Archos 5 Internet tablet with Android (32GB)
Manufacturer: Archos Part number: 501318
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- Editors' review
- User reviews
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- Bottom Line:
- The Archos 5 is a great video player, but it disappoints as a premium Android Internet tablet and GPS unit.
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Where to buy
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CNET editors' review
Archos 5 Internet tablet with Android (32GB) price range: $379.95 - $379.99
- Reviewed by: Donald Bell
- Reviewed on: 10/27/2009
- Released on: 10/08/2009
The good: The Archos 5 Internet tablet/portable media player offers a large, high-resolution touch-screen display, Wi-Fi, music playback, photos, Flash video and game compatibility, Bluetooth, e-mail, a Web browser, a built-in speaker, an integrated kickstand, GPS, and support for a limited selection of Android applications.
The bad: GPS signal reception is poor enough to make the feature useless; many popular Android apps are unsupported; Flash video support is hit or miss; no multitouch support for keyboard or gestures; text copy and paste is a chore; and the glossy design shows fingerprints.
The bottom line: The Archos 5 is a great video player, but it disappoints as a premium Android Internet tablet and GPS unit.
On paper, the Archos 5 touch-screen Internet tablet comes across like an Apple iPod Touch on steroids. Every spec is designed to be over-the-top, from the 720p HD video playback and 4.8-inch screen, to the integrated GPS, Bluetooth, and FM transmitter. The capacities on offer are also beyond belief, starting with a $249 8GB model with a slender body and microSD slot, all the way up to a chunky, hard-drive-based 500GB version selling for $489.
In short: every aspect of the Archos 5 is made to lure hard-core digital media nerds away from products like the Zune HD and the iPod Touch. Wish the iPod Touch had GPS? Try the Archos 5. Disappointed by the relatively small screen and limited video codec support of the Zune HD? The Archos 5 is a video junkie's dream come true. Even the open-ended appeal of the iPhone App Store is addressed with the inclusion of a handful of Google Android applications and a built-in Archos download store where a limited selection of additional applications can be installed.
And while the barrage of features included on the Archos 5 are sure to feel liberating for technically demanding users, we suspect that the majority of people will prefer the more refined qualities and characteristics of an iPod Touch or a proper Android smartphone with full application support.
Design
This isn't the first time around for the Archos 5. In 2008, a nearly identical version of the Archos 5 hit store shelves; the device shared many of the features of this 2009 model, yet lacked compatibility with Android applications. The complaints we held with the design of the 2008 model still stand: the whole thing is a smudge magnet; the headphone jack is placed right where you would hold the device; and the reflective screen is a step backward from the matte finish used on the beloved 605 WiFi.
That said, there's plenty to appreciate about the Archos 5's design and the improvements made to the latest models. For example, we love the built -in metal kickstand that hinges out from the back--a brilliant feature, especially for watching movie-length video content. The dimensions also make us happy, with the thinner 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB models measuring 5.5 inches wide, 3 inches tall, and a relatively svelte 0.4 inch thick (hard-drive models are twice as thick). In real-world terms, that means the Archos 5 is just small enough to fit into the front or back pocket of your jeans.
Aside from the Archos 5's notable distinction as the company's thinnest portable media player to date, the device is also one of the first from Archos to use a Micro-USB PC connection. Compared with the proprietary cables used on most Archos players in the past, the adoption of Micro-USB is a step in the right direction in terms of convenience, making it easier to acquire generic replacement cables. Proprietary dock connections on the bottom of the Archos 5 help to maintain compatibility with accessories such as AV media docks and battery packs.
Hardware features
The Archos 5 is crammed with so many features, that to make sense of them all, we're going to break them out into separate sections for hardware, media playback, and Android. The most notable hardware features of the Archos 5 include Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth, but lesser features such as an FM radio/transmitter, microphone, speaker, and accelerometer, are also worth mentioning.
If you're going to call your product an "Internet tablet," you can't skimp on Wi-Fi support. Fortunately, the Archos 5 juggles 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi bands with ease and handles hot-spot sign-on pages with a dexterity befitting of its name. Advanced users also have the capability of tethering the Archos 5 to their cell phones, allowing the device to piggyback on a cellular data connection. In practice, however, setting up phone tethering involves a complicated dance of carrier access point names and Bluetooth pairing that is not for the faint of heart.
Next up, we have GPS, a feature Archos offered with last year's Archos 5 but required an extra $130 for a car dock. Even then, Archos' previous dance with GPS was a car-only system that you couldn't walk with. In the latest Archos 5, GPS is built right into the hardware and users will only need to pay a one-time fee of $39 to activate the maps for a complete NDrive GPS navigation system.
