MID, Smartphone, MIDPhone, Mini-tablet, PMP. Who cares! This FCC filing gives us enough to get excited about, whatever the keyword.
The A5S and A5H have appeared in an FCC filing and confirm a lot of the rumors but for me, seeing the very thin top and bottom frame in the picture makes me think that this is going to be very pocketable for a 4.8″ device. With the high-quality Android on-screen keyboard (I’m hoping that the keyboard is an open-source component and that Archos haven’t had to drop their own version in.) this really could be a very special tablet-style device. The only thing that should concern us is that this is clearly a branch of Android that supports the Ti OMAP 3 platform. While there could be good compatibility between branch, clearly it’s not a good thing to see a Linux distribution splintering. Lets hope that Archos are passing their OMAP and video-playback goodness upstream so that everyone can benefit.
The Archos MIDs are due to be launched on Sept 15th but I’m guessing there’s be some leaked info before then. Images and more info at Slashgear and Engadget.
Thanks Chris.
Archos Android MIDs A5S and A5H revealed in FCC filing – SlashGear.
P.S. One more thing – I hope it’s not coming in White! Related news in the right hand columns.
New article: Archos Android MIDs Revealed. OMAP + Android goodness on the way! http://cli.gs/56pb6
What’s wrong with white?
The FCC shows a black version as well.
The branching of Android is not because of the Texas Instruments processor, it’s more because Archos is introducing 800×480 and even 720p HDMI output interface possibilities for Android on http://appslib.com
Also, Archos is introducing guidelines to develop Android applications that can take advantage of powerful 3D acceleration, so look forward to video game consoles up to N64 and Dreamcast being emulated right there (and I am imagining a gamepad dock to add gaming control buttons).
Also, Archos is introducing full DivX, XviD, H264, Mpeg2, WMV, On2 codecs, Flash video and any other codecs at full bitrates and resolutions, something no other Android device does yet.
So because of all this, Archos is branching Android on http://appslib.com
Yet there is no reason Archos won’t provide an open Android device so that you could download the Android applications from anywhere else on the web and install them in one-click. As long as the eventual carriers that eventually subsidize the Archos with a data contract, don’t ask Archos to block VOIP, IM and tethering style applications.
And anyways, all Android applications will probably work fine even if they were designed for 2.5x lower resolution and 2x smaller screens. Upscaling the applications is easy to do. As long as Archos includes an electronic compass and GPS, then all this should be fine. Accelerometers and Bluetooth has been confirmed already.
if i am reading the manual text included, its a A5G model on its way to, and that will contain a mobile phone radio…
Fsck Yeah! This could be a good alternative to the N900 if the mobile radio support is good.
There are actually some good ARM MIDs on the horizon. Any chance of a carrypad to replace the Raon Everun?
We’re close to having a clutch of Carrypad devices now. I’m happy. I hope others are too!
Fsck yeah!
only problem is cost. but then who said it would be cheap being geek? ;)
I expect the Archos A5 to start at $199 for the lowest capacity model (perhaps a Flash memory only model) without any type of subsidy. So I don’t think cost will be a problem.
if thats the case, i may get one if it has high app compatibility with what shows up on the phones.
At 199 I won’t expect it to have 3G but I think i’d rather have it than a (current) ipod touch.
Yup, I think at $199 it’ll probably be WiFi-only. But I expect that for $50 more you could have totally unlocked built-in 3G HSUPA as well. And obviously, the 3G version could also be sold subsidized to $99 or less when bought locked at a certain 3G carrier with a data subscription plan.
Even evil 3G carriers like AT&T in the USA or Vodaphone in Europe could sell this for 99€ with a 15€ per month contract. Since the HSUPA data is only used on this tablet, the carrier could ask Archos to lock-out certain Android applications that may do things like VOIP, Tethering as well as locking the downloading or streaming of high bandwidth things (displaying a message: “Please do this high bandwidth type of activity over WiFi”). Or better I prefer a contract at 15€ per month for 5GB or 10GB at least of unrestricted data usage. Thus absolutely no restrictions on VOIP, IM, Tethering, DivX streaming, podcast downloading and whatever other high bandwidth things that people might want to do. Android could easily display a Bandwidth meter on the top right corner of the device so users know if they are approaching their monthly HSDPA transfer limits after which they may have to pay another 15€ for another 5GB or 10GB of bandwidth to use.
Buying this device for $249 or 249€ with unlocked HSUPA sim card reader built-in, this could be a really awesome buy. You would just insert any data-only HSUPA sim card in it such as the one from tchibo.de for 20€ per month just pre-paid each month for 5GB of usage without contract. Then run Google Voice, Skype, SIP and all types of IM, Google Wave, Friendfeed notifiers and all other such types of things on this.
hmm, something just dawned on me. any bluetooth?
never mind, slashgear mention bluetooth. now if i can get one at $199 with bluetooth, i’ll order one more or less on the day…
Keep in mind that Archos has a frequent policy of breaking promises about features not available on launch day. You should only ever buy an Archos product for what it’s already capable of doing – or else you have a high probability of being disappointed.
Charbax had similar conjecture about emulation and gaming when the Archos 5 was launched, and the Pandora was similarly announced using the same processor. So don’t get your hopes up.
All that said, I’d be very interested in the flash version of this device – but only if it’s truly as open as expected.
Polloloco has a point and given that Archo’s tech support is possibly one of the worse I have ever seen it’s beyond piss poor
Also it seems that the really nice glossy screens on the early Archos 5 have been replaced with cheap matt ones
For the record I have 3 Archos 605Wifi Archos 5 (broken) and an Archos 7
Rob