Archos 5 gets Android Market, Gmail and Maps for that Google-blessed experience
Since it's not a phone and transgresses in all sorts of other Google-pleasing areas, the Archos 5 Internet Tablet hasn't had a full shot at Android thus far, being relegated to merely the open source aspects of the OS. However, with phones like the Droid out and about and making high-resolution compatibility a must for Android developers, not to mention some diligent work from the hacking community, there are now downloadable versions of Android Market, Gmail, Maps and some other Google-specific Android goodies for the Archos 5. Use them at your own risk, of course, but it's not like the Archos 5 is a testament to stability in its current incarnation anyway.























looks sweet
@Engadget
WHY THE HECK IS THE WEBSITE SO DEAD SLOW FOR LAST 2 DAYS? :@
LITERALLY I COME HERE AND THERE's BARELY 1 or NO NEW POSTS. TIME TO GO SPEND TIME ON SOME OTHER GADGET SITE.
You fool, engadget is never active on weekends. Editors have lives y'know
@sonnydeejay I was really hoping that using Android in place of Archos' homegrown OS would help the stability somewhat....it's really sad that it doesn't. If these guys could do software with the same skill that they do hardware, Apple would have some real competition on the PMP front.
Ah yessssssssssss this made my night. Been waiting for the option to have the market.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/legendmedia/4123466550/
@Legend
Is that Sense UI?
@(Unverified)
No, just the clock widget.
@Cheesus Crust
Not rich, just an addict... ugh.
am not commenting about the android but about the top stories, just loss it, it too redundant shortcut almost the same as the featured stories on the right side, and the photos looks disorganized and too busy to look at....where's the artist side of ENGADGET.
@(Unverified) if you not commenting on archos story then STFU and find an ESL site.
THE FONT CHOICE MAKE ME SICK SOOOOOOOOOOOOO AMATEUR.
@(Unverified) I hate the font choice as well!
The original font that Engadget used was much easier to read. Please for the love of God go back to that font!
I also agree the new layout is also very difficult to read. There is just too much redundancy on the page. There is just no need to have both the top stories and the persistent tabs of old big stories.
On top of all this, massive graphics doesn't help either.
I hope Engadget realizes this is meant as constructive criticism and actually does something about it.
M
@(Unverified)
Ditto,
Hate the TITLE font for the posts, so amateur and unfinished. FFS engadget, change it. pleaaaase
Oh man, I wish I knew about this earlier. I totally blew off the Archos 5 in favor of some thing else on Black Friday.
ARGH!
@Special Agent Steve
Curious, what did you get?
@Jeff
I got a PS3 Slim w/ LBP and Ratchet and Clank. I don't regret my purchase in the least, but I might have just bought both lol.
Ah, oh well.
Can anyone tell me their first hand experience with this table? When I used it at Best Buy, it was quick, however it had a long start up time. I do not know if this is common, so just a cold start from not being used in a while.
I love the idea of it, especially no with the app store and all,
@John W Harding
Second that!...a few min at Best buy made me want it, but not enough to get it without through review
@John W Harding
It's awesome BUT it does take a while to start up. About a quarter of the time of a blackberry. Sometimes an app will crash @ random requiring a reboot, but that only happened to me 3 times in the two months owning it. Now that I think about it, after the firmware update it didn't do it at all. Just be warned that some codecs have to be purchased as they did not include them to cut down on the cost of the unit for people who may not be utilizing it for other video sources. The browser is awesome, the open source factor is always nice, and the device has a lot of potential. If you are looking for a device that is 100% frustration free though, this is not it.
@John W Harding
In theory you never actually need to reboot the device, as it resumes from standby in 1 second. So in theory people would only need to do the full 40 second bootup once every time the firmware is updated (once every 1-2 weeks, if you want to update it every time), or when the internal battery happened to be completely flat at one point.
But in practice, Android is a complicated thing and Archos can still sometimes crash or lock up and need a reboot. I don't think it is bad or makes it unusable, at least not for my use. It is often to do with what apps you install and how many Android apps you have running in the background and that take up all the RAM memory. Though I think this device has more RAM than any other Android device.
TOP STORIES SHORTCUT SOUNDS LIKE EDITORS COMPETING EACH OTHER WHO WILL GET THE MOST CLICKS......
The Weather Channel? Yes, my life is now complete.
Archos 5 with Android (kinda)
So I hear this thing was buggy at first but has since seen a firmware update. How's it work now?
@David3000
Hasn't crashed once since the last firmware update. Still takes forever to boot from a full power off though. Zippy once in the OS.
@Legend
I heard it went from crashing 3-5 times a day to only 1-2 times a day.
@look a cow
Haven't experienced that.
If you have to do all that to get the google experience, do you really have the google experience?
Was contemplating this....went for the Zune instead.
default google chrome OS font easy to read.
So did anyone ever find out if the Archos 5 screen was capacitive or resistive?
@Hotrod
Resistive.
@Legend eww
@Hotrod
Capacitative does not exist in 4.8" size with 800x480 resolution at affordable price and in good enough quality. It's really not a bad resistive touch screen, probably the best resistive touch screen technology.
@Charbax When it came out, I watched review of the Archos 5, and none of the reviewers knew if it was capacitive or resistive. Supposedly the screen was so responsive that they didn't know if it was capacitive, or just a really good resistive screen. Thanks for the info guys.
I still want the Archos 7 after all this time.
So, can someone tell me the easiest way to use Google Maps Navigation that doesn't involve owning a phone? I already have an iPhone, but it looks like Apple is going to hold up the app for as long as possible.
64GB around or just after Christmas time now please Zune. Get it done!
cyber monday wii
64GB around or just after Christmas time now please Zune. Get it done!
http://cybermondaywii.co.cc/
it looks good, a internet tablet is a good concept
I never liked Archos there products were always buggy and customer service was even worse when through two of their mp3s in less than a year gotta admit though they are built like a tank
I just got one of these and it works just fine. I have had no stability problems or any problems at all. The screen is gorgeous, it plays tons of formats, and the browser is very good. Plus, it can run Android apps/widgets. I am sure app support will improve as the product matures.
I don't agree at all with Paul's little smart comment at the end of his post.