This portable multimedia gadget is pretty complete when it comes to feature aspect. And with the capability for playback video, integrated GPS, Bluetooth, TV tuner and FM transmission, Archos 5 with Android 2.2is more capable that iPod Touch, right?
Interface and Functionality
Archos 5 with Android 2.2 is designed in pretty slim body, with the dimension of 143,2 x 78,8 x 10,4 mm and 4.8 inch screen. So it’s pretty compact when it’s inserted into the pocket.
Adopting a resistive touch screen display, with the Android operating system navigation, it allows this tablet to be operated by the finger touch on the screen.
This tablet is also equipped with a stand or deck to hold the tablet when you put it over the tablet, for example to watch movie. Unfortunately, that stand still makes this tablet unstable because the holder of that stand is not really tight.
The back cover of this tablet is wrapped up with metal cover in glass silver material in the dots motive. On every corner of device, there is a small prominent surface as the deck if this tablet is positioned horizontally over the flat surface. However, the fact that the deck is too small, when being positioned horizontally, the face on the bottom side looks like sticking to the surface.
- Type: Archos 5 with Android 2.2
- Release Date: October 3, 2008
- Price Purchased: $199
- Manufacturer: Archos
Readers' Score
NextPhones4u Score
Phone Specs: High resolution touch screen, 800x480 pixels, 4.8 inches TFT LCD, 16M colors, Android OS, 32GB flash memory, 3D GPS Navigation, FM Radio, See Full specs.
- Pros
- Good battery life | Pretty good internet access supports | performance of this tablet is more powerful | browser also allows users to download and do a multi tab navigation | WiFi connection
- Cons
- The Bluetooth connectivity is not really good | The stand or deck is not stable to hold the tablet
- Bottomline
- Bottom line, at this low price range, Archos 5 with Android 2.2 is definitely a worth buying tablet if you are in very tight budget.
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| Archos 5 with Android 2.2 |
Gaming Compatibility
Another awesome and great things about this tablet is that this tablet can also run many high quality 3D Android games across the Android market. I have seen some sophisticated games being played on this tablet, such as: Need for Speed: Shift 3D, Avatar HD, Raging Thunder, Hero of Sparta, Pro Evolution Soccer and many Android games. So definitely, playing 3D games on this high-screened tablet is such a blast experience.
Design
Archos 5 with Android 2.2 is a portable internet tablet that is supported with an Android operating system (Google). Certainly, this mobile device can be one of the substitutions for mobile internet needs that is generally accommodated by cell phones. That’s why this device is called as an internet tablet that is navigated by using a normally-see Android user interface.
Features
The most prominent multimedia feature on this tablet is the feature called Video Playback. Having supported any kind of video formats from: AVI, WMV, MPEG4, h.264, MKV and flash video that has a resolution up to HD-quality 720p. With just a little upgrade, the video capability on this tablet can reach around 720p video playback with the formats of WMV HD or MPEG-2. The video player is also supported with a wide screen and high resolution quality.
Archos 5 also supports a picture viewer with in the size of fullscreen. The image that is presented can be set as inter image transition form, sequence and also a display format that contains into the original, full screen or fit to width. The image can also be displayed as the wallpaper. The formats that are supported on this tablet are JPEG, BMP, GIF and PNG.
Multimedia and Entertainment
On the other hand, as an online multimedia device, Archos 5 offers any kind of entertainment formats whether on the FM Radio, TV or even the Podcast, which certainly need an internet access. Starting from the national station until the international stations can be enjoyed on this awesome tablet.
Music Player
Audio storage has been provided via hard disk or memory card. The application to play audio files seems so standard and doesn’t have an equalizer feature. However, the settings of the equalizer that are provided are only around custom menu, flat, rock, techno, jazz, classic and live.
The sound quality that is produced by the internal speaker can be considered as standard. However, if the headset is plugged in to the tablet, then the sound volume and dolby will be enhanced.
From the specifications, the audio formats that are supported by this tablet are mp3, wma, ac3, ogg and flac. However, as the matter of fact, there are still many audio files that can be played, such as: mid and wav formats.
Archos 5 is also equipped with FM radio menu. This FM Radio needs a headset that is functioned as antenna. Unfortunately, the feature that is provided on this FM Radio is not really complete because it doesn’t provide an auto searching that is capable to record any detected radio station data. Luckily, this FM radio still offers a recording feature with an unlimited duration.
Internet Browser
The internet access is needed here to operate many applications, such as: Web TV, Web Radio and Streaming. The internet connectivity is turned on thanks to the wireless WiFi and Bluetooth. As the complement for internet browsing, the Android browser has been provided here. This browser is really useful pretty well and convenient to use, because it doesn’t take many time when opening a website page, thanks to the file compression feature on this tablet.
GPS
Archos 5 also comes with GPS with 3D GPS Navigation support. However, this option is only available as trial for 7 days.
Hardware
The internal memory that has been injected to Archos 5 is 32 GB so it’s really enough to store variety of multimedia files on this tablet. Beside of that, the microSD slot is also provided to add an extra storage if this tablet is running out of space.
Battery Life
Okay, now is the best part from this tablet, the battery life. Mostly, touch screen smart phones around the market have an average battery life when being used in hardcore usage, say, for gaming. Many of them can only last around 3 - 4 hours for 3D gaming.
Archos 5 is equipped with Lithium Ion rechargeable battery that can be connected on the computer/laptop USB. On Archos 5 with Android 2.2, i would say that the battery of this tablet can last around 5 - 6 hours for playing 3D games, around 6 hours for video playback and more than 20 hours for music play.
Conclusion
Bottom line, wide touch screen area, very good sound quality, HDMI support for HD Tv-Out, huge internal data storage, great gaming compatibility, and pretty good battery life are among the best things you will get from this tablet. So if you are looking for a touch screen tablet, but unfortunately you are in very tight budget and can't afford iPad, definitely Archos 5 is a good option for you.
Check out Archos 5 with Android 2.2 at Amazon where you can get it for around $199.
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