If you're familiar with the old Archos 5 portable media player, this one's different. The new Archos 5 Internet Tablet has the old movie- and music-playing features but is based on the Google Android version of Linux, designed for mobile phones. Apps available via Archos's AppsLib Store will presumably have been adapted for the 5 inch (actually 4.8 inch) 800 x 480 pixel touch-sensitive screen.
Archos says it will include several pre-installed Android apps "including the popular eBuddy instant messaging app, Twidroid for sending and receiving tweets, Craigsphone for posting or accessing classified ads, Thinksfree [ie ThinkFree Mobile] for viewing Microsoft Office files, Quickpedia and much more."
You can browse the internet using Wi-Fi or via a Bluetooth connection to a mobile phone. This provides access to thousands of internet radio stations and streaming videos. However, it also has built-in FM radio (receiver and transmitter), and you can use it to record TV via a DVR Station accessory or, in Europe, the optional TV Snap-on. Archos says an optional HD Cinema plug-in is needed to play WMV HD movies in 720p resolution as well as movies in MPEG-2/VOB format with AC3 sound.
The Archos 5 Internet Tablet comes in two basic versions. The first has 8GB to 32GB of Flash memory. The second -- which is naturally a lot thicker and heavier -- has 160GB to 500GB of hard drive space.
It goes on sale tomorrow from Archos, Amazon and various retailers at prices ranging from £199.99 to £369.99. GPS features cost extra after a seven day free trial.
The Archos 5 Internet Tablet will not be Archos's only internet tablet. It will ship the 9PCtablet around October 22: it's one of the devices awaiting the public launch of Microsoft Windows 7.
The 9PCtablet is a very thin netbook-technology tablet PC with a 9 inch touch screen, Intel Atom Z510 processor, 80GB hard disk, and built-in DVBT TV. The price is expected to be around €450-€500.
The 9PCtablet will no doubt be compared with the Apple iTablet, if such a thing ever actually appears. However, the appeal of the 9PCtablet is that it doubles as an entertainment PC and a portable TV set. I rather doubt that the iTablet will handle broadcast TV.
