After an eighth-gen Archos tablet was spotted last week, we knew a new model was on the way; now the FCC has tipped the French company’s hand, and revealed the Android powered Archos 32 Internet Tablet. Toting a 3.2-inch 400 x 240 touchscreen, capacitive buttons, Bluetooth and WiFi, the Archos 32 also gets GPS and an ARM Cortex A8 on the inside.
Curiously, there’s no mention of what looks to be a camera lens on the back of the unit in the user manual itself, though given that manual also shows images of a different Archos PMP it’s possible the company are still yet to finalize its content. The teardown photos from the FCC look to show a camera unit on the ‘board inside, certainly.
According to last week’s leak, the Archos 32 will be priced at around $150 and support MPEG-4 HD, H.264 and WMV (among others) at up to 720p HD resolution. The manual also tips a number of docks and car-mounts.
If you are a fan of Archos tablets, some interesting information has leaked out today. The specifications for a new generation 8 tablet have hit the web and the device will run Android 2.1.
The information was leaked by JR.com and showed that the new device will be the Archos 32 and will have 8GB of storage and sell for about $150 making it one of the cheaper tablets out there. The screen is a small 3.2-inch 400 x 240 resolution unit.
The CPU inside the little device is an ARM Cortex A8 and the tablet will support a ton of video and audio formats including MPEG-4 HD, H.264, WMV, and lots more. That 720p video is supported at 24fps and 12Mbps in MPEG-4 HD format. The tablet also packs in WiFi, Bluetooth EDR, and composite video output.
It’s been a while since we’ve heard about Archos’ notebook aspirations, but fresh to the company’s French site is the new Archos 13. A 13.3-inch ultraportable, based on Intel’s dual-core Atom D510 processor, 1GB of RAM and a 160GB HDD, the Archos 13 runs Windows 7 and is available for €399.98 ($481).
There’s also WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, along with 10/100 ethernet and an integrated modem. No HDMI output, sadly, only VGA, while other ports include three USB 2.0, an MMC/SD/SDHC memory card reader, and audio in/out. The whole thing tips the scales at 1.6kg with its 6-cell battery.
Frankly we’re not all that impressed by the specifications, and we wish Archos – in keeping with their multimedia focus – had stumped up the extra cash for a 1080p-capable GPU, like NVIDIA’s Ion or Broadcom’s Crystal HD. Still, if you’re desperate to keep it French, you know where to go.
That Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet has proven to be a hackable little device. Back in early May, we talked about the Archos 5 getting an unofficial Maemo hack to replace Android.
The Archos 5 has now gained OpenGL capability and some sweet new gaming chops that Mobile gamers will appreciate. The video below shows the Archos 5 playing some old school 80’s style games along with a newer music game smoothly.
In case you are wondering, this feature has been enabled by Archos, not a group of modders looking to add a bit of functionality themselves. The news was revealed at Computex this week.
Maemo might be evolving into MeeGo, but it’s going by a circuitous route that takes in some Archos 5 play along the way, albeit unofficially. A group of Archos tinkerers have been persuading Maemo (in its Mer form) to run on both the Archos 5 Internet Tablet (usually found running Android) and the Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet, and while it’s not a perfect implementation it does at least function.
Video demos after the cut
Performance is actually pretty impressive, certainly on the Internet Tablet, which loads into Maemo quickly and then whips through the menus. WiFi seems to be the main stumbling point right now, though, which could put a dampener on your internet browsing.
From a usability standpoint, you’re probably better off sticking with the native OS on the two MIDs. Still, if you’re keen nonetheless, instructions on how to install it yourself, together with the images for download, are available here.
Given the Archos 7 Home Tablet has been lurking around on Amazon since the beginning of April, it comes as no surprise to hear the French company officially announcing it; still, we’ll happily accept a firm shipping date. Priced at $199.99 for the 8GB version of the 7-inch Android-based slate, Amazon say we can expect it from May 17th.
As the name suggests, Archos aren’t expecting owners to drop the Archos 7 Home Tablet into their bags and tote it around the local Starbucks. Instead it’s intended as a domestic tablet, with the ability to cope with up to 720p HD video files (though it only has an 800 x 480 resistive touchscreen), WiFi and internet access.
Archos reckon the Archos 7 HT will last for up to seven hours of video playback or 44hrs of audio from a single charge, and while you can’t access the Android Market via the tablet you can at least browse their (much reduced) AppsLib software store. It’s available for preorder now.
ARCHOS Brings the First Large Screen Android-Based Tablet Under $200
ARCHOS Introduces the First Android Home Tablet With a 7 Inch Touch Screen, Web Browser, High Definition Video and Android Applications, Taking Home Portability to a Whole New Level
DENVER, CO–(Marketwire – May 6, 2010) – ARCHOS, a top innovator in the portable media market, announced today the new ARCHOS 7 home tablet that combines the best of web browsing, multimedia, live information, social networking and Apps, and testifies to ARCHOS’ strategy of offering innovative electronic products with extremely competitive pricing.
The ARCHOS 7 home tablet sees the debut of the first large-screen Android-based tablet. Bridging the gap between the Smartphone and the desktop PC, the ARCHOS 7 provides always-on access to the web, email, photo, video and a dedicated library of Android Apps enabling users to customise the device to their lifestyle.
The stylish ARCHOS 7 home tablet sports a high resolution 7 inch touch screen (800×480) and a super slim form factor at just .47 of an inch thick. Weighing in at 0.8lb, it is extremely portable and can be used in any room of the home. With built-in Wi-Fi, users can connect to a home network while on the move throughout the house. The USB connection makes transferring files from a PC, digital camera or other digital devices very simple. The ARCHOS 7 is also a low-power consumption device providing seven hours of video playback or 44 hours of music on a single charge.