In theory, the inclusion of GPS marks a clear advantage the Archos 5 holds over the iPod Touch. Unfortunately, real-world performance issues make the Archos 5 GPS experience more frustrating than it's worth. Under the firmware we tested (1.2.03), we found that GPS reception took an inordinate amount of time to locate a signal around the San Francisco Bay Area. In the few instances where signals were strong enough to pinpoint our location, the GPS capabilities were surprisingly thorough, allowing for turn-by-turn driving directions and an in-depth, relatively accurate selection of local points of interest. But with an average cold-boot time of 45 seconds and the unpredictable amount of time it takes to locate a valid GPS signal, our experience with the Archos 5 had us feeling that it was more of an obstacle for travel than an asset. We can't say that the GPS doesn't work, but it certainly doesn't work quickly and we're reluctant to characterize the feature as a reason to buy the Archos 5.
We have no complaints when it comes to the Archos 5's handling of Bluetooth. Our Altec Lansing Backbeat 904 stereo headset paired relatively easily with the Archos 5, offering the kind of audio quality and wireless range (around 30 feet) we expect from Bluetooth. Bluetooth 2.0 extras, such as AVRCP, EDR, and HID, help to extend the capabilities beyond basic A2DP audio streaming.
Unfortunately, the remaining Archos 5 hardware features either disappoint or barely warrant mention. For example, the microSD card slot included on the 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB models of the Archos 5 would sometimes declare various memory cards as being corrupted, yet recognize them after a reboot of the hardware.
The FM transmitter requires an attached pair of headphones in order to operate it, but it still failed to provide us with an acceptable signal among the clogged bandwidth of San Francisco. The FM radio receiver worked well and offers RDS station and song IDs, however, using a self-described "Internet tablet" for its FM radio feels like using a Lexus for its cigarette lighter. The integrated accelerometer is useful for reorienting Web pages but is slow to react compared with the iPod Touch or Zune HD. More often than not, we noticed the accelerometer as an irritation when it triggered accidentally while flat on a table or tipped too far back while walking.
Finally, little things such as the integrated speaker and microphone are nice to have, but without voice or chat apps to take advantage of them (not yet, at least), fail to capture the potential we'd expect from an Internet tablet.
Media features
Despite the manufacturer's protest that Archos 5 shouldn't be categorized as a mere portable video player, video playback is the Archos 5's strongest feature. Out of the box, the Archos 5 offers support for AVI, WMV, MPEG4, h.264, MKV, and Flash video content, many of which support resolutions up to HD-quality 720p. For an extra $20, you can outfit the Archos 5 with a high-definition software plug-in to enable 720p video playback from WMV HD or MPEG-2 files.
The Archos 5 is clearly more than a portable video player, but it is no more deserving of the "Internet tablet" moniker than Apple's iPod Touch. Like the Safari Web browser used on the iPod Touch or iPhone, the Android Web browser included on the Archos 5 provides an above-average mobile Internet experience, but there are some blind spots. Because the Flash Light support on the Archos 5 exists outside of the Android Web browser as an independent application, many Web sites and services are incompatible. During our tests, we found that simple Flash video sites such as YouTube worked fine, while sites such as Hulu, CNET TV, ABC, and Comedy Central, stalled the browser or played only the preroll advertising associated with the video.
Flash-based interactive online radio stations such as Pandora, Slacker, and Last.fm suffered similar fates, loading incompletely or not at all. For all of the complaints laid against Apple for not offering Flash media support on the iPhone or the iPod Touch, Apple's use of dedicated applications offers users a workaround for streaming content from many of the services mentioned above. With the inclusion of a growing selection of Android applications (see Android section below), the Archos 5 may one day have similar application-based workarounds for these services. There's also hope that full Flash support will come to the Archos 5 shortly.
The Archos 5's music player is nearly identical to the previous generation. By default, the music player supports MP3, AAC, WMA (including DRM-protected files), FLAC, Ogg, and WAV files. You can also set up the Archos 5 to stream music over Wi-Fi from nearby computers or stream conventional Internet radio stations (sorry, no Pandora or Last.fm). During playback, the Archos 5's music player displays album artwork, allows for your music library to be sorted by ID3 tags, and gives you the ability to bookmark long files such as lectures and audio books. One new feature to the Archos 5 is an album art grid view that offers a more visual overview of your music collection. The new view is pretty, assuming your music collection has been embedded with album artwork, but those with large collections will probably want to stick with the conventional list browsers, since the Archos 5 takes its sweet time when it comes to loading artwork thumbnails.
