Archos 7 Home Tablet ships to Android lovers in June
By Joanna Stern 
posted May 6th 2010 11:00AM
posted May 6th 2010 11:00AM
ARCHOS BRINGS THE FIRST LARGE SCREEN ANDROID-BASED TABLET UNDER $200
ARCHOS Introduces the first Android Home Tablet with a 7 inch touch screen, Web browser,
High Definition Video and Android Applications, taking home portability to a whole new
level.
Denver, May 6th, 2010 – ARCHOS, a top innovator in the portable media market announced today the new ARCHOS 7 home tablet that combines the best of web browsing, multimedia, live information, social networking and Apps, and testifies to ARCHOS' strategy of offering innovative electronic products with extremely competitive pricing.
The ARCHOS 7 home tablet sees the debut of the first large-screen Android-based tablet. Bridging the gap between the Smartphone and the desktop PC, the ARCHOS 7 provides always-on access to the web, email, photo, video and a dedicated library of Android Apps enabling users to customise the device to their lifestyle.
The stylish ARCHOS 7 home tablet, sports a high resolution 7 inch touch screen (800x480) and a super slim form factor at just .47 of an inch thick. Weighing in at 0.8lb, it is extremely portable and can be used in any room of the home. With built-in Wi-Fi, users can connect to a home network while on the move throughout the house. The USB connection makes transferring files from a PC, digital camera or other digital devices very simple. The ARCHOS 7 is also a low-power consumption device providing seven hours of video playback or 44 hours of music on a single charge.
"The ARCHOS 7 is great for the whole family. Anyone can use the ARCHOS 7 to stay up to date on email, news and weather, catch up on TV shows, get the recipe of the day or update a social media profile," said Henri Crohas, ARCHOS Chief Executive Officer. "This tablet is just perfect for times when a Smartphone is not enough and a computer just too much."
Multimedia showcase
With a large 7" high resolution touch screen (800x480), the ARCHOS 7 home tablet has been specifically developed with multimedia in mind. The home tablet provides the best HD movie viewing experience (at 720p) in the kitchen, bedroom, living room or garden. Its brilliant screen makes it a high-quality photo display. The ARCHOS 7 can easily replace your radio with its on-board MP3 player and access to the free music streaming service, Deezer.
Apps to meet all lifestyles
The ARCHOS 7 home tablet comes with a selection of pre-installed Apps ready for use including the popular eBuddy instant messaging app, Aldiko for downloading and reading thousands of books, DailyPaper for viewing your favorite newspaper and much more. Users also have the option to customize their home tablet by downloading their favorite App.
AppsLib offers unlimited access to free and paid Apps developed specifically for the large 7- inch touch screen display of the ARCHOS 7. With a range of apps available to fit any lifestyle, the ARCHOS 7 can easily become an ebook reader, give access to cooking recipes, news, weather and games, and provide recommendations on theatres or restaurants.
Communication and connectivity
With Wi-Fi on board, the ARCHOS 7 home tablet easily connects to a home network and gives you constant access to the Internet. Its high-resolution, 7-inch touch screen, allows consumers to surf the Web in full width, send email, tweets or update Facebook pages as if they were surfing on their home PC. Download your personal applications from Appslib and the ARCHOS 7 home tablet will become the perfect tablet for the entire family.
Pricing and Availability
The ARCHOS 7 home tablet will be available in June at $199.99 SRP through selected retailers. Exclusive pre-orders are available at Amazon.com, with product shipping mid May. Order information and customer support details are available from our website: www.archos.com.
# # #
About ARCHOS
ARCHOS introduced the hard-drive-based MP3 player with the Jukebox 6000 in 2000, and since that time has revolutionized consumer electronics devices. The company introduced the portable video player in 2003 and was the first to bring TV recording, wireless and touch screens to the portable media player. The ARCHOS Internet Media Tablet and PCtablet offer consumers uncompromised access to the Internet, movies, photos, video, music and television anytime, anywhere. Established in 1988, ARCHOS has offices in the United States, Europe and Asia, and is quoted on Compartment C of Euronext Paris, ISIN Code FR0000182479. More information is available online at www.archos.com.
