Portable Media Player Reviews

CNET has reviewed the Archos 404 player. 'Archos's 04 series of portable video players has many components, the smallest being the pocket-size 404. This is a full-fledged PVP with all the fixings and a 30GB drive, but this one measures only 4 by 3 by 0.5 inches--that's a stone's throw from Apple iPod country. Plus the iPod doesn't have a 3.5-inch screen. Though the 6.5-ouncer doesn't record audio or video out of the box (you'll need to pony up either for the $100 dock or the $70 adapter), it's still a nice deal at less than $300. Available in early September, the 404 will replace the popular Gmini 402, which is more compact but has a much smaller screen and no ability to record line-in video.

CNET has reviewed the Archos 504 portable media player. 'Archos's 04 series includes a model for everyone. The midrange 504 may not be the thinnest gadget around (it has a 2.5-inch drive inside), but it sure can store a lot of data. Available in 40GB ($350), 80GB ($400), and an amazing 160GB ($600, shipping soon) capacities, the 504 fills in the storage void left by the 404, the 404 Camcorder, the 604, and the 604 Wi-Fi, which all max out at 30GB. Measurable bulk and pricey 160GB version aside, the do-it-all 504 is an awesome A/V performer.

Laptop Magazine has reviewed the Archos 604 Portable Media Player which supports MP3, WMA and WAV audio formats and displays MPEG-4, AVI, WMV-9 and DRM video formats. 'The 604’s glossy widescreen is stunning, bursting with more than 16 million colors and boasting 480 x 272-pixel resolution. We watched a variety of recorded videos and found that as long as the source material was up to snuff, the picture was ultrasharp and colorful. The 604 exhibited none of the contrast problems that plague the otherwise-good Creative Zen Vision. Overall, the interface makes more sense compared with its predecessors, but the layout still has a vaguely Linux feel. It often took several button presses for us to determine whether we were coming or going in the unit’s menu structure.

James Kim writing over at CNET has posted a review of the Archos 604-WiFi Portable Media Player. 'The 604-WiFi is bundled with the usual sparse set of accessories: a proprietary USB cable, earbuds, and the docking saddle. In addition, it ships with a hard case (to protect that investment!) and two styli. There are numerous accessories that will expand the 604-WiFi's capabilities including the at-home DVR Station dock, the travel kit (with the smaller dock that enables A/V recording), and basics such as an AC adaptor kit.

DAP Review have posted their "Archos 604 mini review" which is an insightful analysis of the ultra-compact portable multimedia player. 'Made of industrial-looking metal and plastic, the Archos 604 stands out from the the crowd. You either like the looks or you hate them. Personally, I love the look. The sharp angles are a welcome chance. The controls and external speaker are on the right-hand side. The controls do look a little busy up-close when you see that each button has two different functions; however, from a glance, I think they look just fine.

A review of the big screen Archos 704 Wi-Fi portable media player has been posted over at Laptop Magazine. ‘The 1.4-pound device features a brushed-aluminum finish that's characteristic of other Archos Generation 4 portables (though the 704 is boxier and not quite as aesthetically pleasing), twin USB ports, and a button on the right side of the body that ejects the removable battery. Sporting a massive widescreen display, the 704 will not be mistaken for the much more pocket-friendly 5G iPod, but this unit is first and foremost a movie player. The expansive real estate combines with the highest resolution we've seen from a PMP (800 x 480 pixels) to deliver a superior cinematic experience for videophiles on the go.’

CNET have published their review of the Archos 704 WiFi portable media player. 'The Archos 704 WiFi multimedia player ($549.99) could be the missing link between portable media players and handheld computers. With its 7-inch touch screen interface and Web-browsing and file-serving capabilities, this sexy Linux-based beast offers traveling TV and movie buffs some impressive extras to augment the multimedia experience. A few kinks need to be worked out in the firmware and Web browser before the 704 can be truly free of frustration, but Archos has a good track record for improving their products after initial release.'

The Archos 404 camcorder is a 30 GB portable media player which includes a built-in digital camera and camcorder for shooting your own photos and videos. 'At 3x4x0.6 inches and 6.5 ounces, the Archos 404 camcorder isn't a lightweight contender in the MP3 player ring, but it is ultracompact by PVP standards. Its sleek, brushed metal exterior adds to its appeal. A 3.5-inch, 16 million-color LCD screen dominates the front of the device, which means your viewing pleasure won't be negatively affected by the relatively small size of the player. Of course, you also can output your stored video content to a TV. A button on the left spine of the unit lets you toggle between LCD and TV output. This is also where you'll find the power key and headphone jack. Along the top edge of the 404 is a single external speaker; the bottom houses the pinhole mic and two proprietary USB ports, one for charging and syncing and one for attaching optional accessories. Flip the device over, and you'll notice a tiny digicam lens near the top on the back.'