The included photo viewer is a mixed blessing. The supported formats (JPEG, BMP, GIF, and PNG) can be loaded in a mixture of resolutions via PC, microSD card, or an optional picture transfer protocol (PTP) available using the Mini Dock accessory. In a perfect world, the Archos 5 would make an ideal, large-screen, digital photo album, but unfortunately, it is a pain to navigate. Whether your images are large or small, each is granted a postage-stamp-size thumbnail image preview that takes about a second to load. More specifically, each photo's individual thumbnail takes a second to load, creating a cascade of slowly revealed image previews that feels like surfing the Web on a dial-up connection. The inability to pinch photos to zoom or resize them only adds to the insult. Aside from the advantages of a larger screen and drag-and-drop image transfer, the photo experience on the iPod Touch or Zune HD is vastly superior.
As a gaming device, the Archos 5's support for Flash games and
Finally, if you're bored with all of the content you've synced to the device, Archos gives you a few options for streaming media, as well. Any music or video stored on a locally networked PC can be streamed to the Archos 5 using Windows' Universal Plug and Play protocol. Additionally, a Media Club menu on the Archos 5 offers directories for Web TV and Web radio, allowing video podcasts, local news, and a large assortment of global Internet radio stations to be streamed directly over Wi-Fi. For us, all the Web TV and radio streams in the world can't compare with a reliable podcast download and management feature (such as the one on the iPod Touch and iPhone), but the Archos 5's selection of well-organized media streams does offer an interesting diversion once your own personal content has become exhausted.
Android features
If there's any merit to Archos calling its product an "Internet tablet" it's the limited support for applications developed for Google's Android mobile operating system. In theory, the inclusion of Android apps is a great asset to the Archos 5, giving it a flexibility and extendability to compete against the iPod Touch. In practice, however, the app selection is hardly dazzling and the majority of Android apps are not yet supported. Out of the box, Archos includes an app for Twitter, an instant-messaging client, LinkedIn, Wikipedia, Craigslist, Moov, High Paying Jobs, Yellowbook, and a ThinkFree app for opening Office and PDF documents. But aside from the IM client and the document viewer, few of these apps really offer anything users couldn't get from simply opening a Web page. Granted, the same complaint can be made of many iPhone apps, but if these are the killer apps that Archos deemed good enough to preinstall, we're not impressed. Also, the two included media apps (Dailymotion and Deezer) don't have the same appeal in the U.S. as they do in Archos' native country, France. With any luck, someone will bring the YouTube, Pandora, Slacker, and Last.fm Android apps to the Archos 5 models sold in the states.
The most practical upside to the Archos 5's adoption of Android features is the use of the Android Web browser and e-mail client. Compared with the Opera browser and sloppy e-mail support we experienced using 2008's Archos 5, the Android-powered Web and e-mail is a breath of fresh air and one of the best alternatives to the iPod Touch we've tested. That said, Archos still has a long road in front of it. Copying and pasting text is a pain, most Web pages load in mobile format despite the large screen and high resolution, there's no pinch zooming or multitouch keyboard and no predictive text entry, and we're still not sure how Archos expects us to transfer our e-mail contacts over. In short, like much of the Archos 5, the ambitious features are commendable, but the execution is half-baked.
Performance
With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth deactivated, the Archos 5 is rated at 22 hours of audio playback and 7 hours of video (an optional battery pack accessory is available). Audio quality is unexceptional: comparable to the iPod Touch with its handful of EQ presets, but nowhere approaching the sonic flexibility of a Cowon S9, a Sony X-Series, or a Samsung P3.
The Archos 5's video quality is untouchable, helped in equal parts by its large, high-resolution screen, and the impressive range of video codec support. Of course, with so much video muscle, we couldn't resist the temptation of pushing things beyond the breaking point with 30fps MKV files and some of the Web's more boutique formats. The Archos 5 can't compete against a full laptop running VLC, but the quality and flexibility of its video player kicks the snot out of any other portable media player on the market.
Who's this for?
The Archos 5 isn't likely to make you more productive or better connected, and its GPS couldn't reliably direct us out of a paper bag. Strip away the half-baked support for Android apps, the hobbled GPS, and all the other disappointing or uninteresting features of the Archos 5, and you still have a digital video connoisseur's dream come true. More specifically (and honestly), a video "pirate's" dream come true. After all, support for popular BitTorrent video types such as MKV, DivX, XviD, and h.264 aren't there for your typical iTunes video download crowd. So let's call a rose, a rose, and let the video downloaders rejoice. The rest of you looking for a true Android Internet tablet, move along.
User reviews
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Best PMP for video, best mobile browser
by jimtravis on October 28, 2009
Pros: Great screen, looks nice, built-in stand, browser rewraps text when zooming (better than touch), great photo zooming by holding finger on picture (easier than multi-touch), Bluetooth works as expected, can set browser to id as desktop.
