Go Play AV: Portable Audio, Video, Media and Game Players

MobileMag reviews the new Archos 104 MP3 player and rate it 80%:

Pros:
- large 4GB capacity
- good build quality and materials
- very nice OLED display
- decent battery life
- good sound quality
- song selection by artist, album, genre, etc.

Cons:
- loading times
- can get warm sometimes
- can’t turn off LED when in use
- keypad lock doesn’t lock volume control

Read complete article: Archos 104 digital audio player Reviewed

Technorati Tags: Archos, mp3 player, portable audio, portable entertainment

AnythingButiPod provides a little news on upcoming Achos portable media players:

This is a sneak peak at what’s to come in a few months from Archos. This page was leaked form a French catalogue 3Suisses, so there is not much information, just speculation. But just like their predecessors they will likely be full blown DVR media centers and possibly personal media assistants like the PMA 400. Some models are speculated to have wi-fi, email managers, internet browsers and VoIP.

Read complete article: Archos 404 504 & 604 Portable Media Players

Technorati Tags: Archos, portable entertainment, portable media player, portable video

cNet review a replacement operating system for your iPod or other MP3 player, called Rockbox, that brings a lot of new features:

In its current state, the Rockbox interface is utilitarian, graphically sparse, and reminiscent of a command-line system, and it lacks the flash of modern commercial MP3 players. But where it comes up short in pizzazz, it more than compensates in options and settings, many of which would make the default iPod jealous. Using RockPod is fun

This is an interesting project that will be well worth follwoing.

Read complete article: MP3 Insider: An iPod that’s not an iPod - CNET reviews

Technorati Tags: Archos, iAudio, iPod, iRiver, MP3 players, Operating System, Rockbox

DAPReview report and provide links for various firmware updates for Archos portable media players

Read complete article: dapreview.net: News / Comments / New Firmware for Archos Players

Technorati Tags: archos, portable entertainment, portable media player, firmware updates

cNet UK review the Archos GMini 402 Camcorder and give it a disappointing 6.3 out of 10:

The Gmini is a strange hybrid — a cut-down version of the company’s other media centres, with a tacked-on ‘camcorder’ element and tiny 4:3 screen. Lacking the ability to record from TV, you’d better have a collection of DivX video. The screen is of a high quality, but it’s too small and the wrong format to enjoy movies on. The tacked-on camera is no reason to buy the device, but it is cheap

Convergence is good on one hand, but if any of the contained devices aren’t up to scratch, then the whole suffers.

Read complete article: Archos Gmini 402 Camcorder Overview, Reviews & Prices at CNET.co.uk

Lookup on Amazon: “Archos Gmini402 20 GB Camcorder and Multimedia Player” (Archos)

Technorati Tags: archos, archos gmini, portable video, camcorder

Archos do seem to be the one to beat in the portable video player market - although if Apple get serious, they will kill off the competition. PC Magazine have provided a review of the Archos AV-500 portable video player and are very impressed, rating it 4.5 out of 5:

Bottom line: Start saving your pennies: This portable media player/recorder is worth its high price.

Pros: A/V recording and playback quality is excellent. Compact and lightweight. LCD is bright and sharp. Easy to use. Provides plenty of control. Removable battery.

Cons: Video recording requires using the TV Docking Pod. No OGG or FLAC support. Can’t watch slide shows with music playing.

Archos actually call these portable DVRs because they can record from TV.

Read complete article: Archos AV 500 review by PC Magazine

Lookup on Amazon:

“Archos AV500 30 GB Multimedia Player and DVR” (Archos)

Lookup on Amazon: “Archos AV500 100 GB Multimedia Player and DVR” (Archos)

Technorati Tags: archos, Archos AV 500, personal video player, portable entertainment, portable media player, portable video

The Archos AV-500 100GB portable video player has been launched and New Launches give a brief overview.

Created for modern families and television fans on the go, Archos’ Mobile Digital Video Recorder AV 500 offers direct TV recording and the best of playback on a 4-inch colour TFT screen. Available in 30- $ 575 or 100GB $920 capacities, the gadget lets you store up to 400 hours of video or 250 movies. It’s large 480×272-pixel (262,000 colours) screen has reflective coating so it can be used as a mirror when off and can be viewed easily in daylight. Some of the neat key features of the product include the ability to record directly from TV, VCR, DVD player, cable or satellite box (PAL and NTSC), make scheduled recordings, play MPEG-4 and WMV files, transfer photos directly from your digital camera, as well as record and listen to music. The device supports MP3, WAV, WMA and protected WMA files.