ARCHOS Introduces the first Android Home Tablet with a 7 inch touch screen, Web browser,
High Definition Video and Android Applications, taking home portability to a whole new
level.
Denver, May 6th, 2010 – ARCHOS, a top innovator in the portable media market announced today the new ARCHOS 7 home tablet that combines the best of web browsing, multimedia, live information, social networking and Apps, and testifies to ARCHOS' strategy of offering innovative electronic products with extremely competitive pricing.
The ARCHOS 7 home tablet sees the debut of the first large-screen Android-based tablet. Bridging the gap between the Smartphone and the desktop PC, the ARCHOS 7 provides always-on access to the web, email, photo, video and a dedicated library of Android Apps enabling users to customise the device to their lifestyle.
The stylish ARCHOS 7 home tablet, sports a high resolution 7 inch touch screen (800x480) and a super slim form factor at just .47 of an inch thick. Weighing in at 0.8lb, it is extremely portable and can be used in any room of the home. With built-in Wi-Fi, users can connect to a home network while on the move throughout the house. The USB connection makes transferring files from a PC, digital camera or other digital devices very simple. The ARCHOS 7 is also a low-power consumption device providing seven hours of video playback or 44 hours of music on a single charge.
"The ARCHOS 7 is great for the whole family. Anyone can use the ARCHOS 7 to stay up to date on email, news and weather, catch up on TV shows, get the recipe of the day or update a social media profile," said Henri Crohas, ARCHOS Chief Executive Officer. "This tablet is just perfect for times when a Smartphone is not enough and a computer just too much."
Multimedia showcase
With a large 7" high resolution touch screen (800x480), the ARCHOS 7 home tablet has been specifically developed with multimedia in mind. The home tablet provides the best HD movie viewing experience (at 720p) in the kitchen, bedroom, living room or garden. Its brilliant screen makes it a high-quality photo display. The ARCHOS 7 can easily replace your radio with its on-board MP3 player and access to the free music streaming service, Deezer.
Apps to meet all lifestyles
The ARCHOS 7 home tablet comes with a selection of pre-installed Apps ready for use including the popular eBuddy instant messaging app, Aldiko for downloading and reading thousands of books, DailyPaper for viewing your favorite newspaper and much more. Users also have the option to customize their home tablet by downloading their favorite App.
AppsLib offers unlimited access to free and paid Apps developed specifically for the large 7- inch touch screen display of the ARCHOS 7. With a range of apps available to fit any lifestyle, the ARCHOS 7 can easily become an ebook reader, give access to cooking recipes, news, weather and games, and provide recommendations on theatres or restaurants.
Communication and connectivity
With Wi-Fi on board, the ARCHOS 7 home tablet easily connects to a home network and gives you constant access to the Internet. Its high-resolution, 7-inch touch screen, allows consumers to surf the Web in full width, send email, tweets or update Facebook pages as if they were surfing on their home PC. Download your personal applications from Appslib and the ARCHOS 7 home tablet will become the perfect tablet for the entire family.
Pricing and Availability
The ARCHOS 7 home tablet will be available in June at $199.99 SRP through selected retailers. Exclusive pre-orders are available at Amazon.com, with product shipping mid May. Order information and customer support details are available from our website: www.archos.com.
# # #
About ARCHOS
ARCHOS introduced the hard-drive-based MP3 player with the Jukebox 6000 in 2000, and since that time has revolutionized consumer electronics devices. The company introduced the portable video player in 2003 and was the first to bring TV recording, wireless and touch screens to the portable media player. The ARCHOS Internet Media Tablet and PCtablet offer consumers uncompromised access to the Internet, movies, photos, video, music and television anytime, anywhere. Established in 1988, ARCHOS has offices in the United States, Europe and Asia, and is quoted on Compartment C of Euronext Paris, ISIN Code FR0000182479. More information is available online at www.archos.com.
@willowtwf I take it you don't have any experience with a resistive screen, where you actually need to press... not simply brush the screen?
So far the iPad knocked out the Courier and Slate without throwing a punch. At least the Archos is making it into the ring. I give it 10 sec into round one and the iPad throws a short jab to knock it out.