Cons: Not all Android apps available., May change when upgraded to Andoid 2.0 since 2.0 should natively support 800 x 480. No full Flash support although it is promised for Android in 2010.
Summary: I have always enjoyed Archos video devices, and the newest device maintains the great video experience both from screen size / resolution, and codec support perspectives. I have streamed videos from ...
Summary: I have always enjoyed Archos video devices, and the newest device maintains the great video experience both from screen size / resolution, and codec support perspectives. I have streamed videos from my NAS devices to the Archos devices since the 605 WiFI, and the new device streams fine even from older NAS devices without UPnP support.
The new browser is the best mobile browser I have used bar none. I prefer the zooming on the Archos browser to multi-touch. When you swipe the screen lightly, the zoom controls appears on the bottom so you can see the impact of the zoom when pressing the + or - icons without your fingers blocking your view as they do with multi-touch. I find the Archos zooming to be easier, and less awkward than multi-touch with the added benefit of not blocking the screen. Even more important, when you zoom a webpage, the text reflows so you can read pages without having to horizontal scrolling each line. I prefer mobile pages on screens <7", and the text reflows on single column pages ensures you can read the pages with a larger text size without the dreaded horizontal scrolling. One of my biggest disappointments with the iPod touch is the lack of reflow when you use multi-touch zoom which results in having to horizontal scroll each line to read some single column pages at a comfortable text size. IMO, the Archos browser with its constant text reflows when zooming results in the best mobile browser experience. Although the default is to id as a mobile browser, a browser setting allows you to change this to id as a desktop. The review indicated problems watching CNET TV due to limited Flash support. Hopefully, that will be corrected when Andoid releases full Flash 10 support. In the interim, the videos on iphone.cnet.com play fine.
Concerning photo zooming, I prefer the methods for zooming photos on the Archos to multi-touch. If you hold your finger at the point you want to zoom the picture, the picture zooms until you release the finger. A lot easier, and less awkward than multi-touch for me. In addition, a finger friendly slider appears at the bottom of the screen to allow finer control without the zooming control blocking your view.
I have not tried the GPS as this feature is not needed since I have stand alone GPS in car.
I have only tried the micro-SDHC card from my phone (16GB), and it was discovered immediately, with no trouble viewing pictures, and videos from the card.
I do wish the Archos 5 IMT had a replaceable battery, this trend toward no user replaceable batteries is a bad trend for me. I know the Archos devices have an optional external battery attachment, but it is not as powerful, or convenient as an actual replaceable internal battery.
The review indicated how convenient the built-in stand is on the Archos device. For me, this is an essential feature for watching videos. With other devices, I am constantly searching for a place to lean the device against while I watch videos. I appreciate the built-in stand every day I use the device.
As you can tell by the tone of my review, I am a big fan of Archos devices, and have been since the AV500. The bigger screen makes for an excellent mobile video platform, and the Android addition promises many new exciting features in the future particulary with Android 2.0 supporting multiple resolutions without recompiling code.3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Better than Apple, Microsoft and all the Android phones
by Charbax on October 28, 2009
Pros: Fastest and Biggest Android experience in the world on ARM Cortex A8 at 800mhz loads website faster than anything else, as fast as Intel Atom. Video support best in the world with start of 720p MKV high profile H264 support. Up to 500GB, 8GB for $200
Cons: We would like full Google Marketplace support, it should come in Archos firmware updates to support Android 1.6 and 2.0 coming in the next few of months. Built-in 3G would make it perfect to replace a mobile phone.
Summary: Donald Bell, as usual, rates this as an Apple fanboy. How come his review of the similar priced iPod Touch does not list non-existing GPS, Flash, 800x480 4.8" screen ...
Summary: Donald Bell, as usual, rates this as an Apple fanboy. How come his review of the similar priced iPod Touch does not list non-existing GPS, Flash, 800x480 4.8" screen and the video codecs support as bad points?
Archos improved or even fixed GPS, MKV 720p in the latest firmware: http://update.archos.com/7/archos5/changes_firmware_archos5.html Donald Bell should remove GPS from "the bad" of his review and change the rating to rate it better the the similar priced iPod Touch.
Sure Archos needs the full Android marketplace, but you cannot blame it on Archos when Google is still releasing Android 1.6 and 2.0 updates in the next days and weeks that are the first versions of Android to support the kind of medium density 800x480 4.8" touchscreen that Archos is using. I would rate this product 4.5/5 for currently lacking Android Marketplace and Google apps. But as I expect the full Android apps support to come within weeks on the Archos so my rating stays 5/5 cause I don't think Cnet allows me to update my review. If you absolutely need full Marketplace and Google apps, wait for the firmware updates and follow http://forum.archosfans.com to see when users report which apps that work already today or later (because hundreds do work fine today, and most .apk files for Android applications that you can find on the Internet will install by simply finding them through Google and clicking on them).
