Android-based Archos 32 media player now available for pre-order
By Donald Melanson 
posted August 4th 2010 12:54PM
posted August 4th 2010 12:54PM
There's no actual pictures of this one just yet, but if you feel like taking a chance (or have faith in all things Archos) you can now pre-order the as-yet-unannounced Archos 32 media player from JR.com. This one is decidedly more portable than Archos' recent Android-based devices, and packs a 3.2-inch touchscreen, an 800MHz ARM Cortex A8 processor, 8GB of storage, WiFi, a built-in camera and microphone, and Android 2.1 for an OS (upgradeable to Android 2.2). Not too shabby for $149.99, and J&R will even knock of three bucks off the list price if you order now.
Update: Looks like the listing has now been pulled from J&R's site. We'll keep you posted if we hear anything more.
Update: Looks like the listing has now been pulled from J&R's site. We'll keep you posted if we hear anything more.
- $2.99 FTW!
@SLINC
+ $147.00 FTL. :(
Web browsing on a 400x240 screen is like reading War & Peace through a keyhole...
Do people still buy that?
Sounds like an Android iPod Touch if you ask me..if it supports Android's app store then I might be interested.
@alexwilks88
Except that the iPod Touch has a better resolution (480x320 vs 400x240) and larger appstore (a few zillion vs 2000).
@d00b Would rather a built in camera than a few extra pixels though, no? It's probably the same dpi anyway given the slightly smaller screen.
And since when did the Android marketplace thingy have 2000 apps? Last thing I heard it was 100,000+.
@alexwilks88
No Android Market. It's Archos' own thing. AppLib or something like that.
@d00b
Are you trolling??? 2000... what?? If you are referring to # of apps.... its more like 100k vs 230k, yes fewer but still a wealth of apps that are on both platforms... as long as the Market has the apps I want, i really not caring abt 100k apps, when I wont even own 1% of that.... I have 156 on my phone now, and ALL I needs :)
@d00b 60 pixels is nothing at all and it's more like 200,000 Vs 50,000.
@fourthletter
Must be New Age math you're using.
(480 * 320) / (400 * 240) = 160%.
60% isn't 60 pixels.
Ditto for AppsLib: http://appslib.com
@d00b
Wrong. You can easily install the full Android market on an Archos - or at least you can on the Archos 5. I have it on mine. You do have to download it separately, but you don't have to jailbreak or anything crazy like that, you just download it, transfer it to the phone, and run it from the built-in file manager. Quite simple. And I would imagine it will come pre-installed on this one - the main reason it wasn't on the old one is because the device didn't really meet the minimum hardware expectations of an Android device (though I've never had problems with any apps), but I believe that is because it wasn't originally intended to run Android. I believe that older versions of the Archos 5 run the old Archos OS.
I'm wondering if this means we might see android 2 on the Archos 5 as well. Right now it's 1.6 (or maybe 1.7? I forget...)
Gotta say though, this thing beats the hell out of an iPod touch. Even a jailbroken one. _Love_ my Archos.
@alexwilks88 I thought Archos blocked Market (at least it did on it's last Android tablets). If they really have unblocked it, then this might be interesting. Of course the resistive touchscreen and the 3.2" (smaller than pretty much all Android phones) makes $150 a little hard to swallow.
@Narutogrey Archos never blocked Google Marketplace, it's just not pre-installed when you buy a new Archos tablet, the reason being Google does not allow them yet to include it officially (maybe Google doesn't like french people).
Sounds awesome...it has the wifies!!!! ...be a good player for simple games and email around the house. especially since ill be getting windows phone 7 when it arrives. sick of blackberry
I hope this means 2.X will be coming to Archos's other Android tablets that are similarly spec'ed. I wouldn't bet on it though.
@Wolfticket In true Archos fashion, they'll forget they ever made those devices two weeks after they started selling them.
@scoobydooby
The 5IT has actually had a pretty decent steam of firmware updates, including 1.5 to 1.6. Probably on the thin end of the wedge now though, so I wont hold my breath.
Maybe the fact there is a device with similar specs that has 2.x will mean industrious hacker types will find it easier to do unofficially? Fingers crossed.
@scoobydooby +1
pics or it didn't happen
@alphabuild
Or until Charbax makes an overly enthusiastic video about the new 'Ahhhhhhchos 32'.