@jsbaugh
iDevice doesn't throw punches. It delivers a roundhouse kick like chuck norris
@jsbaugh
because the courier was designed to go head-to-head with the ipad. what a ridiculous assumption only an apple fanboy could come up with.
@tegz The Courier was never "designed" in the first place.
All of you morons turned a video of a render of an off the wall concept that would never make it out of MS labs into a shipping product in your minds. The damn thing did not, does not and never will exist.
@tegz It was just CGI. Their was never a design. Sjees you msft fanbois are soo easily fooled.
Interesting. My wife really wants one of these things instead of an ebook reader. If you have an investment in encrypted mobi and eReader books, you are pretty screwed on modern platforms (including the iCult). iReader for Android is a recent reader product that supports the old DRM and is a great option for people who want up to date hardware and OS but need to maintain backwards compatibility. But to get iReader, you have to have Market access.
The review video I saw a while back (an electronics show in Europe) looked promising. The lack of an accelerometer is disappointing but not a show stopper but AppsLib has only one of the "must have" applications that we'd want to install on the device. The whole reason she doesn't just get a Kindle or a Sony reader is she wants an enhanced PDA, not a one trick pony. The idea of the AppsLib is to have apps that are guaranteed to work with the larger, higher resolution screen and that's fine in theory but blocking the full range of apps that work with your OS level renders it largely useless. Yes, not every app would work because of hardware differences, but many would and would work well.
It's Google that hasn't permitted direct installation of market on tablet devices so far, but I understand that will change in the future. Not sure how soon. I've seen hacks for the Archos IT5, the same thing might work on the HT7, but Archos needs to publish and support an official hack until market comes preloaded if they want the device to be taken seriously.
Alas. An Android tablet is precisely what she wants and needs (the apps she needs don't exist on iPhone) and she doesn't want a phone sized screen. But they just aren't quite there yet.
Question to everyone here, as you seem to be pretty knowledgeable:
1) I've seen multiple videos of people installing the AppMarket as an .apk file. If that is indeed the case, then is the omission of the Market that much of a big deal? One can also install any applications they want the same way. Since there is USB connectivity, couldn't one just DL the desired app and run it as an .apk file?
2) Slightly disappointed by the lack of bluetooth, though certainly not a deal breaker. Is it possible to use a USB bluetooth Dongle?
3) The lack of an accelerometer sucks hard. Do we know if there is a hardware button that changes the orientation on the fly?
Basically, I want an E-Reader, PDF-reader, And I would like to have something that runs Android (mainly for the marketplace). It appears that this device offers all of that. If this is indeed as crappy as everyone else here is making it out to be, is there a better alternative already out there (or coming soon?)
Thanks for the help in advance.
@Maxim726X
1) I've seen multiple videos of people installing the AppMarket as an .apk file. If that is indeed the case, then is the omission of the Market that much of a big deal? One can also install any applications they want the same way. Since there is USB connectivity, couldn't one just DL the desired app and run it as an .apk file?
1A)I think so, you can just move it over via USB, or transfer it from a microSD card.
2) Slightly disappointed by the lack of bluetooth, though certainly not a deal breaker. Is it possible to use a USB bluetooth Dongle?
2A).There was talk of this thing having USB host, but it's not a full USB port, so there would have to be a breakout cable of sorts.
3) The lack of an accelerometer sucks hard. Do we know if there is a hardware button that changes the orientation on the fly?
3A)I'm not sure on that one... I don't think there is a hardware button.(I'm totally OK with the lack thereof, I'd rather hold it in landscape mode, as odd as that sounds.)
Basically, I want an E-Reader, PDF-reader, And I would like to have something that runs Android (mainly for the marketplace). It appears that this device offers all of that. If this is indeed as crappy as everyone else here is making it out to be, is there a better alternative already out there (or coming soon?)
You could buy an Archos 5, which is smaller, faster, and more expensive. I'm going with this for size and price.
*cough* dell *cough*
I recently did a review for the iPad on an Indian tv show. After the review I met a gentlemen from Bangalore/Bengaluru who is marketing the Archos 7 device for education and training. He is developing video tutorials and content for the equivalent national curriculum. I was not convinced based on the form factor and battery life of the device. However the market he is trying to reach is huge, especially in rural parts of the country.
