Archos 5 Android tablet
 

http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/09/15...-the-internet/
http://blog.laptopmag.com/when-andro...h-the-archos-5

Well.. at least SOMEBODY's made a brand new Linux based tablet without a cell phone lately. :) I love that I can use a dock with it to plug in hard drives, thumb drives, keyboards, etc. to use it like a little laptop.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

Duh, I hate when then they come out with something with such a good hardware base and then shoot to bits any sympathy I have for it with their policy of dock$, plugin$, codec$, acce$$orie$ and 3rd party app$. Do you hear Nokia ? I totally, *totally* have space in my pockets for something like this, but sporting Maemo !

PS. It's almost exactly of the dimensions of the N800, see here

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

I think i'm alone in that i really don't want to carry more than one thing AND i want it to fit into my pocket in a case w/ my keys. I cant wait for the n900

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

I rather like the idea of a cheap core hardware with LOTS of accessories that I can buy to supe it up externally. Especially if it means that the core device is a perfect portable and a great home docked station.

What's all this about carrying more than one thing? What else are you expecting to carry around with an Internet Tablet? Couldn't care that you can't wait for the N900... I don't want it. This Archos seems a tad more in-line with what I wanted, although I'd really prefer the clamshell style of the Pandora and the SD-centric design on the N800 and Pandora... but otherwise, this Archos 5 seems to be right up my alley.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

The specs in case someone is interested:

Flash Memory: 8 to 32 GB + Micro SD Slot (SDHC compatible)
(OR Hard Drive: 160 to 500 GB)
800x480 pixels, 4.8'' TFT LCD, 16 million colors, resistive touch screen
USB 2.0
WiFi (802.11 b/g/n)
Bluetooth 2.0
GPS
FM transmitter
FM receiver (RDS)
Built-in speaker
Built-in leg stand
Built-in Microphone
Device charges via computer USB port
Dimensions & weight:
Flash series: 143,2x78,8x10,4 mm - 182g
Hard Drive series: 143,2x78,8x20 mm - 286g

Note: not sure about the CPU, the official site does not list it, it's either an 800 MHz OMAP3440 or a 600 MHz OMAP3430.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

800MHz OMAP3440
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/15/a...ut-of-android/

I can't wait for it. Anyone interested in buying my N810? :-)

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

Why do so many people think that's an either ... or ... choice ? If you want a phone, buy a phone. If you don't want a phone, don't buy a phone. The iPhone/iPod Touch coexistence proves there more than enough room for both device categories.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

and also, they teased about a 1Ghz, 4,3 inch, 5-8 mpix, phone at the end of the show...

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

I don't have a cell phone(*), I don't need a cell phone, so n900 is not for me.

(*) There is a cheap, prepaid phone in my car for emergency use only.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

I found it up on Amazon a little while ago, too:

http://www.amazon.com/Archos-32-Inte.../dp/B002OL2PLU
http://www.amazon.com/Archos-160-Int.../dp/B002OL2PM4

They confirm what ioan said with:
"With a Wi-Fi connection (802.11 b/g/n) and the new OMAP3440 processor running at 800 MHz"

And wifi n support to boot. :P

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

Additionally: I have a cell phone. It works very well. I definitely don't want to replace it yet and I rather LIKE that my cell phone is ONLY a cell phone and that it can never crash or get tied up with other operations. As much as I like my N800, it DOES suffer the occasional crash or lock-up and I NEVER experience that with my simple little cell phone. So that's yet another reason for the 'I didn't want a cell phone in my tablet' argument too.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

Oh hey! Look at that! They seemed to have included OGG support, too! How did they manage to pull off THAT amazing feat? Right out of the box? You're KIDDING! I got the impression from Nokia that it was hiiiiighly risky to include OGG right out of the box like that. Those Archos guys must love risk, huh?

