What are we expecting from the Archos 5 Gen 8?

[The_Blood_Raven]

Hello, my Archos 5 Gen 6 has seen better days and i'm looking for an upgrade. The problem is that the ONLY device in existence that meets my needs is the Dell Streak, which has weak media playback and horrible sound while costing $550. Needless to say I'm very anxious to see what Archos releases.

This is what I want:
-Full google apps and all the requirements met for it, like an accelerometer.
-android 2.2 or an impending update to 2.2. Full flash is what I'm going for.
-Capacitive, multi-touch screen.

The rest Archos has nailed. They already have a decent sound chip, though I would LOVE to see an upgrade, decent media programs, a good form factor, large capacity, and fair prices. Not to mention no other device, that doesn't run full windows natively of course, can match Archos' media playback.

So what ARE we expecting from Gen 8? I know what I want from it, but I don't know what is confirmed or is likely.

Thanks.

[seraphimprime]

Apparently we should expect tiny unresponsive screens with resolutions less than that of even cheap chinese knock offs.

If that's the route that Archos is taking, I'm hoping they do something magnificent with the UI that knocks the ball out of the park.

Until we actually See a 10" model, we're left looking at a 3.2" and a 2.8" that are less than appealing when compared to many alternatives out there.

[The_Blood_Raven]

I thought there were 4.3" and 5" variants coming out as well.

[AllenPapapetrou]

Charbax reported that Archos is holding a press conference 30 Aug to announce the Gen8s. Then he will be attending an Expo 3 Sep where the Gen8 tablets will go on display.

Allen

[The_Blood_Raven]

So we basically know nothing, classic Archos. I don't really mind though, I realize why they do it. Well, the 30th isn't that far away at least. Good ol' Charbax, always dedicated to giving us info on Archos.

Hopefully Archos won't disappoint, and to be honest the things I want from their new products aren't that difficult, and are easily the most no-brainer updates for it. Though I will be surprised to see a capacitive screen.

[viking]

I thought there were 4.3" and 5" variants coming out as well.

Did you overlook charbax's exact proposal of umpteen models on one of these recent threads, from 2 to 10 inch and with guessed features of each on in a 2d grid.

[ZuZu416]

Well I see on the Archos 32 pic that you can now see the last songs you loaded, plus your favorites and recently played, I hope those features and maybe some kind of auto dj will make the jump to the 5 inch version, for anyone with over 1000 songs it becomes a chore to try find songs you loaded recently, especially on such a powerful device, it should be that way, glad to see they're improving the music side of things and hope there's more

[map002]

Some people seem to want to extrapolate the features on the two tiny cheaper tablets out across the line. It seems Charbax's eternal hyper-optimism seems to create equal and opposing hyper-pessimism... :D

Although we don't know for sure, there should be some higher-end components in the 5" and 7" models (and, it seems, a 9" or 10" form-factor as well). There should also be multitouch capacitive screens and, possibly, 3G data connectivity options according to leaked roadmap info from some time ago. It remains to be seen how much of that made the finished products to be unveiled soon.

One can only hope that the bigger units will meet all of Google's basic Android HW requirements. We have no proof of that yet, though, so Archos might disappoint us again or they might not. Only time will tell.

Michael

[jkajolin]

I see it going like this (purely on speculation)

Archos 28
Archos 32
Archos 5" 16GB SDD
Archos 9" 32GB SDD
Archos 10" 64GB SDD

- only 10" model would have capactive screen
- only 10" would have forward facing camera
- 9" and 10" would have 3G option on Q1 2011

Sales

- 28 and 32 will go sale on 10/2010
- 5",9" and 10" will go sale on 11/2010
- Android 2.2 upgrade on Q1 2011
- 7HT and 8HT product lines are roadmapped to be replaced on Q3 2011

[map002]

You missed the 7" tablet scheduled for Gen 8.

Michael

[jkajolin]

You missed the 7" tablet scheduled for Gen 8.

Michael

No I did on purpose, thinking that archos will not replace the current 7" and 8" models.
But we will see.

[map002]

There is no 8" model in the IT line. Never has been. I suppose you're thinking of that picture frame they're selling, that's not an Archos device.

Michael

[jkajolin]

There is no 8" model in the IT line. Never has been. I suppose you're thinking of that picture frame they're selling, that's not an Archos device.

Michael

Well not IT line but that is the one. http://www.pixmania.com/fi/fi/5551480/a ... -4-gt.html
And yes it seems to be only a picture frame, no actual OS fuctionality.

[AllenPapapetrou]

The A8HT has the same functionality as the A7HT.

Allen

[map002]

No, it's got Android on it. For those who must have a picture frame with Android for whatever reason.

But it's just an OEM device that Archos is reselling, it's not an Archos design. None of the HT devices are made or designed by Archos (although the A7 HT uses an Archos case design, none of the HW or FW is by Archos).

Michael

[Charbax]

I'll post you what I speculated in this previous post posted August 3rd to here http://forum.archosfans.com/viewtopic.p ... 60#p241160

Archos 28 8GB = $99 = no cam no accelerometre no gps + 800mhz + 256MB RAM + QVGA

Archos 32 8GB = $149 = no gps + vga cam + accelerometre + 800mhz + 256MB RAM +WQVGA

Archos 43 8GB = $199 = capacitive + hdmi/dvr + hd cam + 1ghz + 512MB RAM + FWVGA + gps + accelerometer + compass/gyro maybe + MicroSD slot

Archos 50 8GB = $249 = capacitive + hdmi/dvr + hd cam + 1ghz + 512MB RAM + WVGA + gps + accelerometer + compass/gyro maybe + MicroSD slot

Archos 70 8GB = $299 = capacitive + hdmi/dvr + hd cam + 1ghz + 512MB RAM + WSVGA + gps + accelerometer + compass/gyro maybe + MicroSD slot

Archos 101 8GB = $349 = capacitive Pixel Qi + hdmi/dvr + hd cam + 1ghz + 512MB RAM + WSVGA + gps + accelerometer + compass/gyro maybe + MicroSD slot

More storage options:

For all: +$50 for 32GB

For 43, 50, 70 and 101: +$100 for 500GB, +$150 for 64GB and +$150 for 750GB.

[v_c]

More storage options:

For all: +$50 for 32GB

For 43, 50, 70 and 101: +$100 for 500GB, +$150 for 64GB and +$150 for 750GB.

You can walk into a shop and buy a 750GB 2.5" drive for $110. This means someone buying in bulk direct from the manufacturer should get them for significantly less than $100.

No way I would pay an extra $150 over and above the flash model for 750GB storage.

[seraphimprime]

Some people seem to want to extrapolate the features on the two tiny cheaper tablets out across the line. It seems Charbax's eternal hyper-optimism seems to create equal and opposing hyper-pessimism... :D

I see what you did there!

*does the two fingers at eyes thing*

[map002]

Curses! My rhetorical tricks have once again been my undoing! AIIEEEE! :D

Michael

[map002]

But in all seriousness, i understand both the optimism and the pessimism.

Over the years, Archos has done some absolutely brilliant things in terms of both HW and FW functionality and aspects of some of the things that they made just really knocked me out with how good they were.

At the same time, they've pulled some absolutely boneheaded manoeuvres I wouldn't expect out of 2nd year MIS/business students working an a theoretical 'how to run an electronics firm' project.

So they do seem to have this appalling ability to be both brilliant and awful simultaneously. It's just a roll of the dice as to which part of each device will be brilliant or awful (except for the UI, of course. Any UI they design is going to be mediocre to bad forever and ever amen. ;) )

Michael