35HomeConnect
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Archos 35 home connect hands-on
Though we didn't have the Archos 35 home connect to wake us up personally during CES, we had a chance to get hands-on with the Android-based alarm clock on the floor and it did not disappoint. The Archos 35 home connect is the company's entrance into the world of feature-filled alarm clocks, joining the already established Sony Dash and Chumby. In terms of functionality, it's a morning talk show all rolled up into one, providing weather, real time traffic, news, sports, movies, music, TuneIn radio, social networking and much more through the built-in WiFi. You'll also find a webcam on the front, supporting apps like Tango for video calling, a rechargeable battery to take the party with you, and a 3.5 headphone jack for more personal use. The overall device is solid and has a very curvy and nightstand-friendly footprint -- which is important for folks like us who sleep with other bedside gadgets. The volume controls are touch sensitive and the unit itself has a decent enough range. Archos is not only pushing this as a fully-featured Alarm Clock, but also a portable Android 2.2 media device -- supporting over 30,000-or-so apps in Archos' non-Android-Market, Appslib. While the 35 home connect's features make it compelling enough to make it a viable option, we feel there's nothing to push it past its aforementioned competition, especially with the $149 price tag. Check out all the angles and interface of the 35 home connect in the gallery below.
Archos 35 home connect now shipping for $149, still looks pretty unsightly
Sony's Dash let you down? Can't fall for Chumby? Archos has yet another option in the blossoming world of sophisticated alarm clocks, as the previously announced 35 home connect is now shipping to the US of A. Put simply, it's an Android-based web radio that touts built-in WiFi, a pre-loaded TuneIn Radio Pro application and the ability to showcase weather, real time traffic, sports, social networking, movies, music, games and more. If your looking for a more private experience, there's even a 3.5mm headphone jack, but we aren't entirely convinced it's worth the $149 asking price. Call us crazy, but there's a bit too much 1994 in that casing.
