This could be a great move for Andriod, TI and Archos as thay are getting together to build what could be a very interesting MID. A true crossover smartphone/web/PMP device. It will combine the Archos’ PMP charachteristics, its powerful OMAP 3 platform, the Android OS and the following features.
- PC-like Internet experience enhanced by a high-resolution 5″ screen and full-width page viewing
- Adobe Flash(TM) and Flash Video(TM) support, full screen
- Access whenever and wherever to TV, movies, photos, music and games
- Uncompromised TV recording and High Definition (HD) playback, all formats
- Hundreds of hours of video storage, up to 500 GB
- Innovative design: compact 10-mm ultra-thin tablet
- Long battery life, 7 hours’ video playback
- 3.5G 7.2 Mb/s HSUPA
- Laptop-like performance from the first implementation of OMAP3440 processor based on the ARM® Cortex(TM) superscalar microprocessor and DSP
With a 10mm depth, we can probably count out any possibility of a keyboard which could be a huge shame as the platform is powerfull enough to drive some nice, rich web apps.
I wonder if they would combine the docking station and some hdmi action to make it desktop–friendly. How about a netbook shaped dock too?
Expect to hear more about this at the Mobile World Congress which kicks off this week.
jkOnTheRun » Blog Archive ARCHOS Adds Android Telephony to Mobile Internet Device «.
February 9th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
ARCHOS to merge Android and Media Stack in voice-enabled MID http://www.umpcportal.com/?p=5574
February 9th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Well, Archos’ latest PMP has a (mini) USB port on it, so I would assume this would as well for UPnP devices.
I, personally, am really excited about this because I love Archos’ PMPs and have been looking at the Archos 5 for a while. Let’s hope the battery life is good and the price is decent. This could be my perfect bridge device. Also, let’s hope it releases soon. ^_^
Alan K Reply:
February 9th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Archos has a habit of producing great ideas but falling short on implementation. Lots of what they are promising was already promised for the A5 but never done; i.e. HD, TV on the go, 3G (only in France), full internet experience. I’ll believe this when I see it, and even then who knows. But if they can pull it off…
February 10th, 2009 at 10:05 am
One other note on this. Don’t expect the 500GB version to be 10mm thick!
I’m guessing they will use the Archos 5 design as the base for the product.
February 10th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Thickness is too good to be true… but what I don’t get is the 5″. I mean it’s great for an MID, not so great for a phone. Android is a SMARTPHONE OS. So I would have gone for a 4″ design instead. Something that fits in the pocket.
Chippy Reply:
February 10th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
A 4.8 device is, I agree, a large form factor for a 24/7 device.
I wonder what percentage of high-end smartphone users actually use it as their only phone and DONT have another phone they use when they aren’t working.
Are we moving to a position where high-end users will have two phones? One 5″ jacket pocketable for work and one very small device for other times?
My guess is that….mmm…70% of smartphone users have a secondary mobile phone. Would these 7/10 smartphone users be prepared to take it up a notch and accept slightly less pocketablility for more productivity?
Steve.
February 10th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
What do you understand with:Laptop-like performance ?
Laptop from what year?1998?2000? or 2009?
Chippy Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 12:02 am
Good question.
My benchmarks have a lot to do with startup speed, application availability time and processing of web pages in a 10-second timeframe. That requires 2009 SSD’s but only 2000 desktop CPU power.
Best-of-2009 battery and energy efficiency too!
Steve.
February 11th, 2009 at 12:38 am
put xp on it. then id be happy. but seriously i think the mass appeal of these mids will come when they have the power of a 2008 netbook (with xp)
March 24th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
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November 27th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
does this have ebook reader capability also? sorry if this seems like a “dumb” questions, I know there is an ARCHOS 5 that is a reader, but this would solve a few problems all at once if it also does the ebooks. Will shortly be moving from a large metro plex to a “back woods” area.