Archos Android Phone Tablet introduced on video
By Nilay Patel 
posted September 26th 2009 1:36AM
posted September 26th 2009 1:36AM
[Thanks, Fernando]
posted September 26th 2009 1:36AM
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
#1: CDMA or GSM?
#2: Custom Android Roms or forced to use Archos's build?
1. My guess would be GSM, not sure how it is in France, but I'm pretty sure as an international company, they'd favor hitting more markets with a GSM version
2. My guess would be Archos roms, even if you could hack it for custom roms I doubt it would be much sense, this device in a much higher class than the standard 300 to 500MHz ARM9/11 CPU, 320x480 display, etc that most other roms are catering to
If you're forced to use Archos' build, then I'd be worried. Archos doesn't usually tend to put the same effort into their software as they do their hardware. Hopefully there's enough running beneath the surface here to keep this device functional, 'cause it is one hell of a beauty.
This or the HTC Leo?
This is the question.
Specs and dimensions are basically the same , sex appeal too.
I guess that the first to hit the market will take the place of my aging (though still exceptional ) HTC touchHD, and maybe also get the job of my new HTC Hero too.
Although I prefer Andoid to win mob, (even with the spectacular new edition of TouchFLO), I tend to trust HTC far more than Archos.
Don't you?
1. It doesn't really matter to most of those who would have bought this anymore.
2. Why? On the 25th of September 2009, the year of our Lord, Google just shut down @Cyanogen with a cease and desist order. As one of the leading ROM optimizers and developers which saved Android's consumer opinion enough to actually sway consumers away from other platforms based on the word of mouth of those with his modified ROM builds, they shattered the trust of the developer and fanatical user base at large.
I'm really very sorry if this is way off topic, but having personally convinced others to go to Android devices because of the totally Open Source promises only to have Google pull this on someone who's only generated positive "Goodwill" on their fiscal balance sheet is a smack in the face. I just can't get excited when I've got people breathing down my throat about how they may have wasted their money on 2 years of false promises and bait-&-switch policy.
The average consumer on the market won't know and doesn't even care that Android is open source to begin with. For tech geeks, which form a small percentage, sure you're gonna make a big deal. Look at how many units they shipped and how many people estimated actually mod their G1's? that should give you a clear indication of where I'm going with this.
If you really wanna stick it to Google then dont buy "Google" experience devices. Buy a Hero/ Magic as its licensed to HTC. You still have Android, still an active mod community and best of all, HTC doesn't even meddle. What Cyanogen did for the community was outstanding, no doubt but ultimately even himself knew it was illegal. They are a business first and foremost, dont forget that
@Famous by Marital-Association
Okay, I totally understand the frustration with Google's decision to shut down Cyanogen, but I feel you and many consumers in general have the wrong idea about what constitutes open source. "Open" doesn't mean you can just do whatever you want with the software in the phone. Google didn't lie when they said they were open source, it is true that the Android base package is fully open source and you can do whatever you want with it. However there are a couple of Google specific apps not included in the base package that are closed source. This is what is at issue here. Further in the future there will be also closed source apps from other OHA members; the way the ROM making is going, this is likely to be ported over too, and Google wants to prevent that kind of practice from being common by being the bad guy and the first one to stop it.
Also T-mobile and Google NEVER advertised the ROMs as a reason to buy their phones. I think in general, the ROM community recognizes they are a small minority of the Android market (5% by their own estimates); most people either don't know about or don't want to use the custom ROMs. So to blame them for bait-and-switch is totally overboard.
Personally I think Google should compromise (by putting the Google apps up on the market so ROM making can continue) because they struck a huge blow to some of the most active/enthusiastic members of the Android community, but I can see the reasoning behind what they did.
beautiful
No more Android for me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VZHT389eR4
Its about dang time archos!!! been waiting for this day for a long long time.
3. battery life?
Alright, this is officially the most excited I've been about a phone all year! And that's with the Pre! This thing is gorgeous, and the specs are spectacular!
Finally, an Android phone with balls.
I second this
What is your opinion?
Could you carry a phone that large without it feeling too large? I have an N97 now and I think this is starting to max out the comfort zone, but I think I can see myself with this.
Thoughts?
1 cm thin is great. I would prefer a larger screen.
That is one fine piece of tech. i can't wait to return all of my christmas gifts for this thing. Except the baggy jeans of course, I'll need those.
blah blah, you want a larger screen than 4.3 inches?
What's 3.5G?
Really? You don't know what 3.5G is? :/ Lots of countries are using that now.
Rather than be a dick, I'll answer your question.
3.5G is HSDPA.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-Speed_Downlink_Packet_Access
4x – 2y + 1/3z – 9.6G = -2y + 1/3z + 3x – 6.1G
x = 3.5G
So it's using the new ARM Cortex A9 right?