Lol! Archos 32 with 8 gb storage, why is it called the 32?
@That guy 2
Way to read about the 3.2 inch screen.
@That guy 2 3.2 inch screen
@Cainhunpi I'll quote you the article name, this is copied and pasted: Android-based Archos 32 media player now available for pre-order
Posted Aug 4th 2010 12:54PM by Donald Melanson
@That guy 2
That changes nothing.
@That guy 2
Oh NO ! The article title did not explain the model number ! Oh the humanity ! RTFA
Yet another media player that most consumers are completely unaware of, and thus will get absolutely steam-rolled by the iPod Touch. Note to Archos: if consumers don't know your product exists, they won't buy it.
@Perspective Ipoad touch 4 will be sick too, iPhone 4 without 3G (but that would be cool if it had it)
@That guy 2
and possibly more important; if your products routinely suck and have zero support after they're launched the public won't buy it either.
@Perspective
These mp3 players really are not good its not just that people don't know about them. Some company needs to make a stand and try to take some of the market share away from apple, but you have to produce a product that ACTUALLY WORKS.
Up here in Canada its either ipod or use a phone for your mp3 playing. There is no other usable player. Now that the Zune was pulled this situation really does not seem to be getting better. I bought the Archos 3 and I returned it later that day. I mean seriously that thing sucked... like really bad. Resistive screen, tiny storage, and you could not scroll, you had this horrible little circle thing that appeared on the screen that you were SUPPOSED to be able to scroll with but it did not even come close to working (I cant really describe the system they had fro scrolling but if you owned this thing you know what im talkking abut and really it was terrible).
I originally bought the Zune and I had a problem with it and I took it back under warranty and they told me well the only thing that they have of similar quality is the ipod. Well I do not want an ipod but I don't want a piece of shit either. I just want an ipod alternative that I WANT to buy because its good. Not that I HAVE to buy because its the only other option.
technology change was, i remember was i paid $500 for their media device just 5 years ago.
I haven't been been able to pickup a that kmart tablet, maybe I'll order this instead?
@Murkurie
It's not a bad tablet, just hard to come by right now. Wait until next week and hold onto your raincheck. We will see how well the update and restore software are before a final word. It shipped with really shitty software and no way to restore it to factory condition if you brick it like I did to mine over the weekend.
@treeSkwerral
Well, my kmart store told me to cal everyday, since they have a few other people doing that. but the link to the acrhos one is dead now, so kmart one it is.
Sounds pretty damn good on paper, especially for that price.
800x480 + SD card expandable and I'll happily sell my 5 for it, otherwise meh
@HW90 This is just the 3.2" model, they have all different kinds of screen sizes coming and with more resolutions and even more features.
And no Android Market... no thanks
Watch it be resistive and have horrible UI.
@PrepaidAndroidUSA
so you mean... watch it be Archos.
I was just thinking the other day that there arent any (that I was aware of) Android-equivalents to the iPod Touch. This one looks good as long as it has access to the App Market. But you're right, Archos needs to really get the word out.
If I didn't already have an Incredible I would really consider purchasing this, but I don't really have a need for it at the moment.
@mr88 Ha! You'd consider this? This is no competitor to the iPod touch, it clearly has a small (most likely resistive) low res (weird res too) screen, and archos messed up ui, but for the price almost worth it to have as a little toy, but that's still expensive, you can get a 2nd gen iPod touch 16 gb for that, for 50-100 it would be ok
@mr88 Samsung YP-MB2 being announced next Wednesday.
@That guy 2 Where can you get a 16gb for that price? And I give up my IP2G for this, faster processor, build-in camera and mic. So far it sounds better.
@lastonelefT00
Craigslist.
If it doesn't have access to the market ootb, it will be hacked to get that soon enough. Same thing happened with the 7 Home Internet Tablet. With the stock system it was nigh useless, but with a custom one you can access the Market and make it actually work for you.
@ZAP
I think most consumer prefer not having to hack their device to make it work..
@Accelerator Oh I agree, but that doesn't mean that you or I couldn't do it.
@Accelerator Most likely no hack is needed, just install a GoogleMarketplace.apk file on it, it takes 1 minute and is nothing like rooting or jailbreaking.