New Details: Archos AV500 - PMP/DVR/PDA
By Alexander Grundner |
March 24th, 2004
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It seems that the portable media player (PMP) Gods have answered our prayers at CeBIT 2004. Archos will be releasing the AV500, a new all-in-one handheld device that combines a portable media player, digital video recorder (bundled with a remote and Electronic Program Guide software), and personal digital assistant (PDA). Furthermore, the device will support Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth, and GSM connectivity via an add-on port.
Initially the AV500 will come in 20GB and 40GB versions, but expect to see the line grow to at least 80GB in the near future. Screen resolution is 704×480 pixels and can play video up to 30 frames per second. An external speaker and microphone will also be included for those impromptu moments.
The AV500 fulfills our prediction that a PMP/PDA was on the horizon. It was just a matter of time before we were going to see a PocketPC device with a hard drive come to market or a PMP with PDA functionality, which we have now. We are just curious how the PDA manufactures will react to this.
Specs from SBD’s PVP Survey:
LCD: 706 x 480 16-bit-color touch-screen
Media: 20g / 40g + CF (built-in / no module this time)
Audio: MP3, WMA, WMA-DRM, WAV (maybe AAC)
Video: DivX and WMV9 Video at 706×480@30fps. Mpeg4 “Advanced Simple Profile” support (which means all advanced DivX features!).
Availability: at “the end of the year [2004], not before” at “a higher price [than the av300]”
Video Recording: Built-In DVR records at “Better resolution” than the AV300
Notes:
USB Host as well as slave (so you can connect a keyboard or camera or another Archos AV product to share files)
Docking station with Tv tuning
Applications: Web browser, E-Mail, Calendar, Text Editor and Calculator
Wifi / Streaming / Bluetooth modules through CF slot
Streaming Video may be posslbe
Full OS / 3rd party applications possible
Camera Module through compact flash. Should be a better camera than “the mobile camera” (of the AV300?)
Built in Mic and Speaker
Removable Battery
Simon Mackay – 8 hours 51 minutes ago