While Archos is well known for it’s revolutionary multimedia powerhouse MP3 and video devices, the company is apparently looking to merge into the smartphone market. They have just announced plans for the next generation of Archos devices, presumably to be called Gen 6. With the Archos 5 last year (pictured above), we saw a multimedia PMP with HSDPA capability, but it was more of a fully spec’d out MP3/video player with internet capabilities than an full laptop-like internet tablet more along the lines of say, the Nokia N810 Internet Tablet. This time around we’re seeing something truly special, promising to bring “voice capabilities [and to] deliver robust, powerful mobile phone tablets addressing both entertainment and communications needs“. And also touting specs such as:
- PC-like Internet experience enhanced by a high-resolution 5″ screen and full-width page viewing
- Adobe Flash(TM) and Flash Video(TM) support, full screen
- Access whenever and wherever to TV, movies, photos, music and games
- Uncompromised TV recording and High Definition (HD) playback, all formats
- Hundreds of hours of video storage, up to 500 GB
- Innovative design: compact 10-mm ultra-thin tablet
- Long battery life, 7 hours’ video playback
- 3.5G 7.2 Mb/s HSUPA
- Laptop-like performance from the first implementation of OMAP3440 processor based on the ARM(R) Cortex(TM) superscalar microprocessor and DSP
Given Archos’ history, they are slowly starting to show a little bit more design concern, but when you pack so many features into one device, you can bet it won’t be the sleekest and slimmest device on the market, but 10mm is something to take notice of. This is sure to be a killer device (or devices) in the smartphone/PMP market.
There is no word on pricing or if they will have partnerships with carriers to subsidize the cost of the phone, but it would be a smart move to be wooing some US carriers this time instead of catering just to Europe. We’ll be patiently waiting for spy shots and more details as they emerge.
