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Archos unloads source code for all Generation 4 devices
Tinkerers, it's time to rejoice. Archos has gone and released the entire source code to its Generation 4 lineup of products, giving open source gurus yet another avenue to exert their tweaking skills. The ISO is reportedly quite thorough, including makefiles and documentation, but interestingly enough, the files still seem to lack signatures, which has the folks over at ArchosFans a bit bummed. Still, those rocking a 404, 504, or any flavor of the 604 should head on over and give this thing a download, and do tell if anything substantial can be exploited / enabled, cool?[Via ArchosFans, thanks Rick R.]
Archos 604 WiFi 30GB portable media player reviewed
If you've ever gazed at the Archos 604 and longed for wireless connectivity, you can want no longer. Reviewers at CNET got their palms on Archos' latest gig, the 604 WiFi model, and gave it the usual rundown. Mimicking the review given to the 802.11-less flavor earlier this year in a myriad of ways, reviewers felt that the "awesome video playback," removable battery, built-in kickstand / speaker, and "vibrant widescreen display" were all unsurprisingly top notch, but the web browsing itself (along with opening files and navigating around the GUI) was deemed "sluggish" due to the lackluster processor speed. Apparently, however, Archos didn't learn from the previous gripes regarding the lack of extra accessories right in the box; the WiFi unit requires additional purchases to get a power adapter, recording equipment, and plug-ins for certain types of video files. Furthermore, reviewers felt that the inability to "feed the device content in an easy way" (considering the Linux-based environment), the meager 30GB hard drive, and the "substantial hit" that enabling wireless took on the battery were all disappointments. Overall, however, the Archos 604 WiFi got dinged on details that won't matter much when you experience all the things it does well, and it was deemed the "the answer to many mobile users' idealistic dreams" if they don't mind waiting around a bit for the GUI to catch up.[Thanks, Nanatech]
Archos unveils Helmet Camcorder for Generation 4 PMPs
Apparently snapping shots on a whim to tell your life story just isn't good enough these days, as folks are writing scripts to take unplanned photos of their groggy faces and strapping head-mountable cameras to their skulls in hopes of producing the next worldwide YouTube hit. Jumping on the "record everything, everywhere" bandwagon is PMP-producer Archos, and its aptly-named Helmet Camcorder gives you on-the-go recording ability that reportedly plays nice with the company's 404, 504, 604 and 604 WiFi units. The "plug-in mini-cam" records directly to MPEG4 and sports a built-in microphone / remote to somewhat control the insanity, and can presumably be channeled instantly to your Archos PMP or transferred to your PC via USB 2.0 for future editing. The company claims "DVD quality" (640 x 480 resolution) results from the 0.25-inch Sony Super HAD CCD, and the entire webcam gets its juice from the mighty Archos device that it's plugged into. So if you still haven't gotten around to using your PMP for television recording, you can make a few comedies of your own this winter for just $149.99.[Via Tech Digest]
Archos 604 WiFi, in the flesh
We had a disappointing first turn at the Archos 604 WiFi, since the exhibition hall -- for a consumer tech gathering, mind you -- didn't have any WiFi internets to latch onto. So we didn't get to mess around in Opera or anything fun like that, but the player is still a plenty solid device, and the touch screen controls extend into the rest of the player's functionality quite well. Skipping around during live playback or skimming through a photo slideshow were both plenty responsive, and we didn't have much trouble getting at functions with our blunt finger tappings. As for the hardware itself, the unit has a definite heft, but were kind of liking the solid feel, and it really doesn't seem too bulky in comparison to its 4.3-inch, 480 x 272 screen. The model we played with wasn't quite a final version; Archos is going to add a bit to the bulge on the right side of the device for an improved antenna, and we're sure they'll have some other little tweaks before they're all ready to ship this out the door, but we're liking where this one is headed. Keep reading for the rest of the pics.
Archos releases 404 Camcorder, 504 and 604 WiFi
This morning, across the pond, Archos had a press conference where they presented the rest of Generation 4 of its personal media players. Those lucky French got the first crack at the latest three additional Archos models, the 404 Camcorder, the 504, and the 604 WiFi. So here are the deets: the Archos 404 Camcorder (359€) is your 404, but armed with a 1.3 MP camera and will be able to take 640 x 480 MPEG-4 videos and save them to its 30GB drive (remind you of anything?). The 504 (399€ - 699€), essentially the same unit as the 604 with its 4.3 inch screen, but it comes in 40, 80 or 160GB sizes, and packs a bigger punch too. The 504 is lightly thicker (22mm) and has a better battery life, up to 17 hours of audio or five hours of video. Which brings us to the 604 WiFi (499€): same as the 604, except with touchscreen capability (either with its stylus or your fingertips). It's designed to last for 16 hours of audio, five hours of video, and four hours of WiFi, using the Opera-based browser. According to Henri Crohas, president of Archos, the 604 WiFi will soon be compatible with IPTV. Archos also demoed some of its accessories, including the DVR Station, which turns your Archos PMP into a mini-TiVo for the cost of a cool Baroque bridge (i.e. 100€). In addition, it announced a Docking Adapter and DVR Travel Adapter for 29€ and 49€ respectively. Archos seems to raise its own bar each time it comes out with one of these -- we can't wait to get our hands on 'em.
