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Archos AV500 details
comment: 172 | Sunday, July 31 (2005) 08:40PM | Posted by Robert Sinke
This "Argos" store in the UK seems to have the perfect name for exposing some Archos AV500 details to the general public. So here we go:

  • 4in (10.2cm) screen with 10.2cm visible screen size
  • 262,000 colours and 16:9 screen format
  • Record directly from your TV, VCR, DVD player, cable box or satellite receiver
  • Can store up to 120 hours of video, 300,000 pictures, 16,500 songs or 30Gb of data
  • View and store photos via a USB connection
  • Record audio analog source in WAV or WAV ADPCM and playback MP3, WMA (including protected contents) and WAV music files
  • Timer record facility to make scheduled recordings
  • Voice recorder with built in microphone
  • Built in speaker
  • Remote control (2 x AA batteries supplied)
  • Supplied with set up TV docking pod and AC adaptor
  • Size: 124 x 76 x 18mm
  • Weight 256 grams
  • Format compatibility: MP3, WMA, Protected PlaysForSure™ WMA, WAV, MPEG4 (SP), WMV and protected PlaysForSure™ WMV, BMP and JPEG compatible. DivX® and MPEG-4 playback with a maximum resolution of 720 x 576 pixels at 25f/s in PAL.
  • Interfaces: USB 2.0 high speed, compatible USB 1.1, PC and Mac.
  • USB host port compatible with USB camera, USB card reader or USB hard drives.
  • Operation: Battery operated with internal lithium ion rechargeable battery (supplied), 230v AC mains via adaptor (supplied) or 12v car battery via cigarette lighter.
    Up to 15 hours music playback or 5 hours video playback on each battery charge.

Seems to retail at about 500 Euro (349 UKP), that probably translates into 500 USD as well - you know how this game works by now.

Don't forget that this is only the "basic" version of the AV500. There are other versions coming up too - one with a 100GB drive and 15 hour playback time for video.

LINK

Thanks, phil-t
Comments

scottder

Comments: 185
 		Jul 31 (2005) 09:19PM  

Pretty sleek looking unit, good job Archos. Now if they made an audio unit this slick, I'd say Archos is on the right track.



dende

Guest
 		Jul 31 (2005) 09:29PM  

word!



Bonkerz

Comments: 5
 		Jul 31 (2005) 10:07PM  

Is it me, or does the picture look fake? (as in photoshopped?)



Anonymous

Guest
 		Jul 31 (2005) 10:08PM  

Yeah, the ports on the top especially look too flat.



Robert Sinke

Comments: 1221
 		Jul 31 (2005) 10:09PM  

it's photoshopped alright... we saw this one pass by in the original news article already, sort of anyway.

I've seen some sneak pics of the AV5x0 but those were really tiny and blurry... think "Silver is not the only color" if nothing else .



graybandit

Guest
 		Jul 31 (2005) 11:00PM  

wow, they are SHOWING OFF the crappy stock headphones.

why does no one simply make a decent pair stock?



Agent Smith

Comments: 83
 		Jul 31 (2005) 11:36PM  

The earbuds might be there for a size reference.

It's too big for me. I'm holding out for a 60GB gmini 202 or 402 to hold my 50GB mp3 collection. If Cowan bumps their iAudio X5 up to 60GB and adds tag support (while maintaining mass storage compliance) then they get my money first.

I'm having trouble identifying a time of day when I would use portable video. If I'm at home, I have my TV. I can't use it while I'm driving. My boss would not be thrilled about paying me to watch videos at work. If I'm at a friend's house we have his/her TV. When do most people use these things?


egloskerry

Comments: 410
 		Jul 31 (2005) 11:41PM  

That thing looks awesome.



jet_fighter00
Location: California
Comments: 148
 		Aug 01 (2005) 12:10AM  

I like the design, but that navigation pad looks out of place, kinda weird looking. I don't know, I just don't really like it.

The overall design is nice though. Pretty slick.



pedgard

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 03:15AM  

Somebody knows what will be the screen resolution?

If you place a reservation for the thing in [Linky], at the end of the process it says:
Available to order for collection
Thu 04th August - Mon 08th August




YpoCaramel

Comments: 169
 		Aug 01 (2005) 06:02AM  

Perhaps archos has decided to play it in the PVP niche, but I, at least, am wishing for an ipod-sized player that's more than just a refresh of the Gmini 400.



Jaxim

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 07:57AM  

Like the other recent devices that have recently come out from Archos, there's no mention of the CompactFlash drive. It looks like they have forgone that feature for the USG on the Go feature. Although the USB feature is nice, what really attracted me to Archos in the past is that you could transfer your files from your camera with the integrated CF drive with no need for extra add-on hardware.

If they have truly eliminated this feature, then I'll probably buy the Creative Zen Vision that's soon to come out. At least with that device, they not only have an integrated CD drive, but they also have an integrated FM drive.

I've been waiting for the AV500 release for 4-5 months. It looks like when it is finally released, it may be a huge let down.


whitebloodcell

Comments: 35
 		Aug 01 (2005) 08:20AM  

"At least with that device, they not only have an integrated CD drive, but they also have an integrated FM drive. "

What?

But anyways. I think this looks pretty damn awesome. That release will slip though. I dont believe it will be out over Summer at all. Why do they always come out with the lower models first?! Me want atleast 60GB and massive battery. On this one is the battery removable?

I take it it still has the same crappy codec support.



Jaxim

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 08:30AM  

Sorry for the typo. I meant to say integrated "CF" (compactflash) drive.


Jaxim

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 08:31AM  

I also mean "FM radio", as opposed to FM drive. (I hadn't had my coffee yet.)



Robert Sinke

Comments: 1221
 		Aug 01 (2005) 08:46AM  

@whitebloodcell: seemed like all three versions were getting near-completion when I last heared of them. Might take some weeks for the uber-Dinosaur-like 100GB/15hr video playback edition to come available, but all 3 prototypes have been developed in coherence with one another.

And yeah, seems like you'll end up converting movies on several occasions again. But well, that's life, and stuff.



phil-t

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 09:01AM  

My local Argos has the AV500 in stock... I just picked up a GMINI402 using up all my Argos vouchers!!!...



clevetus

Comments: 52
 		Aug 01 (2005) 10:12AM  

so do dapreview generally get an early test sample of archos products or how long will I have to wait for a decent gallery with some nice comparisson pics?! I'm extremely excited about the "thickness" of only 18 mm, what is that? ONE mm thicker than the gmini 400?



clevetus

Comments: 52
 		Aug 01 (2005) 10:14AM  

and also, to Jaxim, about the CF-slot, if your camera against all doubt should be incompatible with the usb to go on the av500 you can always pick up a cheap card reader for 10 bux or so!



radioflyer7

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 12:04PM  

I echo the CF drive for digital photo purposes. I also would like something like this to play RAW format pictures directly. Somewhere between the versatility here and the Epson P2000 RAW capability is a perfect marriage for me.



Jaxim

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 12:49PM  

Sure I could use the USBon the Go Feature to transfer my photos from my camera, but then that ties up my camera. I wouldn't be able to load another CF card into the camera while the files were being transfered.

The alternative then is to use a card reader as you suggest, but then that's one extra thing I need to carry around with me.

No, this is a step backwards if they get rid of the internal CF drive. I was really hoping that they would take a bunch of steps forward by providing the USB on the Go feature IN ADDITION to the CF drive, AND an internal FM radio.

I guess the Archos PVP isn't for me. I guess I'll take a closer look at the Creative Zen Vision when it comes out.



renegade732

Comments: 38
 		Aug 01 (2005) 01:29PM  

I just bought an av400 a few weeks ago. This doesn't seem considerably better, and I prefer the look of the av400. I'm just happy archos didn't give me a case of buyers remorse with this.



pedro

Comments: 20
 		Aug 01 (2005) 01:57PM  

i'm definetly buying one as soon as it hit the stores!



