Comments on: Archos 5 Android Internet Tablet First Impressions. (Long!)

By: turn_self_off

turn_self_off — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:20:41 +0000

iirc, google added resolution independence to 1.6 (cupcake).

tho i guess the problem there is that things have to be rebuilt to make use of that feature.

as for camera or compass, it could work by telling the marketplace what capabilities the device had, and then put aside the apps that would not work.

but again, such a sorting would require a reworking of the existing content of the marketplace before it would be fully workable.

the trouble of a evolving system i guess.

By: Jared

Jared — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:08:34 +0000

It’s not archos’ fault, the reason there is no google integration is because google won’t give the green light on any android device without a camera or a compass and the whole reason why archos has their own app store is because there are no android apps that would work with a screen that has that high of a resolution so unless google adds hi-res support to the marketplace you will always be limited to what archos decides to release. So while the software bugs are archos’ problem it’s google that has crippled this device of some of the features most users have come to expect on an android device.

By: Archos 5 Internet Tablet (Android, 32GB SSD) In-Depth Review. | Carrypad

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:32:42 +0000

[...] first impressions of the device (published here) highlighted a very unstable and buggy product. Version 1.022 of the firmware was terrible but in [...]

By: 任天堂DS R4卡

任天堂DS R4卡 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:40:12 +0000

The Archos 5 is a great video player, but it disappoints as a premium Android Internet tablet and GPS unit.

By: Mike Cane

Mike Cane — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:41:31 +0000

Chrome needed an update. Wonder of wonders, I was able to watch the video pretty well in FULL-SCREEN mode. Damn you for stirring up my device lust, Chippy!

By: Mike Cane

Mike Cane — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:40:12 +0000

Ouch. Awful hearing about that experience, Clarence — but you at least confirmed for me that B&H in NYC has it in. Might stop by to see if I can fondle it!

By: ‘In Other News…’ October 11th | UMPCPortal - Ultra Mobile Personal Computing

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:01:30 +0000

[...] Posted UMPCPortal first impressions on the Archos Internet Tablet (Andr [...]

By: Neill

Neill — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:35:16 +0000

Archos invariably lock the OS down to prevent it being changed or modified. I would be surprised if they have changed their stance on this.

By: chippy

chippy — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:35:00 +0000

The problem with all alternative distributions is that you need to find drivers for Wifi, Touch, accelerometer, bluetooth, etc, etc. No-one knows yet if Archos has special hardware and drivers.

By: chippy

chippy — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:33:28 +0000

Only with the dock.

By: lintweaker

lintweaker — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:43:29 +0000

Thanks for sharing your extensive review. I think I will wait at least a couple of firmware updates before even considering buying this. Any possibility to just put Ubuntu onto it?

By: Chippy

Chippy — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:06:13 +0000

Interesting news about the gps. I was able to get a gps lock and search for local tweets but maybe this is skyhook/wifi driven.

By: Android Application Development

Android Application Development — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:46:40 +0000

thanks a lot for first impressions.

By: Clarence N

Clarence N — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:37:28 +0000

I purchased this device on Friday, from BH in NYC. What an awful experience from an aw inspiring device. It crashes constantly, no GPS until the next firmware and the applib is constantly down!! Why would they release the device when it is not ready for deployment?!?! To top it off, the headphone jack doesnt work. I called tech support and they basically confirmed that I got a damaged unit (headphone jack)and everything else that I wanted to do with the device, would not happen until the next firmware. The return policy is 14 days so I am returning, not replacing and I will wait and see what happens. They will never compete with things like the iphone if we have to be guinea pigs for them and beta test their devices for them!!!!

By: Neill

Neill — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:42:06 +0000

Loaded some website? That shouldn’t cause crashes.
Played an incompatible video? That shouldn’t cause crashes.

You should not have to constantly clear caches and temporary files to try to make a device more stable.

Android is beta. The Archos port is beta. The original code on the 5 that it is based on isn’t even reliable. Go figure.

There isn’t even Google integration with this thing. Why on earth has Archos released it? Simple answer, they want their paying customers to beta test the Android concept. I guess it’s not just Archos doing this, it is getting an increasingly common and very worrying trend.