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

Now this is what Nokia should be making. Add a sliding keyboard (and Maemo of course) and you have my money immediately. I'll seriously consider this over the coming months.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

Mwahaha, something tells me you have not owned an Archos yet. I have (alas). You don't pay just for accessories. You pay to use hardware *already in there*. No GPS unless you pay. No DVD/AC3/etc playback unless you pay. They haved toned down since their super greedy days, when you even had to pay to use a browser (!!!), but they are still good ole Archos, selling Solitaire, Mahhjong, Sudoku and Texas holdem for 10$. Not buying one, ever again, no Sir, not me.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

Thanks for that. Quite funny on the video around 00:39 to 00:57 when she says how responsive the screen is, when actually it doesn't respond at all well to her touch! I notice from the specs that the screen is resistive, so I guess she needs to push a little harder.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

From what I can tell, from my reading, the GPS is the only thing mentioned in that list of software that you would end up paying extra to use. Considering it's running Android now, it's going to be very hard for them to lock you into their store. Who knows, maybe they creatively figured out a way--but I doubt it. :) We'll have to see. I, for one, can at least CONSIDER buying this device where Nokia's newest device is far beyond what I'd want to pay up-front just to get the device and then have to deal with the cellular radio and telco hassles. Noooooo thanks. At least Archos has peripherals you can use with it, too. I can't see Nokia doing a dock--even if it WOULD be a good idea.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

Can I quote you out of context?

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

Wow, if I knew how it would do on stuff like VOIP, the quality of surfing the web, etc., this is the closest I've seen to what I want. If I could have this hardware (assuming it has a microphone) but with Maemo on it, I'd be a happy camper. It seems to me like a bigger-screened N800 with GPS. My absolute ideal would be just a little smaller, maybe what you would get if it had a 4.5" screen instead of 4.8". But this is close enough. It appears to lack SD slots, but, as much as I like the ability to expand, even that wouldn't be a dealbreaker for me. Especially if I could buy one of these, say a 16GB, for $250.

I also like that it's lighter than the N800, at 176g versus 206g.

I'm not sure what lack of Maemo would mean to me compared to this (mainly since I don't know much about Android, or how Archos has limited it); but unless Nokia comes out with a piece of hardware more like this, in this price range, I'll be checking this out more thoroughly as an alternative when I feel the need to upgrade.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

Android browser isn't good enough for me, and charging to use hardware you bought is not a good model for business. But I'll take one as a gift and try to put Maemo on it myself.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

Never underestimate Archos in their eternal quest for locking things down. I mean, this is ridiculous.

I'll believe it when I see it :) Archos also has this interesting habit of writing things on the spec sheet that will be 'included later', 'through an upgrade', 'with the next OS revision', 'you have to install that manually'. So much fun.

Except with the N900 you dont need any those docks (except for the recording one). Any kind of video out ? Yep, that's a dock. USB host ? Yep, that's a dock.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

They're also making a phone. 4.3" 854x480 screen.

Didn't someone around here say "4.1" is too big for a cell phone screen!" .... guess we'll have to wait and see.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

Yeah, I almost bought an Archos a little over a year ago until someone in a forum mentioned that most of the bullet points listed as "features" on their website, actually required that you pay extra to use them. Somehow Archos must have forgotten to mention that up-front. Lucky for me, that forum post also included the N800 as an alternative. Haven't regretted my decision since.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

I have to say the Archos5 with its larger screen with same pixel count as the n900 is of great interest, especially if they did the high capacity version (500GB) and the 3G (but not a contract/subsidised "phone" sales model).- I don't need 3G very often, so not interested in a monthly contract, occasionally I give Three £0.50 for a day's net access.

I like the idea of a dock and accessories, provided that everything necessary can be done without them, that the dock could live at home (bedroom for media playing?).

However, before I bought one I'd definitely check out what was working and enabled and licensed out of the box, I'd hate to get one and then have to spend just as much again on licences to make it useful (although naturally I'd be hacking it to do my own thing anyway, just as I did with $JOB's ipodTouch!).