Igor01

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 05:01PM  

It always puzzled me why Archos insists on jamming a player with a ton of good features and still gives it one of the shittiest codec supports in the industry. This "MPEG 4 Simple Profile" BS really should have been gone by now, Archos should finally get a clue and look at mPack and iAudio who make PMP's which while not as glamorous or feature-rich will play almost anything unlike the impotent AVxxx series.



whitebloodcell

Comments: 35
 		Aug 01 (2005) 05:35PM  

The Codec Support really does annoy me. Yeah I know people say "better to be perfect than one codec than crap with lots" but Archose know what they are doing, it wouldnt have been that hard.

Does anyone know how the uber dinosaur as Robert Sinke put it will differ in size. Is that battery life coming from a Clamp on the back back, or are they making a hell of a chunky device.

This screen better have a really good res.



whitebloodcell

Comments: 35
 		Aug 01 (2005) 05:38PM  

If we didnt know the battery is removable. There is a load of other info there but this seemed the most important

[Linky]


whitebloodcell

Comments: 35
 		Aug 01 (2005) 05:50PM  

Also, sorry for multiple posts. I can't see an edit button. On the Argos site you can now have it delivered in 2 days apparently.



sevans

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 06:59PM  

Where is it on the Archos site for ordering?



Robert Sinke

Comments: 1221
 		Aug 01 (2005) 07:12PM  

not listed yet, but they're probably in the progress of throwing it online (as that FAQ is clearly there already ). Not sure if Argos was allowed to spew out that information already, seems a bit odd but whatever works is fine by me.



Bill Clinton

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 08:08PM  

And you need this for what? Another waste of $$$$$


boom shakalaka

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 08:20PM  

other then a nice looks the specs are disappointing...



Jaxim

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 08:42PM  

With the archos eliminating the built-in CF slot, I think I might wait for one of the following video players instead:

The Creative Zen Vision:
(Although it does't record video, it does have a Compact Flash slot, a built-in FM receiver, and probably a better GUI)
[Linky]

The Directed Mobile Media Personal Media Player:
(Although not a name brand, it plays tons more formats, has a built in SD card slot & USB on the Go, AND a built-in FM receiver)
[Linky]



mattjumbo

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 09:03PM  

Just a question. Not trying to insult anyone. Just wondering...

You guys actually *like* the way that thing looks?



Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 09:07PM  

Guys, I am am leaning towards pqi mPack P800. No it doesn't look exactly what I want it to look and it doesn't have scheduled tv recordings, but for the price I can't seem to find anything better...




Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 09:15PM  

When is Archos.com gonna start selling them and is it true what Robert said about there being more than one color?



whitebloodcell

Comments: 35
 		Aug 01 (2005) 09:17PM  

I would never ever get the pqi over the iStation or an Archos unit. I don't think anyone should.

mattjumbo - honestly no Im not so keen on the looks. Hopefully it looks better in "real life" as in not photoshopped pictures.

jaxim - it was dapreview who reported on the Vision, multiple times actually, that engadget article links back here if I remember correctly. and that other one. Nothing special to say the least



Igor01

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 09:57PM  

whitebloodcell, could you please elaborate on why you wouldn't get a PQI over iStation or Archos? I had the Archos myself and the player died on me in under a week, I did get a replacement, but quickly found that the codec support is increadibly limited and the player is useless for someone like me who has hundreds of files and doesn't have the time to reencode everything to be able to play it on the Archos.

The mPack however will play almost anything out there including the dreaded QPEL-encoded files that majority of hardware players have a problem with.

Any thoughts you might have on this subject are appreciated.



Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 09:57PM  

why not pqi? it's been getting better reviews then Archos (which I currently own AV480 and I totally hate , ugly GUI, feels cheap)



Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 10:11PM  

iStation looks nice, but it's not available in US, so PQI looks like the best alternative (-minus a few things) I'll be returning my AV480 in favor to PQI.



Igor01

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 10:55PM  

PQI does look nice but I will just wait until somebody releases a PMP that plays QPEL and GMC video, AC3 sound and has a good 16x9 screen. Is it too much to ask and why must we be content with dozens of player that do some things well but none that supports all the MPEG4 formats and has a decent wide screen? And for crying out loud, enough of using these ancient decoder chips that can only handle MPEG4 SP, that is so 2003



Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 10:59PM  

what about iStation 2 Igor?



Igor01

Guest
 		Aug 01 (2005) 11:22PM  

iStation PMP1000 reportedly handles Advanced Simple Profile well (thanks timk99 for info) however it has the 4x3 screen. Let's hope their next player(s) will continue the same great codec support but has a 16x9 screen to complement it.

Here's the thread I started that has some info: [Linky]



Robert Sinke

Comments: 1221
 		Aug 02 (2005) 01:05AM  

@ user "Korean", please write in English so that we can udnerstand what you are talking about. I'm guessing it has something to do with release dates but I can but guess this way.



clevetus

Comments: 52
 		Aug 02 (2005) 03:10AM  

So i read all this about the crappy codec-suppor but I'm not into what's requiered etc but does it at least have the same codec support as the gmini 400, which I currently own by the way ? I know that when the gmini got VBR support in video pretty much every new tv-rip worked fine without conversion.



Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 02 (2005) 03:29AM  

As I mentioned earlier, I bought the 402 from the Argos store, I thought about getting the AV500 as they had these in stock, but size/price/features, the 402 is more then I need..
As for Codec support, its played all XVids and DIVX4 onwards that I've thrown at it, the only thing it didn't play was DIVX3 for some reason, but out of 30 odd different TV Series downloaded in a total mix of codecs, only 1 didn't work (DIVX3)..
And as for the CF Slot issue, I would urge you to reconsider.. you will need to always carry a lead with you from Camera to USB connector, and you can buy single purpose *small* CF to USB adapters for a small price.. the upside is you can connect any storage device at all with the new USB Host... so with a card reader, you can read any format card you wish, and external HDD's etc..
Just my 2 cents worth..


Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 02 (2005) 03:53AM  

I think the codecs are good enough...

When you thinnk about it, yes there are some players with better codecs, but do you really use them? I don't. About all my video is DivX. And divx offers the best quality anyway.

Also, the new VBR support simply rocks. Also the UI is intuitive and simple at the same time.

I would wait for some more details by archos before i consider.



magicsgram

Guest
 		Aug 02 (2005) 11:37AM  

ignore that korean writing.. he's a retard.

what it says is.. "what if dragoon is put in action" <-- random korean internet joke... just ignore it.



Robert Sinke

Comments: 1221
 		Aug 02 (2005) 11:51AM  

or better yet, let's just delete it instead Too bad they've got retards even in Korea.



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 02 (2005) 02:33PM  

I have the AV500 right here...

Display: 4" LCD 480x272 pixels, 262,000 colors and TV output.
Video recording: MPEG-4 SP with stereo (ADPCM) sound optimized resolution for TV.
Video playback: MPEG-4 SP with B-Frames (compatible with DivX 4.0 and 5.0) with stereo sound. Near DVD quality up to 720x480 @ 30 f/s (NTSC), 720x576 @ 25 f/s (PAL), AVI file format. WMV9 (including protected files) u to352x288 @ 30 f/s and 800 KBit/s

I tried few video files - nothing works

Come with crappy video converting software (based on virtualdub) - crashed on first try.

What I really need is a wide screen device that can play all the xvid/divx that I'm downloding from the net without any conversion.


I'm going to return it tomorrow to Argos... - sigh -



Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 02 (2005) 02:39PM  

im currius to see the gui. any chance you could snap some photos before you take it back



clevetus

Comments: 52
 		Aug 02 (2005) 02:57PM  

i don't think mitzi has the av500 at all. but IF you do, you HAVE to take some pics, anything else would be madness. Also, there is a program called "pocketdivxencoder" which works swimmingly for converting videofiles for all archos products! and really, I have a gmini400 and I rarely have to convert so you must have some rare files tha included software does suck indeed but pocketdivxencoder converts ANYTHING fully automatic with just a one button klick! It's just a couple o MB's and I'd be happy to mail it to you if you wanna try it out at least!



whitebloodcell

Comments: 35
 		Aug 02 (2005) 03:17PM  

If u do have the AV500, get some pics ASAP. And as was said Pocketdivxencoder works wonders. Don't give up so easily, I'm sure the results will be worth it. And you should have done some research, all Archos Products have the same playback "problems"



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 02 (2005) 03:44PM  

Few pictures:

[Linky]

After conversion with MediaPlayer 10, some video works, other works without audio, and some doesn't work.



