Well you can do all of that on a PSP with TVersity. (Not the touch screen - but Google Video, YouTube and just about any other source too). You don't need location free - and providing the 604/704 is UPNP compatable it should work.

Of course as I said, as I don't own a 604 I can't tell if it is UPNP compatable or not - but what Tversity does is trick your player into thinking it is browsing your local collection in a compatible format. It is different from Orb, because all content is trancoded locally.

Anyway it's about 10 minutes set up. Give it a go and let me know what you find.

I don't think it supports UPNP yet.

The samba file access thing, it would have been nice to simply be able to enter an outside IP address there instead of only having the possibillity to choose among Samba file shares on the local network. If there was a way to enter the IP adress of the host, thus one could have remote Samba file streaming access, although Samba isn't really made for remote access over the Internet but mostly only for local networks, normally using Windows machines.

It might be that some software can emulate Samba file sharing by encoding for example youtube videos or HD videos in realtime using a fast Windows computer into a stream to be accessed for example on the Samba file access interface. I'd say having native and direct over Internet access to all the streaming video sources would be better.

No Java, no Flash/YouTube/Google Video, no UPNP?

You know I so much want to support Archos - but these are basic features.

I wouldn't mind moving on to a network capable device, as this would be a natural progression from the 4100, 5100, 7100 and 504 players that I have owned.

I know you are optimistic Charbax that these features will be included - but Archos are not in the habit of including unannounced features.

The features set you get at launch is usually the feature set you are stuck with. Everything else comes in the form of firmware bug fix releases. You could argue that the podcast and VOB plugins were 'additional features', however they were a part of the announced feature set from the beginning. I don't think I have ever known Archos to add features that they haven't said from the outset would be included - nor have I known them to ever respond very much to user pressure to include them.

The problem I guess is that Archos are not a big company and can't afford to ask Sun, or Adobe to make a Java/Flash version for them. But hell - let us pay. Charge users for whatever it costs to get it done and to sell them to us as plugins. I really don't see at all what the problem is?

I agree. I believe that many who purchase Archos Wifi gadgets would be willing to pay extra for flash or java plugins. I know that I would.

Raid, Archos has announced in a press release in September 2006 that some features would be added by Christmas to the 604 Wi-Fi through firmware upgrades. Listed were features like Webradio shoutcast support, video-on-demand feature, IPTV feature and a podcast downloader integrated.

Later it seems some of these have not really been confirmed, Archos might have been experiencing some problems actually have some of these features work, some even reported that Archos USA representatives said such IPTV wouldn't be supported by current hardware.



No other pocket device supports Youtube nor Google Video in their native formats. Maybe some mobiles with special operator service are starting to provide access to special re-encoded versions of some Youtube content. But that is not the same as native flash video support, and if Archos adds that support to current and/or future hardware, then Archos will be the first to be able to do it.

Javascript is supported in some ways, but not all ways it seems. It seems some sorts of Javascript that requires more processing power is not supported for now. That kind of AJAX pages like http://docs.google.com or http://meebo.com which have lots of javascripted interface features do not work.

Java support we don't care. And no portable device in the world supports the kind of java browser plugin that function on x86 based computer browsers. That kind of Java is unreliable, processor and memory intensive, and basically nearly not ever used on any website anymore.

UPNP is different. Basically that is not much different from Samba as far as I know, possibly could provide some additionnal local network services like some special kinds of media streaming. Sure it'd be fine if UPNP would be added, but I prefer that some kinds of IPTV be supported.

Well UPNP is actually more of a standard than is SAMBA. It is also much undervalued and much misunderstood - particularly by users. (Although it is as I said a widely applied industry standard). It is also much more widely supported than is SAMBA, specifically because it offers the possibility of little or no requirement for user configuration - and due it's compatibility with a very wide range of devices. If you were looking for a flexible networking solution with superior features to SAMBA, I would say that with SAMBA it is possible that you may be backing the wrong horse in terms of your preferences.

Anyway I know you are a true Archos supporter Charbax. I however am just a simple consumer and might feel inclined to be more critical. I buy the best that is on the market at any given time - and so far the best has in many cases been the Archos line of players.

