Archos Announce 5 New Android Internet Tablets
Last night Archos shut their website down for a few hours maintenance. What we got when they came back online was 5 new Internet Tablet devices. Oh, and a shiny new Donut update for the Archos 5 Android Internet Tablet. Not too shabby for an hour or two’s maintenance.
All 5 of the new tablets will be running Android Froyo 2.2, will include built-in WiFi and range from the Archos 2-8 at 99euro to the Archos 10-1 at 299euro.
Starting off with the entry level, the Archos 2-8 is a music orientated player, coming in 4GB and 8GB sizes (99euro and 109euro respectively). With the 2-8 you’ll get a nice 2.8 inch touchscreen to operate with, along with the Android 2.2 OS. This one seems to be Archos’ best bet for rivalling the popular iPod Nano.
As with most product ranges, the more you spend the more you get, and this range is no exception. Splash out a bit more for the 3-2 (129euro) or the 4-3 (199euro) and you’ll get yourself a camcorder/camera which will take stills and video. As the model numbers seem to match the touchscreen sizes, you’ll get a 3.2″ touchscreen for the 3-2, and yup, a 4.3″ one for the 4-3.
One of the main differences between the 3-2 and the 4-3 is that the camcorder on the 4-3 will shoot HD video with a max. video resolution of 1280 x 720, whereas the 3-2 will only shoot regular VGA footage.
Moving on to the next level, the Archos 7-0 internet tablet comes in with a swish 7-inch touchscreen and webcam with microphone for video chat via WiFi. Archos also state that video can be recorded using the webcam and played back through your TV using the built-in HDMI port. This is a step forward, as with almost all Archos devices in the past you would need to buy an additional docking station accessory in order to play back video through your TV.
The 7-0 will come in two sizes, 8GB (269euro) and a 250GB model (299euro).
At the very top of the scale is the flagship model, the Archos 10-1. Again running on Android 2.2, it features a 10.1″ touchscreen and will come in sizes of 8GB at 269euro or 16GB at 299euro. Following the trend of making the thinnest tablet possible, Archos has managed to squeeze all this tech into a 12mm thick casing which weighs just 480 grams. Thats a whole 200 grams less than an iPad.
Inside a 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor at the very heart of the Archos 10-1, a WiFi receiver capable of wireless-n connectivity, Bluetooth, HDMI output for playing your videos back to a TV and also a built-in webcam for video calling. As with all the other tablets (except the 2-8) HD video playback is a feature, with the 10-1 being capable of displaying 720p high resolution video.
Perhaps the most interesting feature though, is that you can hook it up to your TV to play games and use the tablet itself as the controller. Due to the accelerometer and 3D open GL gaming technology, you’ll be able to tilt the tablet in your hands in order to control the game on your tv screen. I can’t wait to try out this feature, it sounds like it could be tonnes of fun. Thankfully there will be also be Flash 10.1 support, meaning you’ll be able to watch Youtube and player videos through the browser. Archos Products Available on Shop Webcam