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 02 (2005) 04:00PM  

clevetus, that was really insulting...

You have to trust people...



Igor01

Guest
 		Aug 02 (2005) 04:01PM  

Thanks for your impressions Mitzi. Just confirms the unfortunate fact that the current and announced players are not what I need. Just give me a good codec support (PQI and DigiCube already have it) and a good 16x9 screen like that on PSP and I'll whip up the cash in a jiffy. Until then, bleh...



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 02 (2005) 04:12PM  

I'm trying the Pocketdivxencoder now.

It will take loooooong time to convert a few movies...

I'm not using any exotic codec, just normail tv/dvd rips from the net...
My xbox (XBMC) can play just ANYTHING without any problem, include subtitles.


Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 02 (2005) 04:18PM  

I hope Archos will release firmware update to support mode codecs (or at least to support features like "Quarter Pixel" and "GMC").

Anyway, I can't find any info/support on Archos site yet.

It seems like this product came out too early... maybe they worry about the Zen Vision...



Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 02 (2005) 04:22PM  

thanks for the pictures, i think they are the only actual photos online



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 02 (2005) 04:34PM  

I've captured few more pictures of the unit and settings menus.

[Linky]



Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 02 (2005) 04:49PM  

When can we get it in the U.S.


Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 02 (2005) 04:58PM  

do you have an ipod Mitzi? it would be great to see some default comparison pictures beside an ipod. or perhaps a gmini400 would be more apropriate



Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 02 (2005) 05:02PM  

THANK YOU MITZI!!! You have to realize you are pretty much the first one on the net to spread the news that you got one and have actual pictures of it. Congrats. I like what I see, but I am worried about the codec support



Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 02 (2005) 05:14PM  

hey Igor have you considered I-station 2?



clevetus

Comments: 52
 		Aug 02 (2005) 05:21PM  

hey mitzi I'm real sorry if you got offended, even if I was'nt all that serious. but really is the advice "trust people from the internet" good advice? great job on the pics. How does/did the build quality feel? If you want to avoid conversions I know TV-rips by "lol" work excellent from the get-go if you have acess to them!



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 02 (2005) 05:36PM  

no problem, clevetus

The build quality is very good, feel solid. The screen is also nice and bright.

BTW, when I'm trying to copy files directly to the device, I'm getting the message "The xxxxx file is not supported on this device".

Is there any other way to transfer files, except using MediaPlayer 10 ?



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 02 (2005) 05:45PM  

Thanks clevetus, I tried some "lol" tv-rips, but I can only move then to the AV500 with the MediaPlayer 10 (which supposed to do some conversion too).

Any advice ?



Jaxim

Guest
 		Aug 02 (2005) 05:50PM  

Mitzi, can you confirm that the Av500 has eliminated the built-in CompactFlash drive feature?



Charbax

Comments: 32
 		Aug 02 (2005) 06:09PM  

to Mitzi, just connect your AV500 to your computer, you will see it pop-up as an external harddrive in My Computer.. then you can just copy and past files anywhere you want onto it.

I really don't know of any better codec support than on Archos devices.. Can someone honestly say there is competition to Archos which supports VBR-mp3 in AVI as well as B-frames?

CMG and Qpel is not part of DivX Certification, so not really required to be supported.

I guess Archos could make a firmware upgrade that supports AC3 audio and subtitles.. Thus 5-10% more pirated videos downloaded on the internet would be supported. Today I would say 70% of downloaded pirated films are supported. Mpeg-4 SP DVD resolution + B-frames + vbr-mp3.. That is very fine in my opinion.

My request is for an Archos device with a HD-resolution camcorder built-in and 1920x1080 Mpeg-4 and AVC playback support. As well as buttons on both sides of the screen with a powerfull 3D graphics engine to play games, so a firmware that includes many emulators for NES, SNES, N64, GBA, Dreamcast... That is I guess for the Gmini500, PMA500, AV600 or PMA600.



Jim B.

Guest
 		Aug 02 (2005) 06:22PM  

if there is a hd show on tv can i record it????



Igor01

Guest
 		Aug 02 (2005) 07:20PM  

@ Charbax: True, Archos "doesn't have to support" the MPEG 4 ASP, but since they are smart enough to come up with a great player with a host of features that other players lack, you'd expect them to be ahead of the game and throw in the QPEL/GMC/AC3 as well as subtitles support. It shouldn't be too difficult since PQI and Digital Cube seem to do it just fine.

And as for ASP support needed for only 5-10% of content downloaded off the net - I'd respectfully disagree, most good rips, even the TC's come with AC3 sound, VBR MP3 seems to be less and less used these days, and more and more rips use QPEL and GMC. I'd say more than 50% of downloaded movies won't play on the Archos (if the codec support is the same as AV4xx which was useless for downloaded movies).

To those who are new to all this technical mumbo-jumbo and are cosidering buying this player - go for it if you intend to use it for watching TV shows and movies you record and rip/encode yourself, it is the arguably the best portable player with TiVO-like functionality. But if you have an extensive collection of "preview" material downloaded from the net - steer clear of the ARchos and either get the PQI mPack or an iStation PMP, they are more likely to handle the downloaded stuff.

And as for waitig for Archos to come up with firmware updates to add MPEG4 ASP codec and subtitle support - I wouldn't hold my breath, I've waited for them to do that with my Archos AV420 for almost a year and all they could cough up was meager VBR MP3 fix for AVI files.



Charbax

Comments: 32
 		Aug 02 (2005) 08:20PM  

Igor, yeah.. I expect soon my Pma430 will support all the codecs thanks to the work some people are doing to port mplayer and videolan client.

Then the Pma430 will also be able to stream video-on-demand from the internet with it's built-in wifi, or with usb-ethernet or usb-bluetooth-umts configurations.

I definately prefer the PMA technologies from Archos over the AV series. But the AV series, like this new AV500 upgrade, seems to be a fine indication of how cool the next generation PMA will be. With the widescreen and all the hardware and design improvements one can suppose Archos is working on.

I guess Archos should be able to add AC3 and subtitles in a firmware. I agree we shouldn't hope for qpel, cmg nor DivX 3 at dvd-resolution to ever come in new firmwares for the Archos AV and Gmini devices. With PMA everything is possible I think.



KoreanPMP

Guest
 		Aug 03 (2005) 12:16AM  

Can I buy it? -- 이거 살 수 있는지요?
In the Korea, it is Many PMP products. but I cannot buy it.....
-- 아직 구매가 불가능 하다 ㅡ.ㅡ....

Korea PMP : [Linky] ^^.



clevetus

Comments: 52
 		Aug 03 (2005) 02:04AM  

Like the guys said mitzi, I never use a transfer program, just copy-paste to de device through "my computer" after it shows up as a removable drive. Any file should work then. So are you returning it today or are you gonna give it another chance for a day or two?



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 03 (2005) 02:29AM  

When I try to copy and paste into the device (through my computer),
I get the error message "the file is not supported on this device",
with three options - skip, skip all, and cancel.

Any ideas?



clevetus

Comments: 52
 		Aug 03 (2005) 03:09AM  

hmm, that sounds pretty weird. this is when copy/pasting through windows explorer? I did'nt think it had any such preferences. The av500 does show up like a removable harddrive right? did archos provide any transfer software except for the pos video conversion software?



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 03 (2005) 03:17AM  

No transfer software, they just offer to use MediaPlayer 10.

The AV500 appears as removable hard drive, with two main directories - media and data. I'm just trying to paste the file in media\video directory with windows explorer.



Mizti

Guest
 		Aug 03 (2005) 03:20AM  

I'm still thinking about return it.

