Archos Android tablets to compete with iPad - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

hugh · 2010-03-04, 02:00 PM

Less than a month prior to when the Apple iPad is expected to reach retail stores, Archos, the Denver based company which introduced the first portable video player in 2003, has announced two new Android-based tablet computers.

Momorider · 2010-03-04, 03:30 PM

What is up with the size of the bezel on that thing?

NeilN · 2010-03-04, 04:00 PM

In the second pic? I'm guessing that's the photo frame you can snap on.

Gord Lacey · 2010-03-05, 12:27 AM

I think that's the whole unit - I read about it on Archos.com and there's no mention of anything optional with the unit. Man, is it ever ugly!

Gord

NeilN · 2010-03-05, 09:31 AM

Looks like you're right. What are they thinking?

Coop · 2010-03-05, 05:26 PM

I think it's more suited as a photo frame with perks than a tablet, which may be appealing to a lot of people.

SensualPoet · 2010-04-25, 05:54 PM

I'd be inclined to hold off for a bit. The Archos 7 is now available for pre-sale from Amazon in the US and can be pre-ordered online in various places. It seems to be going for $250-$300 running Android 1.6. This isn't exactly a direct competitor for an Apple iPad which is just shy of 10" screen -- admittedly at twice the price. There will be a slew of these 7"-ish devices coming to market in the coming 60 days or so; with the larger screens more likely to come later in the year.

If the iPad is not to your taste (perhaps because of the 4:3 ratio screen, lack of a USB port, lack of iPad Adobe Flash support at websites, etc), similar screen size and weight units are coming under Android 2.1. I'd tend to hold out for those. But this is REALLY early to be buying unless you are a cutting edge hobbyist.

Larry · 2010-04-25, 09:13 PM

Sure seems to be that the new battleground is the OS - Android vs iPhone OS (is there a name?). I don't think Windows Mobile (or whatever its latest name is) will ever be a real competitor in the "small" screen market. There is no reason that Google (or a partner) can't put out a iPad competitor (perhaps AnPad?). It will come down to the applications and acceptance of the OS. This will be interesting - with Microsoft just watching from the sidelines as Apple and Google battle for supremacy.

Tikker · 2010-04-26, 06:08 AM

Android is too fractured ATM to be a real competitor.

hugh · 2010-04-26, 08:40 AM

I doubt these units will fair well in the marketplace.

To echo SensualPoet, give us an Android 2.1 device in a form factor comparable to the iPad and then I think you could see some significant sales.

Wayne · 2010-04-26, 02:52 PM

You will need the quality and quantity of apps to be high as well. If this device could play all common video files and also access content like books from Amazon Kindle then that would really help. One of my biggest issues with the iPad is that you can't directly play most video files such as AVIs,MPEGs and MKVs.

Tikker · 2010-04-26, 03:02 PM

the archos units just wtfpwn the apple units as media devices, it's not even close

i can toss 720p .mkv files at it with no issues

Cisco99 · 2010-04-26, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tikker

the archos units just wtfpwn the apple units as media devices, it's not even close

i can toss 720p .mkv files at it with no issues

And I can transcode live, over wifi or the internet, 720p Mkv, Divx, Avi, or even Flv, to the iPad from my PC with a $2.99 app called Air Video. It'll transcode and downrez 1080p to it just fine also.

To each their own but "wtfpwn"? lol.

Wayne · 2010-04-26, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tikker

the archos units just wtfpwn the apple units as media devices, it's not even close

i can toss 720p .mkv files at it with no issues

The Archos 9 looks pretty sweet but the battery life is only 5 hours which is a bit of an issue.

Tikker · 2010-05-06, 05:39 PM

I use air video with my iPod touch as well

native archos blows the iPhone os away as a media platform

2010-03-04, 02:00 PM	#1
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	Archos Android tablets to compete with iPad Less than a month prior to when the Apple iPad is expected to reach retail stores, Archos, the Denver based company which introduced the first portable video player in 2003, has announced two new Android-based tablet computers. __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

2010-03-05, 05:26 PM	#6
Coop Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Calgary, Bell Posts: 828	I think it's more suited as a photo frame with perks than a tablet, which may be appealing to a lot of people. __________________ Pioneer PDP-6020FD, Denon 3808CI, OPPO BDP-83, HB HTPC, HP MSS, Mirage FRx 7, S10 Sub

2010-04-26, 08:40 AM	#10
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	I doubt these units will fair well in the marketplace. To echo SensualPoet, give us an Android 2.1 device in a form factor comparable to the iPad and then I think you could see some significant sales. __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

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2010-03-04, 03:30 PM	#2
Momorider Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 91	What is up with the size of the bezel on that thing?

2010-03-04, 04:00 PM	#3
NeilN Veteran Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: North York Posts: 1,616	In the second pic? I'm guessing that's the photo frame you can snap on.

2010-03-05, 12:27 AM	#4
Gord Lacey Veteran Join Date: May 2003 Location: Edmonton Posts: 1,746	I think that's the whole unit - I read about it on Archos.com and there's no mention of anything optional with the unit. Man, is it ever ugly! Gord

2010-03-05, 09:31 AM	#5
NeilN Veteran Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: North York Posts: 1,616	Looks like you're right. What are they thinking?

2010-04-25, 05:54 PM	#7
SensualPoet Veteran Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Downtown Toronto • Toshiba 52XL177 • HD DVD Toshiba • Rogers HDPVR Cisco 8642 Posts: 2,886	I'd be inclined to hold off for a bit. The Archos 7 is now available for pre-sale from Amazon in the US and can be pre-ordered online in various places. It seems to be going for $250-$300 running Android 1.6. This isn't exactly a direct competitor for an Apple iPad which is just shy of 10" screen -- admittedly at twice the price. There will be a slew of these 7"-ish devices coming to market in the coming 60 days or so; with the larger screens more likely to come later in the year. If the iPad is not to your taste (perhaps because of the 4:3 ratio screen, lack of a USB port, lack of iPad Adobe Flash support at websites, etc), similar screen size and weight units are coming under Android 2.1. I'd tend to hold out for those. But this is REALLY early to be buying unless you are a cutting edge hobbyist.

2010-04-25, 09:13 PM	#8
Larry Veteran Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ottawa, Ontario (Rogers) Posts: 1,521	Sure seems to be that the new battleground is the OS - Android vs iPhone OS (is there a name?). I don't think Windows Mobile (or whatever its latest name is) will ever be a real competitor in the "small" screen market. There is no reason that Google (or a partner) can't put out a iPad competitor (perhaps AnPad?). It will come down to the applications and acceptance of the OS. This will be interesting - with Microsoft just watching from the sidelines as Apple and Google battle for supremacy.

2010-04-26, 06:08 AM	#9
Tikker Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: SaskTel Posts: 895	Android is too fractured ATM to be a real competitor.

2010-04-26, 02:52 PM	#11
Wayne Veteran Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Scarboro Posts: 5,568	You will need the quality and quantity of apps to be high as well. If this device could play all common video files and also access content like books from Amazon Kindle then that would really help. One of my biggest issues with the iPad is that you can't directly play most video files such as AVIs,MPEGs and MKVs.

2010-04-26, 03:02 PM	#12
Tikker Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: SaskTel Posts: 895	the archos units just wtfpwn the apple units as media devices, it's not even close i can toss 720p .mkv files at it with no issues

2010-05-06, 05:39 PM	#15
Tikker Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: SaskTel Posts: 895	I use air video with my iPod touch as well native archos blows the iPhone os away as a media platform