More likely to be a snapdragon
January eh? Looks like I'll be celebrating Orthodox Christmas this year.
Wow. this is exciting. 1GHz, 4.3 inch screen and doesn't look bulky as hell. It's nice to see Android in a phone that can take it somewhere.
Sucks that Google killed the Android community.
This or the Xperia X3...hmm...
I'm french, and he doesn't say anything of interest in his speech : it's a preview of a model aimed to be released in 2010, it's ultra thin, it has half a inch less than the other archos product, and he's stunned by how smaller the product is with only half an inch less.
Thank you for translating what was said on the video...
That Archos prototype device looks good...look forward to seeing the finished product on the market in 2010.
so in fact he said the same like steve jobs at his keynotes, only with less http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx7v815bYUw ?
Hrm. Is it just me or is Archos not the best name for an agile innovative tech company.
It sounds like the name of some evil dude from the Transformers or something.
I know 50,000 geeks just got hard thinking about that, but for most people having a name like ZANDOX, sounds fucked, and subconsciously, are going to resist the brand.
How else can you explain the gap between the cool products and the seeming disinterest to these products?
At the beginning, he's just saying that half an inch is a really big difference for a screen, that the screen on the phone is smaller because it's more adapted, and he's comparing the phone and some other device (I think it's the Archos tablet, 4.8" vs 4.3" for the phone).
Then he said the phone is planned for 2010.
Wow... If i didn't have my pre, i would want this.....
the only thing that im worried about is battery life....
I have an archos device, and the battery takes longer to charge then it lasts...
1 - Very promising, but too late, i wanted to choose a powerful android phone before christmas. Archos really should have focused on this phone instead of toying with their tablets. Guess what consumers want between a tablet and a smartphone ?
2 - 1ghz ? excellent, that means either a texas instrument 36xx or a qualcomm snapdragon 45nm processor, hence long battery life / autonomy. (i would prefer ti as i heard qualcomm has bad support for openmax drivers) (does android use openmax ?)
3 - sucks that google just killed the android community today by c&d-ing cyanogen... Consequently, one of google android lead developpers hinted at thinking to quit. And i am thinking about waiting for a moblin or maemo phone...
http://phandroid.com/2009/09/25/eff-google-screw-android-the-backlash-begins/
2010...can I we wait that long?
Is it me or does their logo and 'Archos Phone Tablet' look like it just came out of the Delorean? Epic 80's style going on right there.
Would be more interesting if it came with WinMo, oh, and less restrictive too.
iPhone OS is also less restrictive than both winmo and androis
get out clak, you are NOT wanted here
Itll depend what quarter of 2010 it is released. If its Christmas 2010 then this phone will just be another of a herd of phones with the same abilities. If its early 2010 or summer, theres a good shot that this will be the best phone out there.
I don't think a 4.3" screened phone would be too big. Currently I carry a G1 and a Centro around in my pocket. Soon to be a G1 and an Instinct HD. One phone shouldn't be a problem unless you're wearing girly emo jeans.
JEEZ... There was a streaming of the event on USTREAM when they announced the android tablet that showed this at the end, and I event sent screenshots to ENgadget
Archos makes good devices but their hidden costs are annoying.
The Archos 5 is a great example at roughly $300.
Want to play HD video, $20 plug-in.
Want to play VOB video, $20 plug-in.
Want to play h.264 video, $20 plug-in.
Your new Archos costs you $360 by the time you're done.
That's an extra $60 or 20% tax that most do not see coming.
They should bundle these plug-ins and stop fleecing people.
This phone is running Android, but I am pretty sure they will do their best to charge for plug-ins.
On the new Archos Android tablets, H264 HD, DivX HD, On2, WMV, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, FLV HD, Mp3, WAV, AAC, AAC+ and WMA are free included for free.
For $15 extra you also get following 3 extra codecs: Mpeg2, AC3 with5.1 Dolby support and WMV-VC1 HD.
There is no reason that all consumers should pay for Mpeg2, AC3 and WMV-HD when it's only a small minority of the consumers who actually need it.
You can buy on eBay set of plug-ins for $20-$30 so why you complaining?
Look for iPhone users - they spend so much money on the stuff that they don't use after 3-4 days.
Why, oh, why is their custom UI so ugly?
Granted, it is better than the standard Android interface, but those 45 degree gradients, no drop shadow or any decent smooth bevel just makes a beautiful phone look like a turd.
Wow. Well Apple always said they were 2-3 years ahead of everyone with the iPhone and for a couple of years that was true. Now we see phones matching and bettering the iPhone, need more info of course but this looks to be the best phone on the market if it's released soon. I'm typing this on a 3Gs and now wishing it was an Archos. How did that happen Steve?
Sorry folks, Android was killed off yesterday by Google.
Bull, you can't expect to do stuff that was said to be illegal from the start and be supprised if Google say's "stop it".