Maybe it's better to wait for the Zen Vision (which offer higher resolution and FM radio, but only 3.7" 4/3), or go for the 100GB version, with longer battery life.

What do you think, clevetus ?



phil-t

Guest
 		Aug 03 (2005) 04:06AM  

Mitzi..

If the AV500 is anything like the Gmini402.. then it comes preset to 'windows device' or similar.. i.e. not a removeable storage... on the 402, you need to goto SETUP->SYSTEM and choose "Hard Drive" as the USB Port.. then it will appear as a removeable HDD... the windows device is to blend it all in with WMP10 natively..

On the subject of TV shows.. I must be really lucky, I've tried so many now, and only two series don't work, one is due to the AUDIO stream not being recognised (The video plays fine..), the other just fails with a not supported, and that is DIVX3 which figures..

IF you don't know already... GSPOT Codec appliance is an excellent free bito f software that will give you all the exact details of video/audio codecs used in a video file..



clevetus

Comments: 52
 		Aug 03 (2005) 04:09AM  

Well, I prefer the usb-to-go over the CF slot, FM-radio is useless to me when I can fit my entire music collection on it anyways and even if I'd never use it, the av500 CAN record television or even record video from a usb webcam whereas the zen can do neither. I don't know either about how great codec support the zen will have but I do know that if you want to avoid conversions, pmp 1000 i-station is the way to go, maybe the i-station i2? There kind of a hasstle to get a hold of in europe and america but they can play pretty much anything you throw at them. There is also an extra thick battery for longer playing. The only downside is that there is neither usb-to-go nor any slot of any kind.

I'd definatley not return the av500 BEFORE you definatley have to (what's the point?), how much longer can you hold on to it before return date expires?

About the file transfer, how about transferring the file to another folder other than the mediavideo one? I know that on the gmini you can open the videoplayer and browse upp video files from ANY folder, try making your owne folder aswell. Also, check so that none of he files are "read-only" or some crap like that, maybe change the name if some odd symbols are in the file names. I just don't understand how windows explorer can have any objections to what type of files you copy/paste so it should be the destination folder who's making all the fuss. (btw, the video file type IS .avi is'nt it?!)

Anywho, hope you have som better luck! Is the player really only 18 mm thin? It looks thicker from perspective but it could be an illusion. Like som other people mentioned, IF you have time and feel like it, some comparisson pics would be the bussines. Maybe just put up a deck of cards, or something standard-sized that we all can relate to, next to it!

GOOD LUCK!



clevetus

Comments: 52
 		Aug 03 (2005) 04:12AM  

ohh, also, if you DO go for another photo shoot with your delicious new honey, maybe throw in the docking station and other acessories into the picture?



Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 03 (2005) 04:14AM  

Hi Mitzi on your last photo IMG0132, i think you need to change where it says "USB PORT WINDOWS DEVICE" you need to change this so it says "Hard Drive" or something similar then you will be able to transfer files over easily as mentioned above, whilst is in WINDOWS DEVICE mode you can only transfer files over using WM10. Hope this helps.



clevetus

Comments: 52
 		Aug 03 (2005) 04:41AM  

wow, good observation "anonymous", that should do the trick mitzi.

ohh, one more question how's the built in speaker?



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 03 (2005) 06:30AM  

Thanks Anonymous, good point.

I supposed to return the unit in "not used, brand new" condition, so I don't want to take the cables, docking station etc out from the nylon bags.

Maybe I'll try later to take some pictures of the box contents (the remote is really nice and big, proper remote, not the tiny one you usually get with media players).



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 03 (2005) 06:31AM  

When do you think we can get the other models - 40GB and 100GB ?



whitebloodcell

Comments: 35
 		Aug 03 (2005) 06:39AM  

Does it have an ebook reader? Does anyone think that the screen on the Vision will be better than this, since it is a much higher res?



clevetus

Comments: 52
 		Aug 03 (2005) 06:51AM  

It would be nice to be able to open word-files and .pdf-files actually..

Sounds good mitzi, tell us how the settings change worked out for you!



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 03 (2005) 07:03AM  

If the screen on the Zen Vision is as good as the screen on my iPAQ 4700 (same resolution) then it should be amazing...

Video playing on the iPAQ (with TCPMP - The Core Pocket Media Player) looks very good with the high resolution screen, excellent , but of course the storage is limited.



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 03 (2005) 07:05AM  

clevetus, when do you think Archros will come out with more models (the 40GB/100GB) ?



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 03 (2005) 07:07AM  

I can try the setting only after work (yes, I have to work sometimes).



clevetus

Comments: 52
 		Aug 03 (2005) 07:11AM  

hehe yea, i figured, I'm at work aswell I have no clue to when the bigger models will appear, sorry. But it should'nt be long after if even after the zen vision. How do you know the codec-support for the vision is going to be so fantastic btw?



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 03 (2005) 07:26AM  

I'm talking about the screen resolution, not the codec support.

From what I can find on the net, the Gmini402 have higher resolution then the AV500 - with smaller screen. I don't get it...

And the Zen officially support Xvid.



Charbax

Comments: 32
 		Aug 03 (2005) 07:45AM  

No no the Gmini402 probably still has the 220x176 resolution screen..

You don't need high resolution screen for video.. Allthough 480x272 widescreen probably looks better than the 320x240 4/3 screen of the AV400.

Higher resolution is just good if you want to do the PDA kind of stuff like the PMA430 does. For example it's usefull for browsing the internet with a browser, for reading and editing texts.. And so on.. I think for watching sub-DVD resolution video, a 4inch widescreen 480x272 resolution screen, like on the AV500 and on the PSP is perfect.

I'm looking forward to see if the PMA500 will have same resolution widescreen as a Linux touch-screen or somehow even higher resolution.



clevetus

Comments: 52
 		Aug 03 (2005) 08:03AM  

Yea, I would'nt worry about the res, and the gmini 402 DEFINATLEY does not have higher resolution than the av500, from what I gathered it's still 220x176 which looks great on film!



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 03 (2005) 08:11AM  

You right, my mistake...

And still, videos on my iPAQ 4700, with 640x480 resolution, looks much better...
So maybe is better to wait for the Zen Vision.



clevetus

Comments: 52
 		Aug 03 (2005) 08:22AM  

yea maybe, especially if you don't need video recording. msrp 400$ for 30 gb and that screen is a sweet deal Only diff is the usb to go against cf-slot and screen size... and thickness.. haha. Does the av500 feel at all pocketable to you, is it REALLY only 18 mm thick?



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 03 (2005) 08:33AM  

I have to look in the manual to check the exact size, but it's definitely pocketable for me - small, not too heavy and good feel.



clevetus

Comments: 52
 		Aug 03 (2005) 09:14AM  

Right on Well, I know the official dimensions and it's supposed to be 18 mm thick but it just does'nt look it



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 03 (2005) 10:04AM  

Creative officially introduces the Zen Vision:

[Linky]



Raphael

Guest
 		Aug 03 (2005) 10:07AM  

Saw Archos pma400 on sale on Ebay ... $550 ... goto to search and type archos .. page 5 or 6



jbomb

Guest
 		Aug 03 (2005) 10:12AM  

I have some questions.
I noticed in the FAQ that it said you can't read .txt files but it recognizes the .txt file extention... Does it read .txt files?

Also Does it read WMV files? and if so do they have to be certain specs?

I know it only reads certain formats. Is there any really good converter that can read a bunch of formats and convert to the specs that work on this player? and if so, can you put the files in a queue so you can convert them overnight or something... and also doesn't crash, that would be good.

I'm thinking of getting the 100gb version. I have a bunch of mp3 files and extra room for video would be nice. I have a media center pc. It would be nice if it could read dvr-ms files, but I doubt it will ever do that. I don't even think I could get the same converter program to change the dvr-ms files over. let me know if you know that.

and hey, while I'm asking... has anyone made any programs for this? games, utilities, added features. it may be too soon, but have people done this type of thing for other players from Archos?



whitebloodcell

Comments: 35
 		Aug 03 (2005) 12:52PM  

Programs have been made for the PMA but nothing notable for the other Archos products afaik. The best program for converting almost anything to perfect for Archos is PocketDivxEncoder, though I am unsure whether it reads dvr-ms files.

