Archos announces GPS, Flash 9, Paramount movie downloads
Last week Archos announced some interesting new additions to its product line, most notably the GPS add-on to the flagship 605 WiFi, which lets you use the CNET award-winning PMP as a GPS device in-car. It'll be available from May for £99 without a 605 WiFi, or for £299 with a 30GB 605 WiFi included.
We checked it out and liked what we saw. If you already own a 605 WiFi and are in the market for a GPS system, we think this may well be a deal worth investigating. Obviously we'll have a review as soon as possible for you to check out before you hand over any pictures of the Queen.
But that's not all Archos announced. It also told us it was adding Adobe Flash 9 to the 605 WiFi, which, along with Flash-utilising sites such as YouTube, means the BBC's streaming iPlayer service is compatible. This upgrade -- in a miraculous move for the micro-transaction-mad French company -- will be free when released in May from the Archos Web site.
Another new add-on will not be free, however -- Archos also announced a new Web radio and TV plugin for the 605 WiFi. It's not clear how this will look, as we only had a brief peek at a screenshot that was shown as part of a slideshow, but we were told that a podcast directory will bring the world of on-demand programming to the player. This, too, will see May availability.
Paramount Pictures also got in on the action by inking a deal with Archos to supply on-demand movies as both rental and download-to-own titles, directly to the 605 WiFi. At launch -- again in May -- about 160 titles will be available, and Archos told us the catalogue and partner roster would be extended significantly over time. No prices or deals were discussed, but we were told downloads would be DRMed and not movable from the device to, say, a laptop.
Finally, users of the Archos TV+ will get an update in May that adds Slingbox-esque functionality to the system, called TVportation. This will let you access live TV and anything that's on the TV+ via the Web, using 605 WiFis, 705 WiFis, laptops and even Symbian and Windows Mobile-based smartphones. It'll be a free update for Archox TV+ systems registered to the Archos Web site, or £29.99 for the plugin to put this functionality inside the Archos DVR station.
Keep your eyes peeled on Crave for more updates and hands-on reports as soon as we get a chance to finger and prod these new additions to the Archos world. Safe to say you'll be able to check out Car Tech every week right from the palm of your hand. That's good news for all concerned. -Nate Lanxon
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AnonymousWed 30 April, 2008 9:53pm
Unfortunately iPlayer doesn't work with the new update, it is so slow it isn't usable
AnonymousFri 2 May, 2008 6:59pm
It's ridiculous - non of the flash sites requiring flash 9 work with the new firmware - not even embedded youtube (they worked before??)
The claims that Archos have made are nothing less than lies .
AnonymousFri 16 May, 2008 6:37pm
mine works fine. i couldn't be happier with my archos 605 160g. the only complaint i have is the gps claims to come out in may but here it is may 16th and no gps yet i am taking a 700 mile drive in a week and was hoping to use it to road test it. try reinstalling the firmware update, the first time i did the update it didnt take. the second time i didnt unplug it to soon and it works fine. or maybe it is you wifi connection, it may be to slow. i run @ 12mbps constant and 16 mb boost
AnonymousMon 14 July, 2008 6:38pm
heip i have archos 705wifi need to know if gps car holder for it how much is it
as well
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andydandyTue 29 April, 2008 10:37am
The Archos plug ins are a drawback, not least if you want to buy another one then the expense starts again. We have a 605 160 Gb, a DVR docking station and a portable docking station. They do what it says on the packet with the upgrades. But the additional plug-ins to make this function were 70 quid. Plus another 70 for the DVR docking station and 20 odd for the travel station. Don’t think that this is going to work without it. Now that is a lot of cash. I would like a 705, but with the upgrades this comes in at a whopping 420 pounds with wifi, podcast and the ability to play all formats. This is very expensive, especially as in the US this is the equivalent of 280 pounds including the plugins. Now VAT is 17.5% but even so the UK price is 100 pounds more expensive. Rip off Britain anyone? There cannot be any distribution charges for the plug in, it is a download.
This would not be so bad if you could buy the Archos product and use the plug ins on multiple units you may own, but this you cannot do. Also if you lose it or if it is stolen then the plug ins go with it. These are machine specific. You cannot save them to the PC and get another one. So a functioning Archos is at least 50 pounds more than the list price.
I am kind of happy with the Archos, but will not buy another one. A small laptop is looking to be cheaper and more practical. Now if Apple did a Touch with a hard drive they would further increase their market domination. Or a PSP with a hard drive, or?
Archos need to improve the experience with their products, otherwise you are just drip-feeding them cash. It is a bit of a rip off.