So yet another name… This time with the wonderful acronym IMT. Anyways, these new Archos devices are running on ARM Cortex CPUs, come with 5 or 7 inch screens, WiFi, and hard drives ranging from 30 to 320 gigabytes. These will also be running Opera with Flash 9 support and have lots of codec support. Most interesting is the 5g model which will include HSDPA. If you are looking for a media player with internet support, this is probably your best choice. Be on the look out for more information.
Via Pocketables.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:36 am
These could be interesting. Archos got quite a lot right with the 605 as a PMP with internet and there is no doubting their ability to support media well. If they can provide decent web browsing (and Opera Mobile with Flash 9 should be great on Cortex) and the addition of 3G it could be great.
I’d want it in a slider version though…
Prices start at £280 for the 5″ model with no 3G. (No price on 3G version yet).
[Reply (threaded)]
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Archos make some interesting PMPs, shame the useful codecs and browser have to be purchased separately. They would sell a lot more units if they weren’t so greedy. People love them, but get pissed off when they realize they have to fork out for the good stuff on top of the already dear purchase price. Next time around, they buy something else and warn people about Archos’s silliness with extra software costs to make the devices what they should be out of the box.
[Reply (threaded)]
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:44 pm
I guess if you have the 605 you’ll have to buy the codecs again. That will be frustrating!
[Reply (threaded)]
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Lucky I sold mine to you then!
[Reply (threaded)]
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
The 3.5G Archos 5G will be France only, at least for now. Archos makes an interesting product (but poor customer service)but they do lose points due to the cost of additional plug-ins and adapters. They have announced the 30GB 3G but no price as yet. Other models will use a 3G dongle that will connect through yet another adapter that you’ll have to pay for. Not the best of solutions. Since it’s supposed to be a portable internet tablet, the fact that you’ll need additional adapters will add to the weight and size thus reducing portability. They don’t seem to get the big picture in their attempt to compete with the big boys.
[Reply (threaded)]
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:26 pm
The US site has the 60GB Archos 5 listed for US$349.99 (£180 or €235). Not bad for a fully featured PMP with good internet capability.
I can’t wait for other Cortex devices like high-end WM phones or Nokia’s next IT.
[Reply (threaded)]
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Other Cortex devices will be interesting….I agree.
Will the Cortex be used in the next rev of the iPod Touch-Tablet-MID (with GPS and a speaker?………pretty please)……or will it start using the Intel Atom? We’ll see.
[Reply (threaded)]
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I really hope so. I’m holding out on buying an iPod Touch until the new model is released in September. Chances of it having a Cortex CPU is prob small but one can always hope!
[Reply (threaded)]
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:49 pm
When the price is availalable for the 3G version we’ll get a good idea of how ARM can compete on price. I’m guessing the 3G version will be $500.
[Reply (threaded)]
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:12 pm
$500 would be ok if not for the fact that to get anything useful out of it you’ll have to buy add-ons and plug-ins. That’s always the case with Archos, and it does frustrate customers who aren’t aware of this when they buy the basic unit. At one time they included everything you would need, but in the last three generations they have piecemealed so that the basic unit is low priced and you add on what you want.
[Reply (threaded)]
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:20 pm
3G version and a physical keyboard.
I’ll buy one, immediatly!
[Reply (threaded)]
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:17 pm
The pricing is interesting on the Archos store, and highlights ripoff Britain. Might be wroth importing.
Prices are for NON 3G version.
Archos 5 60GB - UK: £280 ($550) US: $350
Archos 5 60GB - UK: £320 ($625) US: $400
Archos 5 60GB - UK: £360 ($700) US: $450
So a 3G one will be a lot more than $500 in the UK, but there is hope in the US.
[Reply (threaded)]
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
That should read:
Archos 5 60GB - UK: £280 ($550) US: $350
Archos 5 120GB - UK: £320 ($625) US: $400
Archos 5 250GB - UK: £360 ($700) US: $450
Note the latter two models are deeper in size because of the type of hard drive used.
[Reply (threaded)]
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:03 am
Yeah, it’s definitely worth importing if your from the UK. Even with import tax and VAT, you should be able to get the 160GB Archos 7 for about £300 - pretty much the same price as the basic 60GB Archos 5 (£280). Anyone have any recommendations on where to import from? Amazon.com only seem to ship them to the US…
[Reply (threaded)]
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I still say Personal Internet Media Player is a catchier name and acronym.
[Reply (threaded)]
August 24th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I like the the PiMP idea but Google searches don’t work!!!
[Reply (threaded)]
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
The 7 inch version includes an ac adapter, why the others dont who knows.
[Reply (threaded)]
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:08 am
Archos 5: 60GB ($350), 120GB ($400), 250GB ($450)
Archos 7: 160GB ($450), 320GB ($550)
Archos 5g: 30GB ($550)
The 5 and 7 are supposedly due for release in September and October, respectively, but Amazon is showing a shopping date of “2 to 4 weeks” for both. Word on the street is that the 5g should be here in December.
[Reply (threaded)]
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:10 am
Oh, and the web browser add-on is free this time around.
[Reply (threaded)]
August 23rd, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Yawn.. let me know when they can play ANY type of lossless audio file, only then will they get my interest and $$$.
[Reply (threaded)]
August 24th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Cons:
Plugins still cost money. (Browser is free though)
Potential battery life issues when using 3G. (It will be interesting too work out the drain rate on these devices and compare with Atom-based MIDs)
No GPS, no ‘hacking’, no keyboard, no bluetooth.
Outstanding quesitons:
What is the browser (Opera 9.5?) and how fast is it.
The UI is going to be much nicer than current MIDs but for the real net-warrior, Atom-based MIDs are the way forward. No question about that.
Steve.
[Reply (threaded)]