“The ARCHOS 7 is great for the whole family. Anyone can use the ARCHOS 7 to stay up to date on email, news and weather, catch up on TV shows, get the recipe of the day or update a social media profile,” said Henri Crohas, ARCHOS Chief Executive Officer. “This tablet is just perfect for times when a Smartphone is not enough and a computer just too much.”
Multimedia showcase
With a large 7″ high resolution touch screen (800×480), the ARCHOS 7 home tablet has been specifically developed with multimedia in mind. The home tablet provides the best HD movie viewing experience (at 720p) in the kitchen, bedroom, living room or garden. Its brilliant screen makes it a high-quality photo display. The ARCHOS 7 can easily replace your radio with its on-board MP3 player and access to the free music streaming service, Deezer.
Apps to meet all lifestyles
The ARCHOS 7 home tablet comes with a selection of pre-installed Apps ready for use including the popular eBuddy instant messaging app, Aldiko for downloading and reading thousands of books, DailyPaper for viewing your favorite newspaper and much more.
Users also have the option to customize their home tablet by downloading their favorite App. AppsLib offers unlimited access to free and paid Apps developed specifically for the large 7-inch touch screen display of the ARCHOS 7. With a range of apps available to fit any lifestyle, the ARCHOS 7 can easily become an ebook reader, give access to cooking recipes, news, weather and games, and provide recommendations on theatres or restaurants.
Communication and connectivity
With Wi-Fi on board, the ARCHOS 7 home tablet easily connects to a home network and gives you constant access to the Internet. Its high-resolution, 7-inch touch screen, allows consumers to surf the Web in full width, send email, tweets or update Facebook pages as if they were surfing on their home PC. Download your personal applications from Appslib and the ARCHOS 7 home tablet will become the perfect tablet for the entire family.
Pricing and Availability
The ARCHOS 7 home tablet will be available in June at $199.99 SRP through selected retailers. Exclusive pre-orders are available at Amazon.com, with product shipping mid May. Order information and customer support details are available from our website: www.archos.com.
Archos had already spilled the beans on their plans to flesh out the Internet Tablet range this coming summer, but the company’s recent travels to China have outed a few new tidbits along the way. Apparently Generation 8 of the Archos Internet Tablet range will consist of six new models, with screen sizes ranging from 3- to 10-inches and prices from $100 to $350.
As we heard before, Archos are looking to the ARM Cortex processor range with clock speeds between 800MHz and 1GHz, together with 3G OpenGL support. There’ll also be multitouch support, something lacking from the current generation of Internet Tablet hardware.
We’re presuming that the new range will run Android with Archos’ UI modifications – and their AppLibs replacement to the Android Market – in place, though there’s no confirmation with it so far. Hopefully we’ll hear more at Computex in June 2010.
We’re expecting it to launch imminently, in Europe at least, but while we wait for the Archos 7 Home Tablet to finally arrive we can at least entertain ourselves with the freshly-published FCC report. They’ve done their usual hack-job on the Android-based slate, with external and internal photos together with the full (if sparse) user manual to browse through.
The Archos 7 HT has a 7-inch resistive touchscreen, 600MHz ARM9 processor and integrated WiFi b/g, together with stereo speakers and a battery that will last up to 7hrs. Unfortunately, the manual confirms that you won’t get full Android Market access, at least not without a hack or two; instead there’s Archos’ own AppsLib for downloading titles suited to the tablet’s screen and connectivity capabilities.
While we had mixed feelings about the Archos 7 Home Tablet at launch, subsequent previews suggested that – within the boundaries of what it sets out to do – it’s actually a reasonably impressive device. What remains to be seen is how much it might launch for in the US; in Europe it kicks off at €149 ($199) for a 2GB model, with an 8GB version coming in at €179 ($239).
Archos promised we could expect the Archos 7 Home Tablet – announced back at CeBIT 2010 – sometime in April 2010, but it looks like the 7-inch touchscreen slate could be arriving in tandem with the iPad. German retailer Redcoon.de reckon they’ll have the Archos 7 HT in stock in a week’s time, though it’s the slightly more expensive 8GB model rather than the €149 ($203) entry-level 2GB version.
Meanwhile Amazon Germany are suggesting only that the Home Tablet will arrive “soon”. The Archos 7 HT has a 7-inch resistive touchscreen, a battery good for up to 7hrs of video playback or 44hrs of audio playback, and runs the Android OS underneath Archos’ own UI. Despite a relatively underpowered processor initial feedback seems promising, with decent browsing speeds, 720p HD media playback (assuming your files aren’t at too high a bitrate) and good stereo speakers.
Archos have got around to updating their Archos 9 PC Tablet with the promised 1.2GHz Intel Atom Z515 processor, boosting performance slightly over the original 1.1GHz chip. Now available to order for $549.99 at the company’s US store, it’s unclear whether Archos have changed any other of the specifications – we’re hoping for a faster hard-drive, frankly – since the spec page still details the older model.
Still, we do know that the Archos 9 still has an 8.9-inch resistive touchscreen, roughly five hour battery life and both WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, along with a 1.3-megapixel webcam. OS is Windows 7 Starter Edition, and the whole thing measures just 0.67-inches thick. In our own hands-on with the first-gen Archos 9, we found it was surprisingly heavy for continued handheld use, though build-quality was high.
If you are a fan of Archos tablets, some interesting information has leaked out today. The specifications for a new generation 8 tablet have hit the web and the device will run Android 2.1.
That Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet has proven to be a hackable little device. Back in early May, we talked about the Archos 5 getting an 
