren upto speed with the definition!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 9th 2009 4:18AM]

The cpu of that guy has a linux port, so by installing a software keyboard you can still likely make yourself I nice little toy. The lack of wireless connectivity (or is it only not mentioned?) looks like more of a problem, though.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 9th 2009 4:19AM]

Windows CE 5.0 is perfectly capable of being customized until one's heart is content.
It supports x86, ARM, MIPS, and SuperH microprocessors and going back to my previous point, it is arguably the most open and modifiable of all of MS's OS's. Developers are free to modify it even down to the kernel level without having to obtain any sort of permission from MS.

It's used in a wide array of products, successfully at that, to this day.

Discrediting a product because of this point is nonsensical to say the least.
But the again, the tone of your post just cries out anti-MS zealot.

[Charbax Posted Feb 9th 2009 4:38AM]

There has been several examples of Windows CE based PMPs such as Cowon Q5, iRiver ones, Viliv, Blufin, Maxian and others and they have all been utterly completely crappy and that is basicall cause they all are based on Windows CE. Windows CE is the main culprit here.

The reason is quite simply cause using Windows CE is a cheap and lazy way to make consumer electronics. It means you have to use a reference design provided only in collaboration with Microsoft which obviously means customizations and support for specialized features is non-existing thus it makes the product crappy.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 9th 2009 6:57AM]

This is ∑ngadget we're talking about here....bastions of subjectivity. What did you expect? They never claimed to be any more useful. Reading ∑ngadget sometimes is NOT like you're wiping your å®se with silk. hmmm

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 9th 2009 4:25AM]

Windows CE is far better then the extremely restrictive Archos OS. At least I don't have to pay $30+ to get a web browser onto the device. Besides, I'm sure someone will hack Linux on there sooner or later and then the flood gates will be open.

[Charbax Posted Feb 9th 2009 4:42AM]

You might not believe it, but Windows CE is in fact much more restrictive than the Archos OS design.

The restriction comes in the actual features that you can get for the hardware in question. Windows CE is by definition closed proprietary code thus if you want to use custom hardware or features you can forget about it.

"At least I don't have to pay $30+ to get a web browser onto the device."

You don't have to pay for the browser on the Archos either. And the Archos browser is going to be 1000 times better than any browser that is available for Windows CE, if any at all is available other than uber crappy Internet Explorer. You can be 1000% sure about that.

"I'm sure someone will hack Linux on there sooner or later and then the flood gates will be open."

Good luck with that. You can't just hack Linux onto any random hardware and just think it will work. It'd be much more likely that someone hacks Qtopia, Android or Ubuntu to work on an Archos than any of those working on any crappy Windows CE based reference design.

[UMPCman Posted Feb 9th 2009 7:06AM]

Charbax - you are the ultimate Archos fanboy.

There is no OS that is more closed than the Archos. Not a single hack has ever been found for the current version, and the opportunity to hack the previous versions was killed by firmware upgrades. There is not a single example of 3rd party software for the Archos device. Not one. So we are stuck with crappy email clients, pathetic games, and an extremely primitive user interface. Forever.

Win CE may have issues, but there are third party applications for it, most importantly Coreplayer, which is a multiplatform video player that is vastly superior to anything Archos has to offer.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 9th 2009 8:40AM]

I own an Archos605wifi and I have to agree about the whole closed source thing. Current versions of the Archos firmware haven't been hacked nor does it seem that anyone who has tried can.

The problem you are all forgetting is these devices weren't designed to be replacements for UMPCs and Smartphones they are PMPs and damn good ones that just happen to have internet capabilities.

CAPACITY: 30/60GB that is a joke and insult to even compare to Archos. my 605 which is the last generation has 160GBs of storage. The 5 starts at 60 and the only model I have seen in stores is the lusty 250.

Then one last thing Archos 7. nuff said

[Bjay Posted Feb 10th 2009 2:10AM]

"Windows CE 5.0 operating system essentially murders any chance it had at being successful. Sorry, buddy -- better luck next time."

Wat wrong with the OS?