ArchosLounge have published their review of the new Archos 204 portable media player ‘The 204 is the last-born child generation 4 of Archos, of which the boxes slowly start to fill. If the walkmans with video functions begin with the 404, the only audio walkmans count the 104 and the 204. And contrary to the 404, 504, 604 and 704, these two entries of range are neither more nor less than “remakes” of preceding products, Archos being satisfied to inject a photo color screen and viewer. And the 204 does not escape this rule.’

A review of the Archos 404 Camcorder has been posted over at Laptop Magazine. ‘Slim, sleek, and easily stashed into a shirt pocket, the Archos 404 Camcorder is one of the latest entries into Archos' Generation 4 line of portable media players. Boasting a 3.5-inch screen, compatibility with a laundry list of audio and video files, and its main selling point, a 1.3-megapixel camcorder for snapping photos and shooting video, the 404 Camcorder (view photo gallery) may very well be the all-in-one media device you've been craving, despite a few flaws.

Personal Computer World have published their review of the the Archos 704 Wifi portable media player. 'At 7in, The 704 Wifi houses one of the biggest screens yet for a portable media player (PMP). Archos believes this is the maximum viable screen size for PMPs – any larger and they would too closely resemble laptops. The 704's weight and brushed aluminium chassis gives it a sturdy feel, while a metal prong folds out at the back to give it a picture frame physique, enabling it to sit comfortably on a table. An optional headrest adapter for in-car use is available for £27. Videos and pictures appear detailed thanks to the relatively high 800x480 resolution. Brightness control is limited, but colours appear vibrant and viewing angles are good, except from below.'

A review of the Archos 704 WiFi media player has been posted over at TechGage. 'The 704 is a well built device. Aesthetically, it’s similar to the company’s other products but loses the buttons on the right side of the screen. Instead, the only physical buttons on the device are the power button, the TV-LCD toggle button, and battery eject switch, which are located to the left and right sides. Likewise, the earphone jack and power connector are located towards the bottom of the left side. To my surprise there was no hold switch of any kind. The 800x480 resolution screen has the same anti-glare layer that you would find on a lot of LCDs, meaning that there is a "sparkle" when you look at the screen. The unit I received had one stuck pixel. To be fair, this isn’t exactly the same product you would see on store shelves, but it does give you an idea of Archos’ quality control.

Pocketables.net have published their review of the Archos 704 WiFi portable media player. ‘The Archos 704 WiFi is the latest and most likely final portable media player (PMP) in the French company's Generation 4 series. Sporting a 7-inch high-resolution widescreen display and weighing a hefty 1.38 pounds, it seems to tread rather precariously in a space once solely occupied by the UMPC: "Too big for a pocket," say naysayers, "and too underpowered to be useful." In other words, who would buy a PMP that isn't truly portable? Who would buy something the size of a UMPC when it has only a fraction of its capabilities? Well, I would and I did. Read on to decide if you should, too.’

Pocket Lint have posted their “First impressions” review of the updated Archos 605 media player. ‘The Archos 605 media player is apart of the company's 5th generation PMPs and its main focus seems to be its touch screen display and the inclusion of wireless b/g connectivity allowing you to connect to the Internet whenever you find a Wi-Fi hotspot out and about or in your living room. The wireless connection is used in two major ways, firstly allowing you to access information like downloadable content via a new content portal and streaming content from your PC to your television.’

CNET Asia have published a preview of the new Archos 605 WiFi (160GB) portable video player. 'The 605 has a 109mm (4.3-inch) touch-screen display, with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. It's built on a new version of Linux, has fully integrated Wi-Fi and can be used to browse the Internet thanks to the Opera browser. Flash is fully supported, so sites such as YouTube work perfectly. In fact, not only do YouTube's embedded videos play perfectly--including in full-screen mode--but videos can be uploaded to YouTube directly from the device itself, without any need of a computer.'

Archos Lounge have published a comprehensive review of the Archos 605 WiFi portable media player. ‘The 605 WiFi is Archos’s new flagship, the spearhead of this fifth generation ! It is also the most complete one, with a list of functionalities that in fact provokes giddiness : touch screen, WiFi compatible, internet browsing, video buying directly from the device, without counting the classics such as playing video, music, PDF… ArchosLounge is pleased to invite you discovering this PMP through a 20 pages maxi-test ! The 605 WiFi declines in 4 different versions : 4 GB, 30 GB, 80 GB and 160 GB. We were able to test the 30 GB one, the only one available soon in good shops. This one costs $300, which is better than the 604 WiFi, which was around $500.’

