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.

Tablet news is on a real high this month and the latest information to hit us is something I had almost forgotten about. The Archos Android Tablet. Archos have announced an event for Sept 15th which is just days after a planned Apple event.

Pocketables have a good round-up of the announcement and information on a new app-store. Appslib. Information in AppsLib implies that we’re talking about a 5″ tablet based on the Archos 5. Not a bad thing at all given the Ti OMAP 3 underpinnings.

What worries me about this is splintering of the Android OS into self-contained ecosystems. This separation simply waters down the app ecosystem and makes it confusing for customers.  Archos has a big customer base and well-known brand though so they should be big enough to pull this off.

Pocketables: Archos confirms Sept 15th Android event, readies AppsLib app store.

Netbook manufacturers are always searching for ways to subsidise (read ‘hide’) the cost of their products. One of the ways to do this is to use the device as a point-of-sale. Apple do this with their iPhone and iPod touch and the model will appear more and more as time goes on. Expect the Archos 9 tablet PC to use a similar model because that’s just what Archos are planning with their new 10″ netbook…

Blockbuster Enhances Consumer Electronics Offering With Entertainment-Ready ARCHOS Netbook – Yahoo! Finance.

Trusted Reviews seems to have gotten some info from The Inquirer regarding the upcoming Archos 9 [Portal page] and potentially a new MID device coming after its release. TR says that the Archos 9 will run you £450 ($732 USD) for the 60GB HDD version, or £500 ($813 USD).

Another interesting bit is that there may be an Android powered device from Archos with a 5 inch screen. I’m going to imagine this would be a MID/PMP, and the first product that pops into my mind is something like the Viliv S5 [Portal page], maybe fitting considering how similar the Archos 9 is to the Viliv X70’s [Portal page] form factor.

[Engadget]

Update: Archos 9 is now in the database with all the specs and links to the important news and videos.
Looks like some of the folks over at Cnet.uk had some time to ‘finger’ (their words, not mine) the recently unveiled Archos 9 UMPC. As you’ll recall, the Archos 9 is Archos’ first foray into the world of UMPCs, though they seem to have not realized that there have already been many device like this, and think they are being ‘innovative’ by removing the keyboard from the ‘netbook’ (am I the only one that can’t help but laugh at that?). Actually, let me quote directly from their press release before we move on:

What better innovation for a Netbook than to get rid of keyboards?

Ok, I’ll give you a minute to recover from you inevitable laughter. Got it? Good.

Well then, as I was saying, the folks at Cnet.uk seem to have gotten their hands on an early sample of the Archos 9 and while they didn’t have much time to test the unit for performance, they did snap some pictures for us to examine.

These are the good sides of the device. Be sure to check out the Cnet article for a few more images. After checking out the others, you may agree with me that it appears to be decidedly pre-production. I’m hoping the device will clean up nicely before launch.

One interesting thing to note is that the resistive touchscreen on the Archos 9 is apparently so responsive that the people playing with the unit actually mistook it for a capacitive screen, which is about the best news we can hear without it actually being capacitive. Cnet is actually checking for verification just to be sure that it is resistive as stated in the press release (linked above).

Charbax has posted a very good video of a working Archos 9. A couple of points to highlight are the optical mouse and the width which would create a heavy lever-effect when holding in one hand; a problem i experienced with Pepperpad 3 a few years ago. I’m also surprised that there is no HDMI output.

Via Archosfans and @charbax

The Archos 9

[This post is updating with info from the live press conference. There’s a live discussion going on from the event here. Thanks to @charbax and ArchosFans for the live feed. Charbax will be posting video from the event and archosfans.com later.]

More updates below but one final update needs to go up here before I lock this post. We’re hearing that this could be a multi-touch device. Unconfirmed at the moment.

Windows 7 with the Intel Atom Z515 (800/1200Mz CPU), 16mm thick. 800gm, BT2.1, 802.11b/g, webcam, 120GB. Diversity (dual) tuner. 3G Option, 9″ 1024×600 screen, ethernet 10/100,  external mic, stereo speakers, vga out, 1.3mp webcam, 256mm x 134mm x 16mm

It looks extremely thin. Viliv have a challenger!

Target pricing 450 Euro. Update: Looks like 500 Euro. Availability in Autumn. (Sept/Oct)

Windows 7 delivers a great media experience with the Menlow platform so this makes sense for Archos although I wonder if they’re adding a user interface layer.

I’m worried about the hard drive though. That could be a bottlekneck for Windows 7 as it has been in the past on UMPCs.