However maybe if the Archos team have said that these features will be available then your optimism might be justified? I am however not sure that 'just because no other company offers YouTube/Flash 9 compatibility' is a still a compelling enough reason to buy another Archos device at this time anyway. In any case since September we really haven't heard much on this front, so I will have to take your word on that score. I think however it would be neat if someone somewhere could try to apply some pressure on Archos to try to find out when (if ever) these features will be included, as it is unfortunate for users who have bought the 604 (and who may buy the 704) that they are stuck with what is a not at this present moment a very useful networking feature. As far as I remember (and I did actually read it in the feature set before buying) the 04 range was supposed to support gapless playback too - which was for me 60% of the reason for jumping for the 04 line (so I still feel a little tricked in that regard) but that was another feature that mysteriously disappeared, or that was simply never included and which now probably has no prospect of ever being included.

As I said, maybe if Archos could give some official indication of their plans, this would sooth a lot of people's concerns. I am as I said in the market for a network capable player myself, but I have resisted so far until these features become available.

As for YouTube (or just Flash Video in general) not being supported on any other mobile devices - that is changing - as T-Mobile, Vodafone and Nokia (among others) are all phone carriers who it is expected will have this feature available in the near future.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/12/noki ... ries-vids/

Also as I have said at least in terms of the PSP all of these things (and much more) are possible via applications like TVersity and Orb - although I guess technically you are correct insofar as they are not officially supported (although they may be in future firmware releases - since Sony does have a history of adding undocumented features).

We shall see I guess. I think in any case we are talking now about the YouTube generation, where the whole Web 2.0 and social networking/music/video/IPTV scene is set to explode. Archos could take advantage of this - they could put themselves in a great position to profit significantly it - so it remains a mystery to me why they have not doing so and why they are so quiet about what their future plans really are.

Yes, that Nokia youtube probably is re-encoded youtube content to fit the kind of video bitrate, format that mobile phone operators agree to distribute. It might also not even allow for full youtube keyword search just as the normal youtube. In fact it seems "Youtube Mobile" is a special probably very low bitrate and very low resolution h264 video stream, so this is not browser based streaming flash video.

I much prefer a player that will support any flash video from the Internet than having a platform that requires a different format, bitrate and resolution specially encoded for the platform such as "Youtube Mobile" and probably some of the PSP video streaming systems (I don't think PSP supports DivX at DVD resolution for example)..

The more important, it just depends on being able to watch the content on the screen, no matter the actual format or functionalities that are used. Though I think native video support is the better solution, and that is where Archos is world leader. Supporting all those video formats at full resolutions and bitrates and now also over Wi-Fi streaming.

I'm sure UPNP is a better standard than SAMBA, and I am looking forward to it being supported also (check the Thomson Wi-Fi device I filmed last year at CeBIT which uses UPNP: http://cebitvideo.com/?p=18 ), I guess it wouldn't cost Archos some licencing fee to add UPNP support, they probably just need to decide how to add that in the interface.

Well I hope your optimism bares fruit Charbax. I however will adopt a wait and see approach.

I don't see why Archos are so silent on all of these features that you appear to be so excited about. I would be a lot more confident if at least they were giving some clear indications of what their plans are. As I said, gapless playback was a promised feature - only to be dropped and to never be heard of again.

And I think really Archos *would* be a world leader if it did do all these cool things and if it did include these features.But the fact is it hasn't done so so far, which is why I don't think what they have done is quite enough to describe the 04 product line as very revolutionary yet.

I do think the potential is there - but I don't see what the difficulty is in them utilising this potential?

With Flash and Java support - and possibly UPNP you would have a player that is ideally placed to take advantage of the forthcoming IPTV revolution.

BTW I wouldn't knock the PSP. With TVersity and DarkAlex's custom firmware - it is really an amazingly flexible device - with a vibrant homebrew scene to boot. Also the screen is the same as the screen on the 504/604 - a fact that was demonstrated by some users on this forum who damaged their 504/604 screens - so you are really splitting hairs over which device gives the best performance. Also you can playback any content (including Google Video etc) regardless of the source or format on the PSP as 'full resolution' (and even at full HDTV resolution on any other HDTV compatible device if your computer is fast enough) albeit via again, as I said with the assistance of TVersity.

