Before interviewing me on my interests in ARM Devices, EETimes editors Brian Fuller and Patrick Mannion went ahead and opened up the Archos 7 Home Tablet in front of a large audience of about 100 people at the ARM Techcon 2010 exhibitor area theater stage. They talked about the features of some of the processors that are used.
Category: Favorite companies
Archos 70, 43, 32 Internet Tablets on MacBreak Weekly 221
Posted by – November 18, 2010
As I was in California to video-blog the ARM Technology Conference in Santa Clara on my http://ARMdevices.net, I thought I’d suggest Archos send me some extra Gen8 so that I could use those as excuse to bring them to the Twit Cottage in Petaluma, as I am a fan of the Twit podcasting network, the most advanced high quality production quality podcast network, I watched most of the Twit and Twig shows since 2006. The weekly Twit podcasts (they do about 20 weekly, some even daily podcasts!) are some of the most influential and popular technology audio and video podcasts worldwide.
In this episode of MacBreak Weekly, Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Merlin Mann and Andy Ihnatko discuss the Archos 70 Internet Tablets versus the iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab. In the embed below of MacBreak Weekly episode 221, I forward the video to about the 1h01m30s time code when they start talking about the Archos tablets (they mention the Archos 7 Home Tablet Amazon pricing for a few minutes).
You can discuss this video in the forum: http://forum.archosfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=40794
ARM President Tudor Brown video interviewed on NBC Press Here TV
Posted by – November 17, 2010
Category: ARM TechCon, ARM
I asked (a bit too late) for an interview with ARM President Tudor Brown as he was checking out of the hotel on the last day of the ARM Techcon, but he had to hurry to be on this bit more important NBC Bay Area Press Here TV broadcast:
This video was posted at: pressheretv.com
Found via: ARMCommunity on Twitter
ARM Mali-T604, the next generation GPU for ARM Powered devices
Posted by – November 13, 2010
Interview with Jem Davies and Ian Smythe on the ARM Mali-T604, the next generation graphics processor. Look forward to some insanely powerful graphics processors with the ARM Cortex-A15 processors that will start to be designed next year and available in consumer products the year after that.
ARM CoreLink 400 Series
Posted by – November 13, 2010
This is a Cache Coherent Computer subsystem. Allows to deliver a whole bunch of new use cases, two Quad Cortex-A15 clusters can be fully I/O coherent with the MAli-T604 graphics.
I am interviewed by EE Times about my interest for ARM devices
Posted by – November 12, 2010
Here I am video interviewed by EE Times Editors Brian Fuller and Patrick Mannion on the subject of ARM Powered tablets where I get to talk about Archos and what I think of the tablet industry in general.
You can watch this video at this link: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid631791731001?bclid=598319351001&bctid=672346903001
Simon Segars, Executive VP and General Manager ARM Physical IP Division
Posted by – November 11, 2010
An interview with Simon Segars at the ARM techcon 2010 about the status of the ARM industry. He is one of the early employees of ARM, joined in 1991, now member of the board of directors, has led the development on many of the ARM CPU products.
Marvell Armada 100 and 600 for Tablets
Posted by – November 11, 2010
Marvell shows the Armada 100 and Armada 600, explains the differences in price, performance, target markets. Also shows off the Marvell 168 powered Gplug D, the first Guruplug with a HDMI output. The big question I have is which platform will OLPC choose to use for the OLPC XO-3 tablet platform, if it will be one of these or if the timing allows for the even newer and more powerful Marvell Armada 628 Tri-Core processor to be used.
7″ Pixel Qi may be shown at CES
According to the new Pixel Qi products page at http://pixelqi.com/products, the 7″ version of the Pixel Qi screen, thus suitable for more portable tablet form factors and e-readers, may be on display and perhaps available as samples starting this January at the CES trade show.
7″ samples for CES 2011 possible
And according to their September 17th blog post:
New Screen Development: 7″
We are developing a 7” screen for tablets and ereaders that is planned for mass production in H1 2011. Samples will be available earlier, perhaps by late Q4 2010.
As I am typing this post on my awesome 7″ Archos 70 Internet Tablet, I can imagine how it would be to have the device be even lighter (than its current 300 grams, vs 380 grams Galaxy Tab and 680 grams iPad) with a smaller battery or to have it last upwards 50 hours with a reflective screen suitable for e-reading. Kindle 4 should definitely use this, and this is I think the reason for Amazon to be secretly preparing their alternative Android application store.
Source: pcworld.com
OLPC XO-3 unbreakable Pixel Qi to show after CES
OLPC is working to design an unbreakable screen and thus may not have the XO-3 prototypes ready to show at CES in January. Marvell and its partners will likely have lots of tablets to show by then though. An unbreakable and sunlight readable Pixel Qi screen is an important feature of the XO-3 to make it a viable option for developing countries, as well as its abilities to be used for full productivity and for fast text input.
Source: pcworld.com
How disruptive is Nexus Two and Gingerbread going to be?
Last year, I wanted to see a Nexus One for $199 unlocked. But it became $529 and upwards $3000 on 2-year contracts.
Andy Rubin told me at Mobile World Congress:
We are not the ones deciding the price.
Android has been the most disruptive thing to happen in the smart phone industry. The question is, what does Google want to do with the next level of this software platform? Is Google going to push for even faster auto-disruption of the telecom industry by pushing the industry towards significantly lower cost unlocked devices?
The rumors are that Samsung is working with Google (because they can) preparing a 4″ Super AMOLED based, possibly Hummingbird 1-1.2Ghz, possibly Orion for Smart Phones (ARM Cortex-A9), possibly 4G-enabled, possibly quint-band to support all HSUPA+/CDMA and LTE/WiMax and maybe even White Spaces technologies all in one.