Yes, it reads certain .wmv files.
"

MPEG-4 SP with B-Frames (compatible with DivX® 4.0 and 5.03) with stereo sound. Near DVD quality up to 720x480 @ 30 f/s (NTSC), 720x576 @ 25 f/s (PAL), AVI file format (including WMV9 SP protected files) up to 352x288 @ 30 f/s and 800 Kbits"

Having seen that there is no able art on the Zen Vision has put me off it completely. And most of my Vids are 512x384 Res. If I wanted higher res that means bigger files and even less fits on the device then. Im gonna wait for the 100Gb version.



Seafoam60

Guest
 		Aug 03 (2005) 04:08PM  

How about Fair Use Wizard? Does that software conversions play on archos products?

Does anyone know which is better, the Av700 , the Av 4100 or the new Av500?

Thanks



whitebloodcell

Comments: 35
 		Aug 03 (2005) 04:19PM  

Which is better? Bit of a subjective question. It seems pointless to get the Av4100 since it will be replaced by the Av5100 very soon. the Av700 is just to big for my tastes. But its what u want



Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 03 (2005) 04:20PM  

i was just wondering if u guys saw the preview video a few weeks ago on cnet.com of the new creative, i can't remember or find the link but i think it may answer a few of your questions. I'll see if i can track down the link for you



whitebloodcell

Comments: 35
 		Aug 03 (2005) 04:37PM  

Yes, many of us saw it. Dapreview posted a news item on it.



Gmini400

Guest
 		Aug 03 (2005) 04:38PM  

Here we go: [Linky]



Gmini400

Guest
 		Aug 03 (2005) 04:40PM  

oh right, ok, i'm new i saw the pic in the argos cat today and just had to follow it up.



Gmini400

Guest
 		Aug 03 (2005) 05:26PM  

by the way, i have a gmini400 and was wondering how i could rip dvds onto it. I tried finding the video file on the dvd disc but virtualdub couldn't convert the file. I am only 15 and I can't afford to buy software to do this for me. Any tips?



Mitzi

Comments: 10
 		Aug 03 (2005) 05:38PM  

OK, after I changed the settings to "Hard Drive" I can now transfer files directly to the AV500.
Still, I can't play many files because the lack of support for QPEL and GMC.

Green Wing, Seinfeld and more won't play - all my favorite rips...

I think most of the new rips using QPEL and GMC.



whitebloodcell

Comments: 35
 		Aug 03 (2005) 05:44PM  

What is QPEL and GMC? I haven't heard much about them. But more on topic Im starting to love this player more by the second. Hurry up 100GB version! Though I wont be able to afford it in Britain probably. What do we guess £500? so about $700. A damnsite cheaper. Would an Archos bought in the US have a UK warranty?



jimldixon

Guest
 		Aug 05 (2005) 02:09PM  

Mitzi - I can't get to your site to see the av500 pictures! Is it still up?

Thanks!



Beasty

Guest
 		Aug 06 (2005) 06:24AM  

No bealt-in Bluetooth?



Soulh

Guest
 		Aug 06 (2005) 06:28AM  

Can I have a GPS software on this gadget like on my PDA (with a bluetooth or USB GPS device)?



Lucficera

Guest
 		Aug 08 (2005) 08:10AM  

I agree with Bill...

And you need this for what? Another waste of $$$$$

Have your even given 1 cent to help anyone in need in the past 2 years?
Bet not...

Enjoy your next toy.


Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 11 (2005) 03:23PM  

great



Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 11 (2005) 03:30PM  

my friend has the av500 for about 2 weeks he's brought it in to work every day since. and as you can guess I’ve been trying it out non stop. the picture quality is out of this world and likewise through a TV screen. it's so easy to use and so far it hasn't any problems what so ever. I will be getting one on the 19th. I have persuaded my wife to get me it on my birthday. I would defo recommend it



Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 13 (2005) 08:20PM  

i've got it early!!!!! it's superb just sussed how it works and i'me over the moon!!!! you got to get one of these things guys....



PineappleJoe

Guest
 		Aug 16 (2005) 07:40AM  

Visited Argos yesterday and they had both the AV700 and AV500 IN STOCK... why do they appear to be the only retailer with either of these items?

Anyone any idea why Archos have NO information other than an FAQ on the AV500 on their website? why arent they selling it??



Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 17 (2005) 01:21AM  

i find that strange aswell!!! i want to buy some accessories for it like a stand or holder for the car. and a case so you can opperate it whilst keeping it protected.not like the basic one you get with it.
mybe they are using argos to see if it has any problems...



rumos

Comments: 74
 		Aug 17 (2005) 06:31AM  

i was really looking forward to this player but the lack of decent codec support sucks. i will have to wait for the iaudio/cowon a2 i guess.

i also wish that the av500 or the a2 had subtitle support. any chance on that?



PineappleJoe

Guest
 		Aug 17 (2005) 08:00AM  

hmm.. i dont really know about all this codec stuff... i am looking, primarily, for a device that will let me record from sky and take the programs with me on my travels. MP3 is a big bonus. I also assume i can just hook up the output from a DVD player and store the moves on the AV500 with the device doing any conversion??

Another silly question from me.... my SKY+ box has 20gb of space but holds nowhere near 100hrs of TV.,.. can the AV500 really store 120 hours of film or is this one of those marketing scams.

The main thing putting me of this is i dont understand why Archos are not advertising this device (I came across it when looking for the AV700!!!)... is it likely to be widely distributed as i would expect the price to drop to about £319 pretty quick but maybe thats just hopeful thinking!!


peejay

Guest
 		Aug 17 (2005) 12:32PM  

In reply to PineappleJoe...

Yes, you will be able to record directly from a DVD player BUT you will only be able to watch the resulting file on the unit itself - not on a TV, and the file won't play on another device. This is because of macrovision on the DVD - recording from any other source won't have this issue.

On the capacity, Sky+ is recording at full broadcast quality. This thing doesn't record at quite the same level of quality, but more importantly the compression you can get with DivX is very dramatic. Ripping from DVDs I suppose you could get about 2hrs/Gb maybe... giving a capacity of about 60hrs of video. You can rip at lower bitrates giving more capacity, but the quality would be less.

Note that if the unit itself is doing the recording, it will need a higher bitrate to get a decent quality recording. Rule of thumb about 1hr/Gb? Not sure - haven't used one (I have an ancient AV140). That gives you 30hrs. Still a lot! And that's still pretty amazing - real-time encoding (something that you need a pretty powerful PC to achieve) by something you can put in your pocket.



PineappleJoe

Guest
 		Aug 17 (2005) 02:04PM  

Thanks for the information PeeJay... in my case im not too bothered about replaying on TV as its really for travelling. I guess depending on your focus, different PVPs may suit, but this looks like device for me.
If only it would go on general sale then the prices can down just a little... knowing Archos, the 100GB version will be £500!!!


peejay

Guest
 		Aug 18 (2005) 02:45PM  

Before anyone rushes out and buys one of these things on my say-so, I should add that I'm basing some of my info on the larger AV700, and an assumption that the AV500 will work in the same way (specifically the DVD recording bit). It's a fair assumption (the user interface and the published specs are the same), but it's still an assumption.



Anonymous

Guest
 		Aug 18 (2005) 03:09PM  

hi Peejay, no worries....the spec says record from TV/Satellite, MP3 & photos and thats all i want. Took a step closer by ordering argos vouchers at a 10% discount...should get the thing for my target price of £319 after all....

Mitzi, how have you got on now? would you recommend the product?
have you tried record from TV/play MP3 etc??



PineappleJoe

Guest
 		Aug 18 (2005) 03:09PM  

p.s. that last post was from me!!!



PineappleJoe

Guest
 		Aug 19 (2005) 07:30AM  

Can anyone confirm the battery life of the AV500 (30gb version)? Im dubious as there seems to be a thinking that the higher spec version willa achieve this level?? therefore what is the battery life of the 30GB version? I assume the 100gb version will be physically thicker as per the AV400 series?



