Archos working on SIM card-equipped players?
There's not a whole lot to go on here, but according to France's Challenges magazine, Archos is set to further expand its linup-up of players next year with some new SIM card-equipped models. While there's no indication that the devices will actually double as a phone, you will apparently be able to at least get in some 3G-enhanced web browsing, which would certainly be more convenient (albeit pricier) than tracking down WiFi hotspots each time you're out and about. Also according to Challenges, it seems that both France's SFR and Neuf-Cegetel are "starting to look very closely" at Archos' gear, although that's obviously still as up in the air as the rumored device itself.[Via Archos Lounge, thanks JohnBe]
Filed under: Multimedia, Others, Misc
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rob Fleming @ Nov 14th 2007 5:21PM
Archos needs to go back to the drawing board.
Their devices are horrible.
The quality of the screens surface material is horrid. It cannot be seen during the daytime. Archos, put on a transflective screen for christs sake.
The battery life is trash. You can not get it to ever fully charge without "buying" a seperate charger. Im not lying, it can sit on the charger for days and never finish charging.
You cannot use the built in 'stand' with the unit while on the docking cable...it just tips over. They want you to "buy" a docking station.
It drains the battery when you use wifi. It also gets hot while using the wifi.
You cant browse the internet without 'buying' a plugin to do it.
Its a trashy device, with trashy interface. Archos, go pick up an iPod or an iPhone. Thats how you design a media player. Can you at least just copy the competition?
Miikun @ Nov 14th 2007 7:58PM
I wouldn't say they're horrible. First, not every manufacturer is large enough to say "I want AU optronics to supply me a 4.3" WVGA transflective screen, on yeah and I only need a couple hundred thousand. And I want it competitively cheap". An Apple or a Nokia could do it. An Archos can't.
Battery life is not trash, but they were cheap for not supplying a high current 5v charger, since lots of laptops can't put out 500ma without USB voltage dipping pretty low.
True about the stand, but then I can't even prop up my ipod with the charge cable in place either. Without a seperate charging stand that is.
Most of my devices drain power when using Wifi too.
I don't think anyone else offers a $300 hdd pmp with Wifi capability. Archos simply makes all the features a-la-carte. At least it handles flash.
As for the interface, Archos probably just didn't want to get sued by Creative for ripping off their interface. Perhaps they didn't want to become Meizu, and just copy everybody's IP. I personally find the interface just fine. If Apple or Creative came out with a WVGA PMP, I probably would have gotten one of those instead, since they have cheaper accessories. However since they don't, this is still a better PMP if watching videos is your primary concern.