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

So lets see, faster cpu, wireless n, bluetooth, gps, 5" screen, 160GB storage, 4 hour battery life, all for $329. Just more than half an N900? The question is: are accelerometers, cameras, phone, and Maemo worth another $321.00?

I'd assume that at some point someone will hack Maemo onto this, probably one of the flash models w/ microsd card slot dual boot first.

I could also buy a lot of accessories/software for that extra $321. Worth keeping an eye on it. I really like the idea of the bigger screen. A keyboard would be really nice as well.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

Am I seeing this right ? This little baby does not plug in to the Android Market, but rather into Archos' own version of it, Appslib ? Heh, brace yourself for another walled garden.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

They'd rather colectively bite their legs off than have custom firmwares on their devices (they crypt, sign and checksum firmwares). Archos is the Tivo of PMPs.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

Do you know people that actually carry both?

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

Co-existence doesn't require living in the same pocket.

I know lots of people who wouldn't every own/carry an iPhone (for various reasons), but who do own an iPod-Touch. And love it.

As long as that population remains large, both devices will co-exist in Apple's line-up.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

I wasn't trying to say they don't coexist, I think they both serve a purpose and they do have a decent amount of overlap to the point you would likely not have both on you at all times.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

There are 20+ million iPod Touches out there according to Apple. Now, unless these 20 million people are all hermits or cellphone haters, it means several million people who *chose* to have a tablet AND a phone instead of the iPhone. You don't have to be in that category, just acknowledge it exists, just like Apple does :) (and I hope is re-acknowledged sooner or later by Nokia, too).

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

their explanation for going appslib is that current market apps are for smaller screens, and so the ones found on appslib will be known to use the whole screen.

as for whats in the box or not, i guess we will just wait for the first reviews...

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

GAH! Just the fact that there's even EXTRA STYLUSES (STYLII?) is enough to make me feel like Archos at least supports their own products! All this talk about paying extra for accessories and closed apps and so on--matters very little to me when all I want is to even have the OPTION to buy peripherals and extra parts. :) At least they HAVE accessories to sell you. Can't say I've had any positive experience on that end with Nokia aside from the GPS kit for the N800 when it first came out (which I did buy). At least, at that time, Nokia DID have something extra I could buy for it. Nothing ever since then. Nope.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

You know, dude, someone made a case for cheaper gadgets due to modularized design. Perhaps this is an example of it :D Think of how expensive it would'ev been if they make it all into one like the N900...


....


....hmm, maybe not.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

But then think of how much I could save if I didn't want most of that optional hardware. :)

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

Which makes me wonder. Since it is essentially the same class CPU as the N900, and since it runs Android, could you blast Maemo 5 over the existing Android? Or even have a bootmenu and run them side-by-side?

Remember, the original device that supported Rockbox was an Archos mp3 player...

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

No, flashing of non-Archos approved firmwares is not possible. They implemented firmware signing and encryption since the times of the rockbox. You might break into the OS and run some of your own stuff, but flashing/booting something else seems unlikely

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

It's a pity that Nokia make great software but decided not to create the hardware to match it anymore, while Archos make great hardware but back it up with stupid software decisions.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

Matan++

Total agreement.. although I can at least take heart that Archos may change for the better since they've got most of it done right--the hardware, price, support and accessories.

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

it seems that the docks used are mostly the same ones that are used for existing archos products.

the most annoying subject is probably the HD codecs, tho that could be a cost/benefit issue, as whats the point of HD codecs if one do not have a HD output (screen is 480, not 720)?

Re: Archos 5 Android tablet
 

Archos put in a tremendous effort to keep people/hackers out. Don't disrespect that :p

And the GPS. 'Cause as it is, you don't have stuff like Maemo Mapper, it's either commercial license or nothing (see ? that's why it's good for them to have their own store - so someone doesn't upload something 'disruptive to the service').