Follow the discussions on my forum to see if Archos will support the full bitrates of MKV 720p movies above 3500kbit/s. I haven't tested todays new firmware update that claims to improve MKV H264 support through:
"Video: H264 SD High Profile did not play
Video: allow smoother H264 HD playback in some cases
Video: seeking in MKV file sometimes caused audio or video freeze"
Until this firmware at least, 720p MKV support up to 3500kbit/s means 720p MKV TV series would playback fine (if Archos fix the audio synch issue on those HD MKV files) Since there is no other device in the world to support 720p MKV on Android or any other OS, I found MKV support to be a really nice surprise so even if full high bitrate 720p movies would not be supported even with the best optimized firmware update Archos can come with, I still don't think it should lower my rating. Since Archos provides the absolute best video playback, storage and streaming experience in the world no matter what. For example, Archos supports to stream Youtube HD at 1280x720 and 2mbit/s of those files, outputted to your HDTV through HDMI, which makes it the absolute best Youtube player in the world.
I haven't been able to test 3G bluetooth tethering, but with SIPdroid and other VOIP applications on Android, I do believe this could replace mobile phones to provide you with the most affordable free mobile phone system since the Archos 5IT at 8GB starts at $249 MSRP and street prices may go below the $200 and many countries have SIM cards for HSDPA to use for 3G tethering using any cheap $50 mobile phone for $20 per month pre-paid without the need to sign any contracts. Imagine runing Google Voice, Skype and SIP telephony on that setup, I think it could be pure awesomeness (although I haven't been able to test it yet).
Archos could release a version with built-in 3G (which I would love even more), though I probably wouldn't rate that 6/5 cause with built-in 3G comes other constraints, like a probably more expensive purchase price of the product if unlocked ($100 extra? $200 extra?), or a compulsary 2-year subscription plan with a carrier in many markets such as in USA, France and some other countries where it's the 3G carriers that make the law.
There are some good reasons for the iPod Touch to be selling faster than the iPhone at the moment. Price, and not having to subscribe for $1500 over a 2-year contract with a carrier. Archos 5 Internet Tablet positions Archos perfectly against the much inferior iPod Touch.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This product should be recalled.
by pcpal01 on November 16, 2009
Pros: Great looking video. Great concept. Fast browser.
Cons: Freezes often. Wireless and Bluethooth barely work and cause more freezes when they do. No tethering for many phones.
Summary: I purchased this product and have sent it in for repairs. I will send it back for a refund because people report a repair does not help. The firmware does ...
Summary: I purchased this product and have sent it in for repairs. I will send it back for a refund because people report a repair does not help. The firmware does not make the device work properly. It freezes all the time. The wireless fails to connect often and will not stay connected. The bluetooth when used with a headset causes the audio of videos to be out of sync. The bluetooth does not connect all the time and does not stay connected. People are reporting these problems in many forums. The worst part of this device is that it will freeze up often. I can not get through an hour of videos or music before it freezes and requires a reboot. The company continues to sell the device despite the fact that they have not gotten them to work yet. I would caution everyone not to purchase this device because it has major issues. Not everything on it works as described and many built in Android programs do not work.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Not quite worth the price tag.
by BigDaddyJay on November 13, 2009
Pros: Nice size screen. Something different, unique. Tons of options. Music, Video, web, pictures, etc.
Cons: Texting or using the onscreen keyboard not as easy as u would think. Web difficult to navigate as you often hit unwanted web links on web pages while simply trying to scroll up or down. Home button doesn't work in landscape mode.
Summary: I was excited about this media device at first but after hours of toying with the device I quickly became aware that it really doesn't do anything different from ...
Summary: I was excited about this media device at first but after hours of toying with the device I quickly became aware that it really doesn't do anything different from what I use my cell phone for. When using the web on the Archos it becomes very challenging as u often hit unwanted web links simply trying to scroll up or down a page. The home button doesnt seen to work in landscape mode so I found myself flipping the device, then pressing 'home' to get it to work. Wifi works excellent but in most Wifi spots I will have my notebook anyway, like hotels, or at home, etc.. I was looking to use the "cell phone to tethered" feature and I could not get it to work. After I paired my blackberry to my Archro via Bluetooth it said that it was "paired, but not connected". I would expect that if it's paried then it would be connected. This ordeal really killed my want for this device as I was looking to use it for times when I was more on-the-go and on-the-fly and didn't feel like pulling out my laptop. If u have a good quality phone like the Storm, Droid, or Iphone then I don't see the need for the Archos. The full web browser is an advantage but it's a chore to use IMO. I just don't think this device is worth the price tag.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Very capable product with rich features and styling.
by MrGadgetman on November 14, 2009
Pros: Screen size, touch screen interface, battery life, internet browser, wireless options, Formats...? Bring It!!