What better innovation for a MiniPC than to get rid of keyboards?
ARCHOS once again is leading the way in innovation, with the introduction of the MiniPC of the future, the ARCHOS 9PCtablet. The ARCHOS design team has coupled groundbreaking design with the most advanced technologies, by leveraging their expertise from the design of the Internet Media Tablets. The new PC combines the performance of a high end PC with breathtaking aesthetics, excellent ergonomics and a tactile interface that ARCHOS has built their reputation on. Pure lines, extreme thinness (0.63”), less than 800g and a stunning black finish, the ARCHOS 9 pushes the boundaries of elegance and simplicity on a MiniPC, fulfilling all expectations of the most mobile users.
Intuitive and easy to use, the ARCHOS 9 delivers an unrivalled user experience, and is set to replace the traditional computer. Without a physical keyboard, it provides a virtual keyboard, very easy to use on the the resistive touchscreen, and has an optical trackpoint to let you surf the web, communicate, work and entertain anywhere.
The ARCHOS 9 incorporates the new Intel® ATOMâ„¢ Z515 processor, an 80 GB¹ hard disk, Bluetooth to tether wireless accessories, and 2 antennas to receive DVBT TV with diversity reception.
And what’s more, the ARCHOS 9 is running Microsoft® Windows 7, the latest version of the most commonly used operating system in the world.
The ARCHOS 9 provides all the power and comfort needed for daily usage.
It combines an impressive performance and a rich multimedia experience to deliver the most advanced PC in the world. Be ready to discover it.

Looks like more products are being launched too:

http://www.archos.com/products/nb/index.html?country=de&lang=en

Update: There’s a press release in French.

Update: More specs (French)

Update: More pics.

Full specifications:

• PROCESSOR : Intel ATOM 1.2 GHz Z515 with video chipset US15W
• OPERATING SYSTEM : Microsoft Windows 7
• RAM : 1GB (DDR2 400/533)
• SCREEN : 8.9 inch touch screen is almost 23 inches diagonal
• RESOLUTION : 1024 x 600 pixels
• HARD DRIVE : Up to 2.5-inch 120GB Format
• COMMUNICATION : 10/100 Ethernet card
  WiFi: PCI-E, 2 antennas, manages the IEEE 802.11b / g
  Bluetooth 2.1
• AUDIO : Card Realtek ALC269, 2 stereo speakers and microphone
• CONNECTORS FRONT AND SIDE
  USB 2.0
  Headphone Jack – Audio Output
• Additional ports via an optional port replicator:
  – 2 USB 2.0 ports
  – 10/100 Ethernet Port
  – External Microphon
  – Audio output / headphone
  – VGA output
• BATTERY : Lithium Polymer
• WEBCAM : Integrated 1.3MP camera
• Tuner TNT (diversity reception) recording (depending on model)
• 3.5G HSUPA (depending on model)
• DIMENSIONS : 256mm x 134mm x 16mm (approximately)
• WEIGHT : Less than 800gr
• Box Contents : ARCHOS 9PCtablet, battery, adapter / charger, quick start guide.

Update: Archosfans have their Ustream video available and will post the high quality footage soon.

Update: English press release now available (PDF)

Tucked away in a press release about a 10″ 19mm-thick 10″ Atom-based Netbook to be launched in April is an announcement that Archos will be bringing a 17mm-thick 9″ Tablet to the market. It will be based on the Z5xx processor (the one used in MIDs) will include an on-screen keyboard and touch pointer mouse.

Translation from German press release

Following the product launch and the ARCHOS 10s, is in the 3rd Quarter
9”a revolutionary mini-notebook Tablet launched. This provides a
integrated, virtual keyboard and handwriting recognition. The new design
make the traditional mouse and keyboard redundant [uberfluessig] and
replaced it with a touchscreen keyboard and a TrackPoint mouse.

With the new 9”Mini-Notebook Tablet ARCHOS once again exceed the
Boundaries in terms of design, form and functionality. And with a device,
the only 0.8 kg and 17 mm thick. The 9 “Mini-Notebook Tablet
is thus one of the thinnest and lightest fully-functional
Mini-notebooks in its class. He is the great competitors in nothing
after and offers a disk size from 60 to 160 GB and has also
on the Intel (r) Atom ™ Processor Z5xx the series and the Intel (r) System
Controller Hub.

We assume that this will be a Windows-based device but given Archos consumer focus, is likely to be style-oriented and presumably, well-priced. The Techcrunch tablet team will have to watch this one. The press release then goes on to talk about a Moorestwon-based product in 2010.

The processing [advances] of the Intel Atom processor in the mini-notebook line
2009, showed that in the future ARCHOS want to work with Intel platforms, such as the
“Moorestown” platform of the new generation, and the new
Products will be launched probably 2010. The performance and the
Compatibility of the “Moorestown” platform makes it possible ARCHOS, the
Innovation with increasingly smaller, thinner designs and to continue the
Purpose of the devices to constantly expand.

It looks very much like Archos is keeping it’s fingers in both X86 and ARM pies. Their recent announcement of an Android-based MID device on an ARM-based CPU leads us to believe that they might look to cover all angles in the mobile computing space from netbooks down to smartphones. It will be hard to keep the device capabilities from crossing over each other but will give Archos every opportunity to see content through their back-end content systems and attract European mobile carriers and that’s probably the real long-term focus here.

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