Twitter is not just about a simple client application and 140 characters. With something like 50% of those simple 140-character tweets carrying a link to a web page, if you haven’t got a fast internet connection, a quality browser and a powerful CPU, you’re missing out on half the experience.
The Archos Internet Tablet needs 3G to be a first-class mobile twitter device but even in it’s current form it shows how much of an advantage screen real-estate and a quality browser platform are. The 4.8 inch 800×480 screen is perfect for portrait-mode usage. The device weighs the same as a Nokia N900 smartphone and is just 10mm thick.
Here’s a quick video that shows Twidroid running on the Archos Tablet.
For more information on the Archos 5 Internet Tablet, including unboxing and first impressions, check out the information and links on the Archos 5 product page.
The Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet is a 4.8 inch 800×480 tablet device running Android and Archos Media Player software. Prices start at 230 Euro (8GB) but I’ve got the 32GB version here (bought myself) and I’ve had been pounding it hard since I got it last Friday. So far I’m loving its capability and excited by its potential but am frustrated by the amount of crashes and lock-ups I’m experiencing. At this stage I’d advise customers to hold-off on a purchase and take the time to do some more research and to monitor my ongoing experiences with the device before diving in.
If you didn’t catch the unboxing video or the live session on Friday
, I recommend taking a look because so far the device has been really interesting. One word of warning though, it’s very unstable and buggy right now. I’m experiencing at least one software problem per hour of use. Version 1.022 of the firmware desperately needs an upgrade and I’d go so far as to say, DONT BUY THIS DEVICE YET if you’re thinking of using it for business or if you’re the sort of person that gets frustrated at unfinished products. Archos have clearly skimped on testing. Even as I type this paragraph, a notification has come in but I can’t unlock the device to get to it. I’m going to have to reboot. Not good enough Archos.
The Archos 5 Internet Tablet (oh so slim!) unboxing video is now ready…
So far i’m really liking what I see. There’s no flash support in the browser (Q1 2010 for Flash 10 and Android 2.0) but YouTube plays via the built-in video player in excelent quality and the general browsing speed is really impressive. I threw a load of videos at it and they were all recognised (some need an HD plugin) and there’s a bunch of exciting apps in the app store. It’s early days but I’m feeling really positive about this. If only it had 3G!
Where there’s a product launch, you’ll always find Mr Blurycam. This time he’s posting under the name of Ludovic Perrier on a blog called thoout.com.
With only a day and a half to wait until what we believe will be the official launch, it won’t be long until we see the real thing but it’s always good to get some fodder for the brain while you try and refine that toplist of MIDs in preparation for a possible order tomorrow evening!
You’re looking at the appslib app store according to Ludovic, an Android developer.
The A5S (the SSD version presumably) is expected to run on a Ti OMAP / Cortex core platform as found on the Archos 5. There should be a 3G version although it’s not clear how this will be marketed. The device will be running a modified version of Android and should be priced starting at around the $300 / 200 Euro mark. Full specifications are unknown at this stage.
Since the X70 arrived and I upgraded my U820 with a Runcore Pro IV SSD, I haven’t really used the Smart Q7 much but every time I check up on JT’s forum and blog I find myself downloading a new image and testing it out because the community there is really producing some good stuff. Here’s an update on the operating systems available for the SmartDevices Q5 and Q7
Apparently the prices have gone from the website now but before the information was removed, $293.95 and $419.95 was quoted as the price range for the SSD and HDD versions of the Archos 5 Android devices. These are not confirmed, theres no information about 3G.
MID, Smartphone, MIDPhone, Mini-tablet, PMP. Who cares! This FCC filing gives us enough to get excited about, whatever the keyword.
The A5S and A5H have appeared in an FCC filing and confirm a lot of the rumors but for me, seeing the very thin top and bottom frame in the picture makes me think that this is going to be very pocketable for a 4.8″ device. With the high-quality Android on-screen keyboard (I’m hoping that the keyboard is an open-source component and that Archos haven’t had to drop their own version in.) this really could be a very special tablet-style device. The only thing that should concern us is that this is clearly a branch of Android that supports the Ti OMAP 3 platform. While there could be good compatibility between branch, clearly it’s not a good thing to see a Linux distribution splintering. Lets hope that Archos are passing their OMAP and video-playback goodness upstream so that everyone can benefit.
The Archos MIDs are due to be launched on Sept 15th but I’m guessing there’s be some leaked info before then. Images and more info at Slashgear and Engadget.
Pocketables have been tipped-off on a slick looking, slate-style, MID-like device that could be running Android.
There really isnt much to go on here but I like the form factor at least. Give it some power under the hood and it should do quite a nice job with Android. If you have any info on this one, make sure you let us or Pocketables know in the comments.
What’s that you say? Next Apple Tablet? Give over!