Cons: GPS sucks, doesn't like to get too busy, had to buy plug-ins for additional format support.
Summary: This thing kicks badunk-a-dunk! Overall, it is an awesome device. It plays just about anything you load into it. I haven't run accross anything it will NOT play, but ...
Summary: This thing kicks badunk-a-dunk! Overall, it is an awesome device. It plays just about anything you load into it. I haven't run accross anything it will NOT play, but I did have to purchase a plug-in that turned on the support for one of the video formats. That sucked.
GPS Issue: Earlier I slammed the unit, claiming the GPS has yet to work. Turns out that after calling the good ole folks at Archos it was revealed that several units including mine left the factory with bad GPS chipsets. These defective units had GPS hardware that failed to initialize, which was the reason that it would never receive a signal.
It is soo easy to load this thing with music or videos. No itunes, no media players necessary. Just drag and drop files right into the appropriate folder on the device and you are ready to go!! Too easy. You can use Media Player 11 to
synch, but you do not have to. There is a DVR module you can buy that allows you to record TV or any other source so that you can take all of your video with you.
As long as you are doing one or two things simultaneously the unit works fine, but it will get a little choppy and fussy if you force it to multi task too much.
Bluetooth was a selling point and it works just fine! I hate wires. You can completely customize the home screen with wallpaper as well as the colors of the menu buttons, etc. The selected wallpaper scrolls as you wipe from page to page also.
Video and Audio play perfectly on this unit with lots of audio playback options including ID tag support. It will play WMV protected files, your standard issue MP3, and various lossless formats. There is also a 5-band EQ with presets and a balance control. Video files play flawlessly as well on the big screen which is sharp and rich with color. Best screen I have seen on a media player this side of a laptop. There are motion thumbnails for the video files when you highlight then and you can pick your thumbnails as well. I guess that's useful, I dunno. What is useful however, is the buit-in kickstand that will let you stand the unit up at an angle to view it on a desk or wherever. No need to by a dock when it already has its own leg to stand on. The need to buy a unit with a lot of storage is not as paramount because it has expandable memory via SD card micro.
The form factor is small considering the overall size of the player. Not nearly as bulky as it looks on TV. The screen is dominate and the back of the unit is a glossy carbon, metal-like finish. I'd Invest in terrycloth for this unit however, if I were you. Having a slim formfactor means that the parts on the inside are closer to the outside and there isn't much between you and the internals. What I mean is that this baby gets hot on the interface side (left when in landscape) pretty quick. After about 7-10 songs in succession it got hot enough that I looked for a place to set it down. Not burning-can't-handle-it hot, but whoa-I-didn't-think-It'd-get-this-hot warm. A plus in the pocket during winter I'd imagine.
The GPS..., well, CNET was right..., it sucks. I have yet to get mine to work and I've got all the latest firmware. It will not find a sat signal at all and I was in the middle of a lot with narry a tree or building within 200 meters. The only disappointment on the unit. I tried different locations and times of day..., no joy.
People have slammed the Archos 5 for its poor apps support. I say, so what. Personally, I could not care less about what can buy for it or download on it. I bought it to play music and movies/videos and to web surf. I do not need extra gimmicky crap sucking up my storage space. I don't care that there's an app that lets you open your garage from the couch or whatever.
The web browser works great. It looks good and it loads content fast. Very easy to scroll and scale the pages and the built in accelorometer orients the screen to however you hold it, though it does have a delay. There is also support for email (various types) and you can configure multiple accounts. Lots of wireless options too. Wifi, bluetooth, and piggyback sharing. You can pipe your 3G phone through this unit and use its internet as long as your phone supports it. You can also answer calls when your phone rings. They really didn't want you to have reason to put it down.
Admittedly, the touch interface is not as silky as the i-whichever. Sometimes thinking about it first before it responds, but most of the time it works great. The transition from portrait to landscape looks cooler on the i-whatever too, but it is not a dealbreaker. Zooming on photos is a single finger sinch. You just touch where you want to zoom. No two finger pinch dance.
Bottom line: if you want a media PLAYER and not a portable accessorizer station, then this is for you. It plays nearly everything you throw at it, and it surfs the internet with its host of connection options with ease. Consider the GPS a happy accident, if it works for you!