Read source article: Archos AV-500 100GB Multimedia Player & DVR - New Launches

PC Magazine have reviewed the impressive Archos AV700 portable video player, giving it a 4 of 5 rating

The Archos AV700 digital video recorder isn’t meant to be small. It’s meant to provide comfortable viewing on long trips, so it’s a biggest-of-breed device with a 7-inch widescreen LCD and either a 40GB or 100GB hard drive. Although not particularly cheap, the AV700 is impressive. Taking advantage of the extensive feature set requires a bit of tech savvy, though, and the complexity—combined with the $799.95 (direct) price for the 100GB model and $599.95 for the 40GB—may scare some people away. But early adopters and gadget freaks with deep pockets will love this attractive, versatile product.

Bottom Line
This is definitely an excellent solution for taking your video on long car or plane trips. The large 7-inch screen really sets the AV700 apart.

Pros
Records video from analog sources. Excellent line-in audio recording. Sturdy feel. Big screen. Video playback is smooth and sharp on built-in screen and on TV. Good battery life. Replaceable battery.

Cons
No calendar or contacts features.

Key Specs:
Display size: 7inch
Capacity: 40GB & 100GB
Dimensions: 4.2 x 8.2 x 0.8 inches, 20.8 oz
Audio formats: MP3, WMA, WAV
Video formats: MPEG4, WMV

Read source article: Archos AV700 review by PC Magazine

Lookup on Amazon:

“Archos AV 700 40 GB Mobile Digital Video Recorder” (Archos, Inc.)

Technorati Tags: archos, personal video player, portable media player, portable video

PC Magazine have kindly provided a review of what we all wanted to know - how the video enabled iPod stacks up against it’s competition, the ARchos Gmini 402 and Cowon iAudio X5. Briefly, they report that the:

Archos Gmini 402: This is a fine player that will definitely satisfy the techie crowd with its many features.

Cowon iAudio X5: The Cowon iAudio X5 offers excellent sound quality and plenty of options, but the video playback isn’t as smooth as the Gmini’s or the iPod’s.

Apple iPod (30GB): The iPod excels in ease of use, smooth navigation, and easy syncing with iTunes. The iPod also ranks among the best for sound and video quality.

Read source article: Portable Video for Everyone

Lookup on Amazon:

“Apple 30 GB iPod with Video Playback White” (Apple Computer)

“iAudio X5 30 GB Portable Multimedia Player with FM Tuner & Voice Recorder (Black)” (JetAudio, Inc.)

“Archos Gmini402 20 GB Pocket Multimedia Center” (Archos, Inc.)

Technorati Tags: archos, cowon, ipod video, personal video player, portable entertainment, portable media player, portable video, video ipod

DAPReview report that the Gmini 500 has reappeared on the Archos website.

the gmini500 has once again appeared on Archos’s website. The only difference is the “presentation” thingamagig. They also seem to have gotten rid of the 20gb variation and kept the 40gb version. Removable battery is pretty nice I guess too. But it’s basically still a AV500 without recording with a little more thickness. So much for that redesign we heard rumors about.

From the Archos website:

ARCHOS presents its latest Pocket Multimedia Center allowing you to download all your movies, home video or recorded shows from your PC, store up to 160 hours1 of video or 400,000 photos1 and watch them on a 4″ color screen on the go. The Gmini 500 offers all the digital entertainment you may expect form a Pocket Multimedia Center

Key Specs:
Display size: 4″ LCD 480×272 pixels, 262 000 colours and TV output
Capacity: 40 GB Hard drive
Dimensions: 7.6 x 12.4 x 2.4 cm - 3″ x 4.9 x 0.9″, 320 g - 11.2 oz
Audio formats; MP3. WAV. WMA
Video formats: MPEG4, AVI, WMV

Read source article: dapreview.net: News / Comments / Gmini 500 Reappears

Technorati Tags: archos, personal video player, portable entertainment, portable media player, portable video