A “Hands On” review of the Archos 405 and DVR dock has been posted over at CRAVE UK. ‘The Archos 405 is a small and portable multimedia player, with an 89mm (3.5-inch) colour screen and superb sound quality. Initially you may be disappointed about the 2GB internal memory capacity, especially since there are no other capacities available. But don't be disheartened, media freaks -- Archos has built support for SDHC into this baby. That means you could theoretically shaft the player with a 32GB SD card and store thousands of MP3s, heaps of pictures and a plethora of video clips.’

Laptop Magazine have published their review of the Archos 605 WiFi portable media player. ‘Measuring a svelte 4.8 x 3.2 x 0.6 inches, the 30GB 605 WiFi feels great in the hand, thanks to the silver matte finish and solid heft (6.7 ounces); the 4GB model is slightly lighter, and the ones with larger hard drives are a little bigger and three ounces heavier (view photo gallery). The main attraction is the 4.3-inch touchscreen, which packs 800 x 480 pixels in a widescreen orientation and supports an impressive 16 million colors. The screen looked quite crisp under fluorescent lights on a train and in the office, but we saw a lot of glare when we viewed it in direct sunlight. Just below the display is a small built-in speaker that's adequate for only close-up listening.’

CNET have published their review of the Archos 605 WiFi (30GB) portable video player. 'Only a few companies can compete with Archos when it comes to both product and interface design. The 605 WiFi is as elegantly conceived as anything we've seen from Apple or Sony. Measuring 4.75 inches wide, 3.25 inches tall, and just a hair more than a half-inch thick, the 605 strikes that front-pocket sweet spot; it's big enough to do video justice, yet small and thin enough to comfortably fit in your pants pocket. The recessed 4.3-inch TFT LCD screen is not only bright, colorful, and glare-resistant, but it displays at a resolution of 800x480, making it one of the highest-resolution PVPs on the market. We're also happy to see that the screen valiantly resists smudges despite its dual-duty as a touch screen.'

A review of the Archos 605 Wi-Fi multimedia player has been posted over at the Reg Hardware. ‘Arriving in reasonable 30GB, 80GB and enormous 160GB hard drive flavours, Archos has also seen fit to mix a 4GB Flash-based model into the equation. With plenty of music, movies and more ready and waiting to be uploaded, we snaffled the 30GB version from the sweaty palms of the Archos crew. Aesthetically, the 605 is tailor-made for the iPod generation, garnered as it is with a smooth silver-white livery. At only 15mm thick - the 160GB model is a little more portly - it's also slim enough to slip into your (oversized) pocket or bag without concern.’

A review of the Archos 605 Wifi multimedia player has been posted over at Personal Computer World. 'The device offers features and control over almost every aspect of digital media, both on the move and around the home. On top of typical media support, you'll find built-in Wifi to either stream content from a PC or browse the web, touchscreen operation, a TV scheduler with full programme guide and access to the Archos Content Portal to download the latest movies, video and music. All of this is accessible through a familiar control layout and interface, though the device is smaller and thinner than its predecessors. The 4.3in display looks great and, at a resolution of 800x480, really does justice to your video. It also provides a fairly large canvas for web browsing and effective control.'

A review of the Archos 404 camcorder has been posted over at PC Authority. ‘Inside, there’s a 30GB hard disk; plenty for the comparatively low bit-rate 1.5Mb/s clips you’ll be capturing, and we actually ran out of battery life long before the hard disk was threatened. The 404 Camcorder recorded a 2hr 40min clip from a single charge. The device is also a decent music player, supporting ID3 tags as well as album art, plus Windows Media Player DRM via PlaysForSure. The screen is high quality, despite having a 320 x 240 resolution, and the OS has large icons, making navigation easy. The directional controls are laid out over three vertically stacked buttons, with the buttons for left and right on the same rocker switch.’

Trusted Reviews have published their review of the new Archos 605 WiFi 30GB portable media player. ‘The 605 WiFi comes from a long and distinguished line of video-enabled players. In fact French firm Archos has been making hard disk players for longer than most other companies have been selling plain flash-based music portables, and while others are only just beginning to incorporate video into their products, this is its fifth generation of players. It looks like a product that's evolved over the years, too. Its sharply-dressed aluminium chassis is slim and that brushed finish is a lot more practical than the ever-popular gloss finish of some products. And you'll notice a host of other practical touches before you even turn the thing on.’