Updated on Nov 24, 2009
After getting a brand new one in a sealed box and trying it out, the GPS signal was acquired within 1 minute! The GPS feature is actually pretty resourceful, loading POI in proximity to you in real time. Icons in the viewable map area appear and you can tap on them to plot a course. Voice guidance a plus. The view automatically zooms (scales) in and out to facilitate the next turn or elaborate on complex interchanges and intersections. It also shows your current speed as well as the current area's speed limit. There is a nanny alarm, but you can defeat that. There is a 3-D map (bird's eye) view and coolest of all are the 3-D buildings. -
Very best high end mobile PMP device ever, hands down!
by bigrob777 on November 11, 2009
Pros: Makes an honest OS of Android. Has multi media functions all all others can only dream about! Best of both The Archos & Android worlds!
Cons: Some Apps are glitchy. As of yet, no flash 10 (coming soon/has flash lite) so web video opens externally.
Summary: Pound for pound (or rather gram for gram) the best hand held PMP video, music, web, ect. player on this side of Saturn! As with any brand new high end ...
Summary: Pound for pound (or rather gram for gram) the best hand held PMP video, music, web, ect. player on this side of Saturn! As with any brand new high end product, problems may arise from time to time, (mostly from third party Apps) but this is a must have for any real Tech enthusiast! It blows away the touch and all others pretty easily.
Don't believe the hype! Some people (i.e. the editor at CNet who wrote the review for the Archos)are just I-Anything Fanboys! We see Mac loyalists all the time turning a blind eye or trash talking anything that comes close, let alone anything that flat out spanks, one of their precious Mac encrusted gadgets! Think about it- Whens the last time you saw a Mac commercial where they simply talked about their own product? Been awhile?Don't get me wrong, this concept doesn't apply across the board to all Mac users... but you know who you are! Lol! That being said The ITouch/IPhone are a great products but they just can not do what The Archos 5 Android can. For starters lets talk video: If you want to play a video on a Touch/IPhone(lets refer to them both as Mac's for posterity sake from now on) you first have to most likley convert it and then using only one program (I-Tunes) copy it over to your device. Whereas with the Archos, it plays just about every format known to man, even 720p HD natively with the available codec (although an extra $39.99 us) and transfers via drag n drop or sync with WMP! Not to mention the screen is simply gorgeous with 800 x 480 on the device! Oh yeah, It's also a DVR when coupled with the optional Docking Station with the ability to play in HD via HDMI on your compatible HDTV! Not to mention a whole host of WebTV and online video accessible via the Archos media array on the main desktop screen. Then Theres the fact that the Archos out specs and performs when it comes to music playback and features across the board!
Look the bottom line is this: The Archos 5 Android does too many things to mention here... and it does all of them very well. The Mac's our great and even refined products, as they have been around for a while, but in my opinion as well as many others it is easily beet by the original Archos 5, without Android. The features of the Archos 605 are far more impressive then the Mac's. And that is something that I and the Editors of CNet can agree with! These new models are just icing on the cake! What ever device you choose, good hunting and heres to technology! Whatever the brand! - Big Rob. -
It won't do what they advertise
by husker2009 on November 3, 2009
Pros: The resolution and the screen size is the best
Cons: They advertise Battery life of 7 hours for video but they lie like they did before by pointing the ad say video playback of 7 hours refering to video capacity playback the 16 gs unit is so thin how a battery that size is gonna play 7 to 8 hours
Summary: Archos customer service sucks and archos is known as a ghost company that can't be reached when you need to fix your device, the device won't do what ...
Summary: Archos customer service sucks and archos is known as a ghost company that can't be reached when you need to fix your device, the device won't do what it sez out of the box the hd needs a plugin not to mention the dvr station the gps don't work the battery meter lines starts desapearing after 2 music videos 8 minutes of video in medium light setting ...the headphone jack and the USB jack are really delicate mine is loose and the sound on the right ear breaks if I move the device too much and in most stores a saw the device with the USB totally loose and not working at all but I thought it won't happen to me I try to contact the company but even with registration all they did was ask for my information again for them to contact me later ....I'm still waiting after 3 weeks
0 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Archos
- Part number: 501318
- Description: The Archos 5 Internet Tablet is combining all the know-how and renowned expertise of multimedia with the hot new environment developed with Google: the Android platform. In this new era of open source and collaboration, applications and software are blooming throughout the world. Everyday sees a new gold nugget that will overwhelm the market. That's the magic behind the common and shared environment of Android, anyone can create a best-seller. There are so many fun games out there and so many cool applications that it would be a pity to not give you access to them. Here comes the Archos 5 Internet Tablet. With its sleek and advanced list of features, it truly achieves the convergence of the Internet, entertainment, TV, and GPS in one device, letting you discover and download lots of applications and games while performing the best multimedia experience of a handheld device. Featuring a customizable interface, the Archos 5 can be personalized to fit with your lifestyle, with an access to a range of rich applications and widgets. And with the AppsLib, you have a supermarket of paid and free applications to download from. Your favorite sources of information, communications and entertainment are always at your fingertips so that you can find anything you want. Built on a culture of innovation and a passion to deliver groundbreaking technology, the Archos 5 delivers the great features and user experience that have made ARCHOS a global leader in consumer electronics. The user experience has dramatically improved, and the Archos 5 is arguably the best HD portable player that exists. No matter what you want to watch or listen to, view or do, the Archos 5 Internet Tablet will let you do this in HD quality, with accessories featuring HDMI outputs. With easy WiFi connectivity, and Bluetooth technology to tether a 3.5G mobile phone, the Archos 5 will manage to deliver 24/7 Internet connectivity. One of the most common shortcomings of Internet devices is that they are generally naked. They could feature lots of useful applications, but every time, you find them without any. The Archos 5 Internet tablet comes loaded with lots of them, so that you can immediately start using it.
