Archos phone tablet in limbo, awaiting 'at least two major operators' to sign up
By Ross Miller 
posted January 16th 2010 9:54PM
posted January 16th 2010 9:54PM
Oh, Henri Crohas, you tease. In an interview with French site L'Expansion, the Archos CEO made reference to fate of the Archos phone tablet, saying that the company has built a device with strong multimedia capabilities... but it's not gonna see the light of day without the support at least two major operators. Sad to hear, as the proposed specs -- Android OS, 4.3-inch touchscreen, 1GHz ARM processor, 3.5G bands, 10mm titanium casing, and a possible front-facing camera -- were mighty intriguing. In the meantime, keep dreaming of that Android-powered HTC HD2, k?
titanium?? This delay is a good thing, means i can save up for the inevitable costly price.
If it doesn't come out at least i can buy myself nice things.. :p
@ClarkyAC sweeeet, been looking for an accessory to match my titanium skull
Sprint could use a new high-end now that Palm left it high and dry
@JeremyBenthem
What are you talking about?! Did I miss the announcement where Palm said that it would no longer be manufacturing the original Pre and Pixi?
@Gad Get
it's the latest and greatest anymore, certainly a lot of people stopped caring about the myTouch let alone G1 after Sprint got the Hero
Awaiting at least two major operators to not say "What's an archos?"
@Leindurstit It is not certain if Archos will use their own software to play the media or if they will choose to use Windows Media Center. They will have to work fast in order to get it ready, as they do not want any problems due to them rushing the decision: Another POV: http://bit.ly/archos-9-pmp-details
Hopefully this l'expansion will be not your mediocre type..
@Leindurstit An Archos is something where a company sticks the name "Tablet" on a $200 device and charges it for $450+ podcast add-ons, exc.
@Leindurstit They don't have to be US carriers.
How much will Archos charge phone codec addon?, they normally charge for each addon, codec, web browser etc
@OCEAN CLAK
That's why I'll never buy an Archos device again. Half of the 'features' can't be used until you spend more money.
@puppyboy And the other half isn't worth shit. Usng such an ancient and crippled version of Android is an insult to all customers.
Give it to Virgin Mobile and Sprint haha, ohh wait, they may be waiting for Altell!
@HotDog
Verizon bought Altell up and US Cellular last year I believe.
@Anticrawl Don't know about US Cellular, but they did buy up Alltel's CDMA assets.
I have been waiting on a release date for this for a while, it was supposed to be announced at CES, glad to see it's still out there.
To Archos: Get the 1.6 update to your Internet Tablet ASAP.
@catdogburger
they need to get Android 2.x so that standard apps work on the high-res display
@JeremyBenthem I suppose, but that's only going to be released after their phone.
@JeremyBenthem
Android 1.6 added support for different resolutin dispays. The 1.6 update that was pulled looks a lot better than the 1.5 release thanks to the non hacked dispay resolution support and applications I've tried look far better on the 1.6 based firmware than they did on the 1.5 too.
I will admit, if we don't see at least Android 2.1 on it I will be annoyed.
A new Android phone with brand new Archos features including BUGS, INSTABILITIES and VULNERABILITIES! Can't wait!
@badgaz
Vulnerabilities ? really ?
Someone HACKED many of your archos ?
To what end ? and please don't tell me about rockbox it's NOT a hack.
It's about whiping everything, and building an OS from scratch.
Not like the cracking of the iPhone which took like 10 minutes ? oh no 3 days sorry...
(wanted to troll you've been served !)
@Flix C
What I was getting at is ARCHOS has a reputation for poorly made software (their customizations to Android for the ARCHOS 5 were poorly received too) and I wouldn't be in a rush to buy a product of theirs that's always connected and has a ton of my personal details sat on it, partly for security reasons and partly because I can imagine it throwing a strop when I'm in the middle of something important.
@badgaz Ok, you mentioned vulnerabilities TWICE now. Let's see them. I have the A5A and I think you're blowing smoke dude.
It's very true that they need to take some lessons in support, but so far it sounds like you're taking a lesson from Apple screaming "TEH VULNERABILITIES".
@Seraphim
Why is everybody mentioning Apple, because I never did nor am I an Apple user. If it makes you feel better I will replace the word "vulnerabilities" with "instabilities", although the basic point I was trying to get at is that Archos devices have a reputation for bugs, buggy software tends to be more susceptible to security holes than not buggy software. A phone is different to a PMP as it is always connected through 3G/Wifi whatever and there are more of them out there, they also hold more personal and potentially sensitive data making them a bigger target.
@badgaz What are you talkiing about? What insecurities? I mentioned Apple because their big talking point at one time against Windows was 'Oh THE VIRUSES!'
There is a massive difference in software instability and device security, and I think you don't understand the difference yet have harped on it 3 times.
Why does it have to support operators? When they just build the damn thing with all 3G radios and cdma radios so you could use it on the carrier of your choice
@Hydra
Because RF Design doesn't work that way. Blame Physics.
Archos produces high end Portable Multimedia Players so I'm pretty sure that this phone will at least blow us up with its multimedia functions.
@(Unverified)
I don't really want to get blown up :(
I wonder how much they will charge for the cellular connection addon.
just sell it frigen unlocked
What has 2 thumbs and is getting sick of everything with a touchscreen being called a "tablet"?
m> this guy!
They're probably gonna fuck this up. But I'm willing to see before judgement.
If they make the screen resistive it will be a big disappointment.
Hey archos , wake up. Design matters and you have 0 taste.
Hurry up guys, signup so we can get this thing!!! Bye bye Nexus one, hello tablet phone!!!
Why make it for the American market? surely this thing belongs to the unlocked "world" market..
This just displays the stupidity of a market-place led by carrier rather than consumer choice.
@goseki
Archos is a French company...
Apple: We only build our products with quality aluminum, not plastic like our competitors.
Archos: Aluminum? Pfffft! Titanium phone. Eat it.
@Solidstate89 The iPhone isn't made out of aluminum.
@iCello nah its made out of old recycled Russian tanks
I'm not buying a French phone, no way.
omg Android HD2 would be THE end all phone in my book. It's the stuff wet dreams are made of...
too far?
What makes something a "tablet"? A larger than normal screen? Sounds like a play on words to reel in yuppy consumers to me.
I find it great that such a small company has started the next generation of computing
the internet tablet, it has a 4 to 5 inch screen, does pretty much everything a netbook can do and if you pay the premium, you get phone capabilities and mobile internet aswell.
Fortunately I already got my Nokia N900, a Maemo/Linux beast. After trickling down my iPhone to my wife and sending back the Droid, finally I am happy with this incredibly powerful and versatile phone-computer. Bye bye, Android.
one of the very few phones i'd buy sans contract, such a shame... :(