I had an Archos 5 Android and it was pretty good. I didn't keep it because it was very buggy with lots of force closes and it locked up sometimes. If they've fixed those issued this one could be a winner, especially for the money. Android Market was as simple as downloading a file and rebooting the device. Video playback was amazing on it and it played anything you threw at it, even 720p vids. There's no longer a need to pay extra for additional codecs since they went Android. Capacitive multitouch would be nice, but then the price wouldn't be as nice.
@Waltah
And the DVR Station, while it cost a fair amount of money is awesome to use the Archos 5 on the TV and record it right on the device.
@mp3
I never got a chance to try it out, but I researched it and it looked pretty cool. The browser was really quick and I could tether using BT with my phone as well.
@Waltah
Currently using my Archos 5 as a secondory web browser. Being able to pair my Bluetooth mouse is awesome :P
@Waltah
Oh and I had the HD Cinema package included with it, so I saved a bit on the overall purchase :P
I ordered the 160GB HDD version, which is slightly bulkier than the SSD one unfortunately. As long as I can store a lot of p.. TV programs I'm fine :D
@hated one I'm sorry, I speak English. Can anyone translate what this user said for me?
Just quoting the Engadget FAQ:
"Trolling is also unacceptable -- we recognize that a lot of you trolls don't evern realize that you're trolls, but believe us -- you are. We'll delete your comments if we feel they're disruptive or annoying. (...) If you create a history of trolling or other offensive behavior, we'll just ban your account."
Why is this guy still here????
@SeeKo
I wonder as well. I find other trolls amusing, but his posts are starting to get annoying.
Archos is a joke. I bought their Archos 5 awhile back and returned it the next day. Super slow recharging via USB (or pay extra for an adapter), doesn't play videos (unless you pay for a plugin), and so on. Everything to make it a basic usable device you have to PAY EXTRA for. Never again.
@Thai69
That's the point. Take my 605 30GB. At the time, the iTouch had just come out and it was $300 with a 16GB HD.
My 605 was $300 with a 30GB HD, wifi, USB, and a larger screen. If Archos had included everything the device could do into the price, it would have been $500 minumum. By limiting what they include on the device and allowing users to download what they wanted, they limited the cost they had to hand down to consumers. This has always been how the Archos business style worked.
I liked it. I didn't need the video codec pack, as most of my movies were already supported. There's $30 I saved by choice.
@Thai69 I bought a 3$ 1000mA USB power adapter and it does the trick for quickly charging my Archos 5. And the only video files I couldn't play were WMV HD or VOB files which required a plugin. Everything else like MP4, FLV, AVI, MKV were playing out of the box.
@CallmeChewy Of course if Apple did the same thing these comments would be on fire. And this story would have 11 pages of comments.
@Thai69
At least the Archos has some means available to play different stuff.
Things like "hard' or "expensive' or "annoying" are all trumped by UNAVAILABLE.
A total lack of iTunes style nonsense is a blessing.
If you didn't want to pay for plugins, you could just do things the Apple way and transcode all of your files so they can play on your portable device.
That's a perfect size and price point would love to get it. Just have to wait to see if GOOGLE or anyone else will make a 2.0 ANDROID tablet that will BEAT THE IPAD.
"...does confirms that the resistive touchscreen device won't have access to the Android Marketplace."
Okay, don't care moving on.
I really wonder how this will turn out. I also read that they will be coming out with a lot more of these from screen sizes from like 3 to 10 inches this summer. I recently bought the 5 inch one and have loved it. You can install a little application that will allow you to use Google Market. I can't wait for Android 2.1 for this and flash and everything.
Android needs higher official resolutions.
800x480 doesn't seem very good for a 7" screen.
Didn't I see one of these at best buy? It might have been smaller, but it was running android, and it was fairly slow.
@npa189
Archos 5 has nearly identical specs, same resolution, but a 5" screen. At that resolution, I would rather have the 5" version as it is pocketable.
Holy early 80's graphic design of box.
Got it 2 days ago. Totally disappointed about this device. Terrible touch screen.