PC World have published a review of the Archos 605 WiFi 30GB multimedia player. 'I tested a $300 (as of 9/1/2007) version, which comes with an internal 30GB hard drive. It has plenty of space for storing music and photos, but not much for videos, considering their size. However, you can easily solve this problem by buying the either the 80GB version (for an extra $50) or the 160GB version (for an extra $100). It connected easily to my home wireless network, although it sometimes lost some of the security settings I'd entered into the player, requiring a few extra steps each time to fix. I found it relatively easy to surf the Internet using the optional--but expensive, at $30--Opera Web browser. It includes support for Flash, so I could even go to YouTube and other video sharing sites to watch videos.'

A review of the Archos 704 WiFi portable media player has been posted over at PC Authority. 'Archos has produced some fascinating products of late, such as the 404 Camcorder, and the Archos 604 WiFi. But with its 7in, 800 x 480 touchscreen, 40GB hard disk and Unix-based operating system, the 704 WiFi is edging into the territory of UMPCs like Sony’s UX27GN. It isn’t as versatile though: the operating system, although Unix-based, is locked down. So while there might be an enthusiastic community awaiting such products, it’s unlikely that there’ll be much third-party software for the 704, in spite of it being a t choice for applications like GPS. It’s also not a device you’ll get much creative work done on – there’s a PDF reader but no way to open Microsoft Word documents, for instance.'

GenerationMP3 have published a review of the Archos 105 media player. 'The player comes with the minimum union: headset, USB cable and notice. The design of the Walkman, sorry to come back, I really do not packed. Both for the 605 or 405, there is no concern, especially there, that binds.. He misses a trick or rather there is a trick goes wrong. I do not speak of the protuberance on the back of the Walkman, which is more than shocking, because you wonder how Apple makes strewn ultras qu'Archos purposes and reaches us out a similar trick. No, in fact, it's the general look of the product, which vacillate between cheap and not over who speaks for the first time. In short, turn this detail, as some would largely satisfied ... '

Trusted Reviews have published their review of the Archos 105 2GB portable media player. 'The controls are all clickable with a thumb for easy, one-handed operation and the unfussy approach means you'll be skipping around folders, artist, albums and queuing up tracks in no time flat. It can't quite match the elegance and simplicity of the iPod click wheel control, but it's still pretty good. But there's a whole lot more to the flash MP3 player market than just looks these days. If your player can't do everything under the sun except roast the chicken on a Sunday afternoon, then your goose is cooked...er...so to speak. And the 105, it has to be said, is a little underdone when it comes to pure feature count.'

IT Reviews have published their review of the Archos -605 WiFi digital media player. 'The 605 is a smart, metal-cased unit, the size of a pile of four passports, with a 110mm widescreen LCD display taking up most of its front face. A column of six rocker-buttons runs down the right-hand side of the screen and a couple of smaller, single-function ones sit on its top edge to control power and video output. The display itself is a touch-screen and you can do most things with a finger, though some require a pinky rather than an index. Along the device's bottom edge are sockets for an optional adapter, which runs the unit into a TV and turns it into a PVR, and for the supplied proprietary PC USB connection, for file transfer and battery charging. There's no separate mains charger, so you do need a PC to recharge the 605.'

Archos Lounge have published a review of the Archos 705 WiFi digital multimedia player. 'The 705, like the 704, moreover, is a very good viewer of shots. Normal with a screen of 7 inches, but not only for this: with its miniUSB, he can recover your photographs directly from the camera! The Archos will therefore happiness amateurs photos, which do not s'embarrasser their portable computers on holiday. The menu picture is much clearer with the 5G. It benefits from a navigation by date, records and wall photos. They may also use the network UPNP, great issue of this new generation, which works quite well with Windows, but less well on the Mac (see our tutorial on this subject).'

A review of the Archos 605 Wifi multimedia player has been posted over at Computeractive. 'Its sleek and small metal case, which can easily fit in a pocket, couldn't be more different from the slabs of dull plastic we've seen in the past, but still houses a large 30GB of storage space. A column of buttons on the right-hand side of the device provides an alternative to using the supplied stylus to navigate the touch-screen menus. The buttons allow adjustment of the volume and scrolling up and down. We would have liked to have had a slot to stow the stylus when it's not in use, though. The Archos 605 has a vibrant 4.3in screen with a resolution of 800x480 pixels, which makes viewing video and photos a pleasure. The screen also makes for practical web browsing using the device's built-in wireless network connection, albeit subject to an additional £20 software upgrade.'