PineappleJoe

Guest
 		Aug 20 (2005) 09:10AM  

Hi all... just took the plunge and purchased this from Argos UK...only got as far as the demo video/music etc but first impressions are OMG!!!!... it seems very well build (buttons a slightly wobbly and some of them are quite small). The unit itself is pocket size, very small and stylish with a bright screen. The headphones which came with it are adequate but feel a bit plasticky for something of this price... lots of cables in the box yet to try out... but...WOW!



rumos

Comments: 74
 		Aug 22 (2005) 10:42AM  

how is the codex support?



PineappleJoe

Guest
 		Aug 22 (2005) 11:11AM  

Hi Rumos.. not sure as im new to all this...I dont really have any links to downloaded films to try it.

I have ripped CDs into Media Player 10 and sent them to the device. No problems at all with this, works perfectly. Similarly worked for downloaded music without a problem.

Managed to set the unit up to record from SKY+ decode without issue. Only problem i have is i cant find the infra red sensor to stick the controlling IR emitter from the docking station onto!!!... it must be well hidden on the SKY+ box! Quality of recording is very good and i have already watched a movie on the device.

Have not tried ripping DVDs as i have the docking pod linked to the SKY+ box. I think i need to unplug it and plug it into the back of the DVD player to copy a DVD.

Couple of observations...
- buttons on the unit are quite small and its way to easy to switch on the external speaker (press the middle of the bottom buttons) without realising... could lead to some embarassment when watching eastenders .
- They could do with releasing a remote control so you can play music/skip tracks etc without having to take the device out of its protective case.
- An FM radio would be good too!


The manual also gives some info on the other versions. It mentions a 40GB and a 100gb version. The diagram for these indicates that they will have a battery which is the width of the entire unit and will be thicker to accommodate this... so the units will be slighthly larger and bulkier. The current 30gb is probably about as big as you would want for a pocket.


rumos

Comments: 74
 		Aug 23 (2005) 02:19AM  

hi joe, thanks for all the informatiion. seems like the av500 (or av530?) is a really nice player, but it is not too much of an improvment over the av400 series if archos has not dramatically improved codec support. that is, support for not just single process (is that what SP stands for?) mpeg4 files.


XBRLX

Guest
 		Aug 23 (2005) 11:22AM  

Hey everyone! It seems Archos have finally put the Av500 on their site! Check it out! I was just wondering why on some photos the battery seems to have a bigger separtion gap than on other photos! Have a look at these two photos! [Linky] and [Linky] Can people post more photos of this PVP because I want to get a better impression of this device before i buy it! Thanks



PineappleJoe

Guest
 		Aug 24 (2005) 01:27PM  

Rumos, dont know much about the AV4xx series but your probably right.
Incidently, saw the AV700 at the airport for the first time... front looks quite plasticky but the main thing is that its HUGE!!...definitely not a pocket item!!!



rumos

Comments: 74
 		Aug 24 (2005) 04:19PM  

joe, if u could please try to play mpg and wmv files with it... i am curious to know if it works.



Newtothis

Guest
 		Aug 25 (2005) 12:54PM  

PineappleJoe, your desire for an FM radio and remote seems to be satisfied by getting a FM radio/remote, which looks to be the same remote that was available for the AV400 series. If you go to the Archos website and find the AV500, then click on Accessories, it's in there. 70 euros i think, or you could prob get it cheaper at some online shops.

Have you tried attaching an external hard drive to the USB host port? I'm thinking of getting the 30GB version (since it's there, cheaper and small, 3 things the 100GB version is not), and then if i ever want to carry more files around could use an external HDD that powers itself thru the USB. i doubt this'll work but if you have or haven't done that, you could confirm if the USB host port is "powered"?



PineappleJoe

Guest
 		Aug 25 (2005) 02:21PM  

Hi newtothis.. afraid i havent got an external drive to attach to try this for you so cant confirm. However, going by the price of the AV700, the 100GB could retail at up to £200 more than the 30gb version. Not worth it in my book. The 30gb version will slip into a shirt breast pocket (even in case... but only just)... horses for courses i think..

Rumos... ill try this as soon as i can .. may be sat



PineappleJoe

Guest
 		Aug 25 (2005) 02:22PM  

ps..thanksforthis... theres some geezer on EBAY selling the AV400 series Fm for £19.99 on buy it now...looks the same and on the Archos website says it works AV400/AV500



Morpheus

Guest
 		Aug 25 (2005) 03:04PM  

Hi "newtothis" and hi everyone.

I just bought the AV500 today, and I can confirm that the device is not charged from the USB port. It has a separate power adapter instead. Would have been a nice feature though....

Also, when I linked my usb flash drive to it, it picked it up right away and I could see all my data files, and copy them to my device..... very useful!!!!!!


Morpheus

Guest
 		Aug 25 (2005) 07:44PM  

Have also connected it to a 16 in 1 card reader and my old 3rd gen Ipod and they both showed up as compatible drives on my AV500. I can browse the files on my Ipod/memory cards and transfer them across!!



Morpheus

Guest
 		Aug 25 (2005) 08:18PM  

While i'm typing about this thing, I may aswell type a bit more.....

I didn't really get along with the virtualdub software, eventhough it worked with some of my videos. However, I have tried asf, wmv, avi, and divx and they seem to work. I mainly used the windows media 10 sync mode to transfer and convert my movies to a suitable format and they worked most of the time.

The playback quality is really good. There is no mis-sync or lagging. The screen is bright and the viewing angle is good. The connection to the TV with the composite cables included worked flawlessly and that the remote control can be used directly to the device as it has an in-built IR sensor. I haven't really tested the recording features yet though.....

In terms of the interface system, It is a little long winded, especially when you want to get to a song quickly. I guess I am too used to my old Ipod. In this case the controls are a little too slow for scrolling, which will prolong the time it takes to search and play a song. However , the playlist facility will help that along.

The photo facility is easy to use, but a bit slow in producing previews, but thats to be expected.

The overall build quality of the system is good, it has a steel chasis, and the controls are fairly well laid out and responsive. It feels more robust than the previous av400 series. The weight surprised me, it felt almost the same as my old Ipod. The screen is slightly re-inforced, but I will try to find a hard case for it, as the case it comes with is as useful as an inflatable dartboard!!

One thing I didn't like (a minor thing really) was that the docking pod does not come with a cradle, unlike the previous models. So you have to connect the cable to it and lay the unit beside it, annoying!!

The main feature I like about this product is the ease of transferring data. Basically I dragged and dropped my whole itunes music library from my documents into the 'media' folder on the device directly, and it picked it up straight away!!!

I am going to test the battery life, and see what the realistic times are.....



PineappleJoe

Guest
 		Aug 28 (2005) 05:42AM  

rumos, i can confirm that wmv files so not play natively... *think* you would need to convert to avi



lamby

Guest
 		Aug 28 (2005) 07:54AM  

I was looking at the AV700 but found that my camera a a fuji finpix A203 was getting a device not supported message when connected via usb. The main reason for this type of device is so I can transfer my photos from my camera. Has anyone tested this on this type of camera or is there drivers I can install ( I had to install drivers to get XP to recognise it ).

What OS is it using, and why FAT16 ?

Anyway any help on this would be greatful



PineappleJoe

Guest
 		Aug 28 (2005) 09:46AM  

XBRLX... i can confirm that although the battery on the back of the AV500 looks a bit odd in the photos, in real life it looks just fine and there is no canyon of a gap!!



FlashPro

Guest
 		Aug 30 (2005) 10:08AM  

those of you who are doubting this device are fools!!!!!! THE AV400 whips any other PVPs tame ass right now! Imagine what this thing's gunna do. Earth 2 creative zen guy it's not even as good as the av400 let alone the 500. Earth to everybody ARCHOS ARE THE MASTERS OF PORTABLE VIDEO no cowon, or apple, or creative efforts will be able to knock this. THEY CAN'T RECORD DIRECTLY FROM TV, THEY CAN'T SCHEDULE RECORDINGS just to name a few!!! PEOPLE i URGE YOU TO STOP AND THINK ACTUASLLLY HOW AWESOME THIS THING IS. DON'T BUY ANYTHING ELSE THIS IS THE FUTURE!!!!