I don't own a PSP - but my nephew does and it was flashing his device with a custom firmware and looking at what was possible via TVersity and the PSP which plucked my interest and I do think that it would be difficult to argue that in terms of the feature set at least that the 504/604 is ahead of the PSP. Where the PSP does fall down however is in terms of storage space - which is a bit of a deal clincher for me. I like to carry a lot of music around with me - so the PSP is too limited for me in this regard.

So yeah who knows, maybe you are right and maybe the 704 will include the features that were promised for the 604. But if that is the case, there is still the question of why they have not been included in the 604 - and why Archos have given no indications of their plans in this regard for some considerable time?

Anyway we can only try to be optimistic.

Maybe Nokia will indeed beat Archos to native flash support via the Nokia N800:

http://jaaksi.blogspot.com/index.html

Ari Jaaksi is the Head of Nokia's open source software operations and directly involved with the Nokia N800. Here's what he said:

Short term

In a few weeks (I hope) we'll release a new version of the OS2007 with a
-better Flash performance
-better video performance and quality
-longer usage times i.e. better power management
-fixes here and there

I suspect that this will be released in March or April since there's also a "Mid term" plan underway as well (for June 2007).

I'm adopting a wait and see approach. Whoever gets there first will probably end up getting my money for my next Internet/multimedia gadget.

Yup, that N800 situation confirms that good Flash video support simply hasn't existed yet on any portable device. So surely all companies including Archos must be working on porting Flash 9 or similar optimized flash video support systems, so that at leat youtube, Google Video, blip.tv and such very popular online video sources can be made to work natively on some portable devices (hopefully with some way to watch the Flash videos in full screen mode).. While it seems some other systems, including somekind of Adobe flash video server system, seem to prefer going for the transcoding solution (because players like PSP and mobile phones have too weak video decoding processors to support native video formats), just as TVersity, Slingbox, Sony TV anywhere, AMD Live, Orb, Intel Viive and more real-time transcoding solutions.

Yeah well I'll take anything that works - given that blanket WiFi coverage isn't the norm ATM anyway - so whether transcoding is done on one of my spare PC's or whether it is done naively on-board the device isn't all that important to me - providing the required networking standards and software support (read Java/Flash etc) is present.

You have great optimism Charbax about what Archos might do - but so far we have no direct evidence of any of those things happening yet.

It makes no sense really - as this is pretty much the YouTube Web 2.0 generation - so why Archos might be willing to give the impression that they might not care very much about this is quite bemusing. You are right that no other device *currently* supports recent versions of Flash, Java etc. (although there are a few in the pipeline). However that is exactly why Archos should take advantage of this market - because this is what kids everywhere probably want. What other device would be capable of showing YouTube, Google Video and others in such a neat and flexible package? All I can see is good things for Archos to come out of it. The kids out there won't be able to watch YouTube on their iPod's for one or two more iPod generations yet. But Archos (if they could get their butts into gear) have a player that is (at least technically) capable of this now.

If I am going to say what I think - then I think that this support is unlikely in Archos products. (At least in the 04 line). I don't know why, I don't understand it - but the impression I get is that this is the decision that has been taken. I hope I'm wrong and that you are right - in fact I will be very happy if I am wrong. But Archos are now as silent about these features as they are about the gapless playback feature they initially announced too. Which makes me wonder if maybe the development cost (even with users paying) might have proved too much for them - given their still relatively small user base?

http://sg.hardwarezone.com/priceguide/n ... hp?id=1905

Just bought one today.
It supports the current Archos DVR Station used by 604
2 USB ports, 1 host and 1 client
(you can copy photo/music/video directly to it form a portable HDD or camera via the host USB port)
The version I bought came with only 40GB
Unit comes with the following items
1) ARCHOS 704 Wifi (obviously)
2) Headphones (pretty basic ones, dun think I'll ever use it)
3) USB Cable & USB host adapter cable
4) 2 styli
5) Remote Control
6) Power Charger/adapter
7) Protective Case
DVR Station adapter

the 802.11g/b supports WEP and WPA
I was a little upset about the 40GB storage space but the fact that I can easily link up it up to my 160GB portable HDD kinda mitigated that limitation

Hey, could you post some pictures? Of the case also? and do you have the DVR station, could you tak pictures of it in the DVR station also?

