Archos5 Android PMP now on sale at Amazon

Considering the tablet rumors swirling lately, we find it rather funny that Archos calls the new Android-based Archos5 an "Internet Tablet," but they've been doing it for so long we suppose they're allowed to cash in on the hype a little, right? In any event, the 5-inch PMP is now on sale at Amazon for in both 160GB ($390) and 32GB ($370) sizes -- yep, you can finally buy a non-phone Android device, and it's a pretty capable media player too boot, even if the usual Archos resistive touchscreen issues get in the way. Still, we know quite a few of you have been waiting for this -- anyone throwing down?

[Via Pocketables]

[Denus Posted Oct 8th 2009 4:05PM]

I had mine two weeks ago (32gb), and it came out of the box with a red stuck pixel in the middle of the screen.
And the device did freeze several times without a valid reason.
This is not my first Archos, but it's sure my last one.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 8th 2009 4:17PM]

I'm sick of dead pixels too, they are very annoying that's why I'm not going to buy LCD devices anymore - OLED ftw!

[NewL Posted Oct 8th 2009 4:20PM]

OLED is no insurance against dead pixels...FYI.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 8th 2009 4:10PM]

I think I will check one out in store.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 8th 2009 4:16PM]

does anyone know how much the GPS is?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 8th 2009 4:59PM]

It's $129 for North America.

[Nori Posted Oct 8th 2009 8:40PM]

I heard it was going to be $50 and come with some car accessories.

[Charbax Posted Oct 8th 2009 11:04PM]

GPS is free, if you find some Android apps for GPS features and maps that are free.

Archos is selling that TeleAtlas satellite imagery and 3D GPS for something like $49 including the in-car holder and in-car charger cables.

[Leindurstit Posted Oct 8th 2009 4:17PM]

I wonder why they don't offer Android as an upgrade to the regular Archos 5 and 7 players. They've got Cortex A8 processors and plenty of RAM, so it's not like they wouldn't be able to handle it. Although I guess they'd rather sell you a new $300+ device over a $100 operating system upgrade (and knowing them, the upgrade would cost about that much.)

[B3astofthe3ast Posted Oct 8th 2009 4:46PM]

Where there's a will, there's a way.

[mortis2600 Posted Oct 8th 2009 4:53PM]

While I loved my Archos 605, I loved it because it played DivX and Xvid while without conversion. The fact that this device doesn't have any kind of divx/xvid playback makes this device much less attractive than the samsung P3.

[voodoo Posted Oct 8th 2009 5:19PM]

Of course this device plays back DivX/Xvid. MPEG-4 Part 2

[mortis2600 Posted Oct 8th 2009 6:30PM]

MPEG-4 part 2 is not Divx. You can use divx to encode a mpeg 4 file, but that doesn't mean that the device supports it.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 8th 2009 7:42PM]

Of course it supports Divx/ xvid (upto 720p now)
read specs here
http://www.archos.com/products/imt/archos_5it/specs.html?country=us&lang=en

and if you do have a 605 check specs on its box
They are the same (apart from 720p & MKV support in Android A5)

[phytonix Posted Oct 8th 2009 5:01PM]

Be aware of all the bad reviews.

[brdystyls Posted Oct 8th 2009 5:59PM]

Agreed

Also be warned that buying this POS and any Archos POS you will get screwed in less than 10 months. They wont support it. They wont service it anymore. BE VERY AWARE OF ALL THE BAD USER EXPERIENCES!!!!!!!!

[Charbax Posted Oct 8th 2009 11:07PM]

Brdystyls is working for a Korean competing company (probably) and is a bit jealous of how superior and awesome this product is.

[gadgeek Posted Oct 8th 2009 5:59PM]

yes i'm "throwing down"... so "keep it locked" for details, Nilay.

[ianj013 Posted Oct 8th 2009 6:56PM]

160GB ($390) and 32GB ($370) sizes

[ianj013 Posted Oct 8th 2009 6:57PM]

There was surpose to a "

[ianj013 Posted Oct 8th 2009 6:58PM]

:O cant do special characters? its missing from my comments! makes me look like a 'tard :/ once again :(

[Some Guy Posted Oct 8th 2009 10:27PM]

I still maintain that touch screens on any video device are usually stupid.
Give me buttons and leave the screen to it's images.

[Bash23 Posted Oct 9th 2009 2:00AM]

Why would you get the 32GB for $370? 0_o For $20 more you get 128GB more space :/

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 9th 2009 7:57PM]

I've had my 32GB for a few days. It's very early firmware, stability not beyond alpha quality. This deathwish early release is likely seen as inevitable to catch a market window but a very risky thing. As a developer I have no objections to get my hands on it but consumers could react if this drags on. However I put great hopes to the 1.6 platform release. I hope for SDK adb support soon so I can begin developing effectively for it.
Some Archos specific parts really shine such as video playback quality with the optional Eur 15 codec. I can stream prerecorded 6 mbit/s standard resolution TV transport stream video off my Dreambox TV receiver and that's impressive. The Archos Media Center app is not so clever at parsing network directory folders, so a flat file structure on a remote NAS will cause navigation delays proportional to the amount of content. A perfect problem for the outside world to solve with a custom android app.. There exists an optional DVR Dock accessory that offers SPDIF audio out and component video for connection to the big screen. Lots of potential. I think the dock will be needed for convenient and effective charging. Else I think people will forget to charge regularily and end up in lots of out of power situations. Apparently over USB charging (as purchased) is much slower and only really works with the device turned off.

[mwd Posted Oct 10th 2009 10:16AM]

I've read it can USB/Bluetooth connect to a keyboard -- any idea how to port that functionality to another Android device, like, say, a G1 phone?