PineappleJoe

Guest
 		Aug 30 (2005) 12:40PM  

FLASHPRO...gotta agree with you m8... for me, recording off my SKY+ box and taking it away with me on business just blows everything else away. Saw a review saying the PSP was the best thing out but THEY ARE QWRONG>.. with the PSP, you are stuck with a proprietry format (UMD) for purchased movies or a memory device to store on (1GB!?!)... AND... you cant record from telly,..
PSP=good for games, ok for occasional movies but crap as a personal video recorder/player.

Why dont these guys just wake up and smell the coffee.. some of the problem may be that Archos marketing isnt the best as your unlikely to come across one of their products unless specifically looking!



Lamby

Guest
 		Aug 31 (2005) 03:34AM  

Any answers to my question above.

P.S.
Will be getting one anyway even if have to buy a new camera





PineappleJoe

Guest
 		Aug 31 (2005) 12:34PM  

Lamby... sorry m8, cant help.. I have a fuji S5000 but transfer the pics to the PC before sending to the Archos...

Rest assured, you wont be disappointed with the device!



jacko

Guest
 		Aug 31 (2005) 01:53PM  

so would i be wright in saying you can just drag and drop mpeg 4 files on to the av 500 and they will play?



Paul

Guest
 		Aug 31 (2005) 04:12PM  

Where did you buy it? Archos is telling me it will become available only by the end of September!



Susan

Guest
 		Aug 31 (2005) 04:15PM  

What about the Protected PlaysForSure™. I don't really know what it is. Does it stop me from viewing any of my movies or MP3s that I have already downloaded? Does it restrict format or what does it do? THanks for advice!



PineappleJoe

Guest
 		Aug 31 (2005) 06:06PM  

Argos had it in stock when i went in ... you can check availability on the web.. dunno why other stockists dont seem to have it yet!?!

Susan, you can get info about playforsure at [Linky]



Nkredible

Guest
 		Sep 03 (2005) 10:12PM  

I noticed they have a digital mini-cam available for this device...VERY NICE...im hoping its available with the unit when it starts selling....i need specs on this camera.

Btw...for the guy that has the av500 already..how much did it cost you? Was a mini-cam available for it where you bought it?



sheareb

Comments: 2
 		Sep 06 (2005) 04:42PM  

the AV500 is RRP £349 at argos in UK. The mini cam was not available



elmbeck

Comments: 2
 		Sep 08 (2005) 04:35PM  

Hi - first time here - lots of info above - cheers!

I have just bought an AV500 (30Gb only as Archos say end of year for 100Gb)

I'm really pleased with it ..... SUPERB..... just a few questions though

1. I hurridly copied a couple of recorded TV snippets just to see how good it was. One was about 10 minutes worth the other 30 minutes worth. They were both converted by Windows Media Player to WMV9 811Kbs and 814Kbs respectively. The problem is when viewing I cna't Fast Forward the 30 minute clip, but can on the 10 minute one - any ideas why?

2. I understand there is not a working code for the IR transmitter to work with SKY+. Is this true?

3. All the brochures etc mention a "cradle" - all I got was a box to connect to TV with a cable to connect to AV500. Not sure how secure that is?

4. I guess I need accessories now any ideas or recommendations for suppliers?

I am amazed that it seems the UK is the first to have this product - and ARGOS are the sole suppliers .......... what is happening in this mad world



elmbeck

Comments: 2
 		Sep 08 (2005) 04:40PM  

Ooooopppssss !!!!

5. I try to connect my USB Flash Drive and "this device is not supported" ?
It's a PQI 128MB "Travelling Disk"


Cheers,
Elmbeck



sheareb

Comments: 2
 		Sep 09 (2005) 02:15PM  

lo elmbeck..
1. never tried this.. i always record straight from sky+. However, i have never had any problems with any recordings.

2. As you will know there doesnt seem to be one in the list. I have absolutely no idea where the IR receiver is on these boxes as its not obvious. I tend to leave my device recording overnight from a pre-recorded sky+ program but its a little bit of a pain as you can only do one program at a time.

3. yep.. i was surprised at this one as even the brochure picture shows the AV500 standing up on a docking pod. However, not too much hassle as i just lay it on top of the SKY+ box.

4. Looking at an FM radio. From the archos site it looks like the AV400 series radio works with the 500. sellers on ebay are selling for £19.99 buy it now.

5. Not sure you can do this?


i agree with your last comment. distribution for the AV500 is a mystery!!!>.. even archos themselves where not advertising it until about 2 weeks ago!


Bert McFish

Comments: 2
 		Oct 01 (2005) 11:54AM  

Bought mine yesterday from Micro Anvika on Tottenham Court Road. Various other websites offering it too, try pricerunner.co.uk

So far everything seems superb. Music and photo transfer very easy. Easy to set it up with your TV too, have managed to record a quick snippet without any problems. Not sure yet how to put DVDs on it, sure I will find out.

The unit itself oozes quality, great stainless steel finish, screen excellent, sound quality (through headphones) excellent, built in speaker OK, can't expect much from an inbuilt.

Overall, 9 out of 10, sure this will get to 10/10 once I'm used to everything.

How did I ever live without it!



Bert McFish

Comments: 2
 		Oct 02 (2005) 06:28AM  

OK, a few teething problems. Mainly that all the tracks I ripped in Windows Media Lossless format won't work, had to start again in mp3 format. May have been me being dim, but pretty sure that's what the manual said. The sound quality is still excellent though.



harbour13

Comments: 1
 		Oct 12 (2005) 11:43AM  

I just posted this in another thread, but since I relied on comments from this thread (thanks all) before buying, thought I'd add here too.
I bought an AV500 from Argos – they only have the 30GB version, I’d recommend holding out for the 100GB, as 30 goes so quick when you can record from TV.
Re the dimensions, they are as described, if not a touch smaller. Very compact, and solid. No problems re the buttons, they seem fine to me - responsive and solid enough (they wiggle if you make them, but why would you?). And well set out – takes v little time to work out how they work. Is not much bigger than my girlfriend's 20GB iPod, in all dimensions. A bit heavier but not much.
Recording from TV is a breeze. So is transferring files from Windows Media Player, which automatically converted into AVI every video format I tried (mainly older MPEGs and some weird formats used on 5yo CD-ROMs). And so far everything I’ve recorded from TV or DVD via the Archos cradle has been able to play thru other TVs and on my computer. Not sure if the DVDs I’ve been copying don’t have Macrovision protection or maybe the Archos copy protection isn’t as robust as Sony etc would like.
Be careful with the editing function – you can cut out bits of all files you record via the cradle (e.g. ad breaks), but for some reason even if you select “keep selected bit” it always seems to delete. I lost a whole movie before I worked this out. Maybe firmware updates will fix this, but until then (…) the editing function is generally very user friendly anyway.
One other thing to beware of – my unit doesn’t always record the vocal track on DVD movies which have Dolby 5.1. Is very spooky watching a movie which still has background noise (footsteps etc) but no voices… my DVD player lets me switch to Dolby 2, and then it’s fine.
Video playback is great – screen easily big enough for 1 person, 2 at a pinch. Only takes 1-2 seconds for movies to “load” and screen quality is perfect.
One feature that I found very helpful is the ability to search the hard drive via the folders you put songs into, rather than just via artist, album etc (which you can also do if you want). helpful if for example you want to group all the members of the Eagles in one place, or search for solo artists via last name not first. also means that if you have 1000s of downloaded files where someone has mis-typed the artist name you don’t have to be stuck with having “Eminem” and “Emnem” as separate artists, or having to re-enter all the ID3 tag info. also means the lack of scrollwheel doesn’t slow you down – if you set up folers of A-Z then put your tracks in those folders via artist name, is actually quicker than iPod to find tracks. and there’s a fast scroll button as well, which I reckon is easier to navigate than scrollwheel.
Picture wallet is good – can zoom, show up to 9 pics at a time, rotate, set as wallpaper for the device etc.
Synchronisation with Windows Media is good. But need to set the Archos to “hard drive” to be able to swap files back and forth between your computer and Archos easily. Can then rename files, move folders on the Archos via your computer (much easier than trying to do on the “virtual keyboard” away from the PC) etc. Setting as hard drive has no effect either on synchability with Windows Media, or in using the device. It pays to “safely remove hardware” when unplugging from computer, otherwise the device can freeze (or at least mine did once). In 2 months’ use, device has frozen twice, but useable straight away afterwards, so no biggie.
2 questions:
1- If anyone has bought the FM radio/remote, let me know how it works – can you switch the device on and off with the remote, and are folders easy to navigate with it?
2 - The AV host function is okay when it works. My camera (2yo Kodak) isn’t a “Mass Storage Class” device so didn’t work. I got one of those USB card readers tho, and that worked fine – could transfer files to/from the card reader and Archos. My external HDD doesn’t work, so I am going to carefully test anything I buy specifically to carry around with me (e.g. to take extra movies to play in hotels). I think anything that is Mass Storage Class or has On-The-Go certification should work, but can someone please confirm?
All up, AV500 is a very slick unit – definitely recommend buying 10/10. Any answers to my 2 questions would be appreciated.