We are eager also to see how the Browsing experience is on the 800x480 resolution touch-screen..

Could you try and count the amount of seconds it takes to turn on the device and how many seconds it takes to connect on Wi-Fi and launch the Opera browser to the point when you can browse around and enter a URL or choose a bookmark?

This brings up the question:

Do we add the 704 to the 604 Wifi forum?

Combine the 504/604/604 Wifi and give the 704 its own?

I had NO idea it was out. This is a crazy development.

Hey, could you post some pictures?
Jeff>> Sure.
Just took some photos and posted them here.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/stink_wol ... GBAk8Nz7hw


Of the case also?
Jeff>> Sure. Done that too. Same URL

and do you have the DVR station, could you tak pictures of it in the DVR station also?
Jeff>> Yup, I've got it with the DVR station. Photos are also uploaded

We are eager also to see how the Browsing experience is on the 800x480 resolution touch-screen..
Jeff>> Browsing is pretty good. Of cos, its not as responsive and fast as our top of the line desktop/laptop. But its faster than my PocketPC and PDAs. The big screen is a big welcome over my PDA.
Put it this way, besides my desktop, its now my default browser platform around the house.

Could you try and count the amount of seconds it takes to turn on the device
Jeff>> Thanks about 18secs to turn on.

and how many seconds it takes to connect on Wi-Fi
Jeff>> Took about 10sec to scan for my base station.
Entered SSID and WPA key and was connected in less than a min.
subsequent reconnects to wifi is less than 10sec. (depends on number of AP in the area) Longest it took was about 1min when there were some 30+ AP nearby)

and launch the Opera browser to the point when you can browse around and enter a URL or choose a bookmark?
Jeff>> Took about 20sec to connect to wireless, load opera and boot up the default page.

So far, my only complains are
1) Unlike the 604, you can't charge it by USB. I guess thats reasonable considering the higher power requirement. (Vison W takes 6hrs to charge by USB, which makes USB charging effectively useless anyway) Battery is swappable, so awaiting for batts to be avail.
2) Couldn't buy the Video Podcast Plug-in nor the Cinema Plug-in from the website yet. (simply wouldn't take my serial number)

Jeffrey, thanks for supplying us with the pictures and answering some of our questions.

I'm curious, does the 704 do flash (i.e. does it work on YouTube)?

Thanks,
Manny

There you go

This is insane. Why did they release it asia first? The only reason I can think of is, that they're trying to get a foot it that market.

BTW: Here is what it costs as stated in the above link:
1,099.00 SGD Singapore Dollars = 717.644 USD United States Dollars
1,099.00 SGD Singapore Dollars = 546.235 EUR Euro
1,099.00 SGD Singapore Dollars = 368.058 GBP United Kingdom Pounds

If you click on more details below the ad, this: http://www.memoryworld.com.sg/ doesn't say anything about the 704... I wanted to know if the package Jeffrey bought was the default package, because I'm kinda surprised they included all the accessories... This is something we wanted for the other generation 4 models, too...

Whoa, quite thin & a good looking case, strange.......

whats the speakers like on it, how do they compare to the weak one on the 604.
I think you said you had a 604 right?

I'm curious, does the 704 do flash (i.e. does it work on YouTube)?
Jeff>> Nope. It doesn't support utube and most flash. Great bummer

I wanted to know if the package Jeffrey bought was the default package, because I'm kinda surprised they included all the accessories...
Jeff>> Yup. Default package. Package listing were straight off the box. The only extra thing I bought was the DVR Station

how do they compare to the weak one on the 604.
Jeff>> The speakers are decent. Sounds like a set of laptop embedded speakers. Don't have a 604 but tried the 604 before. Speakers are much bigger than 604, its about 1inch x 0.5inch each.

Thanks for your reply Jeffrey! I really appreciate it! Enjoy your new 704!