General
- Device Type Portable media center
- Key Features Digital audio player, Digital video player, Digital photo viewer, Digital audio recorder, Digital video recorder, Voice recorder
- Width 5.6 in
- Depth 0.4 in
- Height 3.1 in
- Weight 6.4 oz
- PC Interfaces USB 2.0, 802.11b/g/n
- Features Bluetooth 2.0, FM transmitter, FM receiver
- Localization United States
Display
- Display Type LCD 4.8 in
- TV Standards Supported NTSC, PAL, SECAM
Memory / Storage
- Flash Memory Cards Supported microSD Memory Card
Still Images
- Supported Still Images Formats JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF
Digital Audio
- Supported audio formats MP3, WMA, Protected WMA, PCM, AAC, AAC+, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC
- Audio output Built-in speaker
- Microphone Built-in microphone
- Digital audio features CBR, VBR
Video
- Video Playback Formats MPEG-4, MPEG-48, H.264, WMV, MKV, Motion JPEG
- Video Capture - 640 x 480
Connectivity
- Connections USB, Headphones, Composite video
Battery
- Rechargeable Battery Rechargeable
- Battery Enclosure Type Internal
- Technology Lithium polymer
- Capacity Internal - Rechargeable - Lithium polymer
Software
- Software Included Drivers, Microsoft Windows Media Player 11
System Requirements
- Operating System Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista or higher, Linux
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Earphones, USB cable, DVR station adapter
Product series
-
Archos 5 Internet tablet with Android (8GB)
Manufacturer: Archos
Specs: Portable media center, 5.6 in x 0.4 in x 3.1 in, LCD 4.8 in, MP3, WMA, Protected WMA, PCM, AAC, AAC+, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, MPEG-4, MPEG-48, H.264, WMV, MKV, Motion JPEG, 6.4 oz
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Archos 5 Internet tablet with Android (16GB)
Manufacturer: Archos
Specs: Portable media center, 5.6 in x 0.4 in x 3.1 in, LCD 4.8 in, MP3, WMA, Protected WMA, PCM, AAC, AAC+, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, MPEG-4, MPEG-48, H.264, WMV, MKV, Motion JPEG, 6.4 oz
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Archos 5 Internet tablet with Android (32GB)
Manufacturer: Archos
Specs: Portable media center, 5.6 in x 0.4 in x 3.1 in, LCD 4.8 in, MP3, WMA, Protected WMA, PCM, AAC, AAC+, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, MPEG-4, MPEG-48, H.264, WMV, MKV, Motion JPEG, 6.4 oz
-
Archos 5 Internet tablet with Android (160GB)
Manufacturer: Archos
Specs: Portable media center, 5.6 in x 0.8 in x 3.1 in, LCD 4.8 in, MP3, WMA, Protected WMA, PCM, AAC, AAC+, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, MPEG-4, MPEG-48, H.264, WMV, MKV, Motion JPEG, 10.1 oz
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Archos 5 Internet tablet with Android (500GB)
Manufacturer: Archos
Specs: Portable media center, 5.6 in x 0.8 in x 3.1 in, LCD 4.8 in, MP3, WMA, Protected WMA, PCM, AAC, AAC+, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, MPEG-4, MPEG-48, H.264, WMV, MKV, Motion JPEG, 10.1 oz
Manufacturer info
- Archos
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Archos products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.archos.com
- Address:
3A Goodyear, Irvine, CA 92618 - Phone: 1-949-609-1400
- Email: info@archos.com
- Fax: 1-949-609-1414
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