duxdeluxe

Comments: 1
 		Oct 16 (2005) 07:45AM  

Hi Just thought I would share some info I have with you all,
Bought the AV500 after reading the reviews ,only place I could get it was Argos at £349,so sold the I River HP120 and Sony Net walkman on EBay and got one, so far, so good apart from bloody Windows Media player 10 ,what a pile of crap that program is compared to I Tunes ,if only I could sync the device through ITunes and not WMP10 things would be perfect!
The AV500 is not recognised in any other prog I have,Winamp,Magix media player,Nero so looks like I'm stuck withWMP10.tho'might try the hard drive aproach mentioned above.
The AV500 records direct from the sky sat box ok and I can even import the resulting AVI into a video editing prog to edit stuff out and burn to disc.
Recorded a football match from Sky Sports One the other night and the AV500 recorded it in one 1.9GB chunk and a further 500Mb chunk,Ican import the smaller recording onto the descktop but it will not play in WMP10,the larger file will not import at all,I thought it may be a protected file from Sky but it plays straight from the AV500 to the tv,this is obviously going to take some sorting out!.
You can record copyrighted DVDs directly to the AV500 but they only play back on the LCD screen not on a TV,one way round this I have found is to record a "back up" copy of a copyright film to the Av500 this allows you to watch the movie on a TV.
I do some video filming on the motorcycle and previously used 2 analogue bullet cameras hooked up to a digital camcorder so the Av 500 was also to replace the camcorder,tried it out and the results are not bad ,going to try a higher sampling rate on the video to see if I can improve thing at all,or try the digital minicam thats due out soon.
Bought a Av travel lead and adaptor from Amazon ,none available for the AV500 so I got one for the AV400 and it works fine.


chrisegan

Comments: 4
 		Nov 14 (2005) 08:18AM  

Hi, hopefully someone can help answer a few queries about the AV500.

1) If you use the Hard Drive option, can you just drag and drop MP3 files and Movie Files onto the unit?

2) What is the best Software to use to copy a DVD to a AV500 readable format, and how long does this normally take?

3) If you use the TV Cradle to record from a DVD to the AV500, is this a 1:1 transfer, which will take the full 9 hours to upload the Godfather Trilogy,
or does it transfer it at a faster rate?

Any help that can be offered would be appreciated.

Cheers

Chris


chrisegan

Comments: 4
 		Nov 15 (2005) 08:01AM  

Oh, and another one...

4) Can you drag and drop DVD Files from the PC to AV500 too?

Thanks

Chris



rix182

Comments: 4
 		Nov 17 (2005) 03:50AM  

answers
1) yes
2) i use smart ripper ,(to rip the dvd) then dr divx (don't use supplied software) It takes depending on your computer 10-40 mins to rip the dvd ,,,to convert to mpeg4divx again depending on your computer 1.1 speed to double the time (you need to encode the vob files in 2 passes)
3) tv cradle ok its 1.1 speed the archos doesent' talk to the dvd player, it just displays what you record and records it.....ok
4) you can drag and drop any file on to a archos ,,,but it wont play dvd format,,,but you can use it as portable storage just like any other hard disk product.



rix182

Comments: 4
 		Nov 17 (2005) 04:09AM  

a couple more things ill say

dr divx can convert any file type and is allways crisp ,,

if you have downloaded video files of torrent sources etc,,,for dvd iso's and svcd ,,use daemon tools to mount image then browse for the drive when loctating video file on dr divx ,,to be honest in my personal experience the majority of files i download (i normally download avi,divx,xvid) work straight away on the archos

If anyone has still got an av300 series just record any copyrighted dvd on that as it removes macrovision,, the av300 even though is bad at many things (battery,caseing,size) it is great for ripping movies without pc and the camcorder was great with good quality pics,,,,

i am a sucker when it comes down to archos ive had av300,av400,pma400,av500

and to be honest you can't beatt archos , anyone who doesn't want to buy it because of codec support should realise it isn't that had to get any file type into an archos readable format ,just use dr divx,

I am getting abit annoyed though about the mini cam i still haven't got one and everywhere is out of stock....



rix182

Comments: 4
 		Nov 17 (2005) 04:16AM  

if duxdeluxe is still there you can drag any file of the archos on to your pc ,,,use harddisk option,,,

personally i hate itunes,music match,wm10 syncing softwares,,, i hate the fact that on ipods,sony walkmans etc that you can't just drag and drop files and have to sync



rix182

Comments: 4
 		Nov 17 (2005) 04:20AM  

ps. only place to buy archos, is datamind,, its allways the cheapest,,for units and accesories,,, as long as its in stock



chrisegan

Comments: 4
 		Nov 17 (2005) 10:34AM  

Thanks rix182.

The AV500 seems like donkey's dangly bits, and looks like what I'll be going for.

I checked out the Dr DivX site, but they see the product isn't available anymore, although they are working on a second version.

They say that a DivX Converter is available within the DivX Create Bundle on DIVX.com the descriptions sem pretty similar, are these the same / equal products?

Many thanks

Chris



chrisegan

Comments: 4
 		Nov 25 (2005) 04:51PM  

I can confirm that DivX Convertor works like a charm on the AV500.

I bought my today from Dixons, as they are doing the 60Gb model for £299

[Linky]



babblerx

Comments: 1
 		Jan 05 (2006) 11:08AM  

Just a word of caution for anyone anting to snap up an Archos AV500 (60GB) version from Dixons/Currys in the UK for £299, as I was going to do today (didn't have enough money until this week)....the b*****ds have now put it up to £399!! So much for the January sales!!!

Have to say, Dixons/Currys have now lost a sale (note my lone £299 is going to bring them to their knees, unfortunately!!) as I resolutely refuse to by it at £399 when it's been priced at £299 for well over a month prior to today.

So there you have it folks...as the old saying goes CAVEAT EMPTOR!!

Babbler



Cullegg

Comments: 1
 		Jan 20 (2006) 05:53AM  

HD Crashed.... AV560
only 20 days... :~~
Nice Archos, Nice QC, Nice Toshiba 2.5 inch HD
god... Where are my 30GB songs and 20GB pictures...
F##k



stevie

Comments: 1
 		Jan 25 (2007) 12:23PM  

hi to all you techys.
Can anyone tell me how to get my computer to see archos as hard drive like it used to!. I think it was about the same time i learnt to record from tv but i guess this was a coincidence. However i do know i have to set the device to hard drive but i now only get a drive letter that tells me i need to reformat. Before it came up as AV500. So i guess i need to change something with in windows to accept it as a hard drive again. Hope that made sence!




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