What I want to know: How cheap?
Samsung Galaxy S is priced above 440€ in Europe when bought unlocked (= $613 with EU 20% VAT, $490 without). Samsung has major agreements with all the major US carriers about selling their Galaxy S for upwards $3000 with the 2-year contracts that most US consumers sign and pay. How would Samsung agree to manufacture and sell a Google branded Gingerbread device significantly lower priced than their current Galaxy devices? The Samsung Galaxy Tab is upwards 799€ unlocked in Europe, upwards $1500 or more with the 2-year contracts in the US. It just doesn’t sound probable enough to me that Samsung would be the manufacturer that would want to start selling a $199 unlocked mass market Android Super Phone to disrupt its own growing Android Smart Phone and Tablet businesses.
Google CEO Eric Schmidt says they want to provide Smart Phones to the next 5 billion people, it has to reach developing countries. Are those developing countries going to have exclusive cheaper phones sold to them only while richer countries in Europe and the US are locked with choices mostly above the $400 if trying to buy things unlocked? Globalization should mean disruptive pricing achieved in one part of the world should also arrive to all other parts of the world simultaneously.
isuppli and other such hardware tear down and component analysis sites estimate the cost of materials and manufacture of even the top of the line current Android Super Phones to be trending downwards just $150 per super phone. We see more and more manufacturers competing in this market. How soon till we have choices for unlocked $199 Android Super Phones?
The coolest rumor on Gingerbread is that Google Voice will be highly integrated offering true VOIP functionality into the core of the Android OS. This would provide the software foundation for a data-centric Android phone, bought for below $200 unlocked, with data-only wireless pre-paid plans, no 2-year contracts required.
we’ve learned that Google’s adding SIP support in their Google Voice application to allow you to receive calls to your Google Voice number over WiFi and cellular data.
We want Google Voice worldwide not just on US cellular networks. A real VOIP and worldwide version of Google Voice in Gingerbread will be huge.
Android 2.2 Froyo on Archos Gen8 Tablets
Posted by – October 28, 2010
I have been secretly testing this for the last week (together with cajl of http://jbmm.fr and Thocan of http://archoslounge.net), it works pretty much awesome. Few optimizations and few bug fixes still to be done before Archos can release this cool firmware update.
Also check my video review of the Archos 70 Internet Tablet in multiple parts: Part 1 and Part 2.
7″ Android Tablets are awesome
Steve Jobs is saying that 7 inch Android Tablets can’t be popular. I think they can. This Archos 70 Internet Tablet fits in most Jacket Pockets and thus is the largest screen size that can be carried around without using a bag. Also, this one is half the price/size/weight of the iPad, it comes with HDMI output, full video/audio codecs support, USB host and a built-in Webcam for video-chat all which iPad lacks. This tablet at 300gr and 201x114x10mm may be the lightest and most compact 7″ tablet yet, but I think with optimizations and designs that use less bezel, the weight and size could further be optimized to make it even more jacket pocketable. Basically, Android tablets will provide choice for consumers, from small pocketable ones to larger ones that may mostly stay at home.
Review: Archos 70 Internet Tablet (part 2)
Posted by – October 19, 2010
Testing some cool features, Dolphin Browser HD multi-tabs, video-chatting, RDP, video-games, I just did a 37 minute VOIP call using SIP on Fring and using my $8/month 1GB/month SIM card in my Huawei Mifi and it works pretty much perfectly. For some reason audio in Skype and in Fring video-chat is still buggy, but I am sure Archos will fix this in a firmware update imminently. Also see Part 1 of my video review of this product.
Archos 50 Vision, cheapest 5″ WVGA 1080p PMP
Touch screen based PMP with full codecs support up to 1080p. No Android, no WiFi, but surely may be very cheap. Possibly cheapest such PMP to be broadly distributed at retailers in Europe and the USA. How cheap is to be confirmed. It seems to be Rockchip RK2818 ARM9 based. It comes with 250GB and 500GB of 2.5″ hard disk drive storage and MicroSD card expansion.
Thanks BenMars for your reports from the Hong Kong Sourcing fair!
Source: http://www.jbmm.fr/2010/10/17/hong-kong-7-archos-5o-vision/
Archos 35 Vision, cheapest 3.5″ 1080p PMP
Archos is bringing a new line of cheap 1080p-capable PMPs. The reason they are bringing those to the European and US markets is because they can provide a really cheap attractive price, how cheap it will be sold for is to be confirmed. I guess it must be running the Rockchip RK2818 ARM9 processor which has HDMI output and up to 1080p video playback support.
Thanks BenMars for your reports from the Hong Kong Sourcing fair!
Source: http://www.jbmm.fr/2010/10/17/hong-kong-4-vision-generale-des-produits-archos/
Archos Arnova 10.2 inch Samsung 533MHz ARM Powered Laptop
It’s launched now, available in stock at Amazon UK for £126. 128Mb RAM, 2Gb ROM, it runs Windows CE 6.0. If it could run full Chrome OS, at this price, (probably ARM Cortex A9 is needed though) this type of product will be perfect.
The price is likely below 129€ in Europe and below $129 in the USA! USA does not pay taxes on consumer electronics.
Specs:
Processor: Samsung 533 MHz
Memory: 128Mb RAM, 2Gb ROM
Operating System: Windows CE 6.0
Display: 10.2 inch TFT LCD Digital display
Audio: Integrated speaker, 3.5 mm Stereo Headphone Jack
User Interface: Buttons (Power on/off, Reset on/off), LEDs (AC/DC Power, Battery status)
Interfaces/Ports: Standard SD card slot (up to 32 Gb), 3 x USB 2.0, RJ-45, DC-in
Wireless Network: WLAN 802.11 b/g
Battery: 2100 mAH
Dimensions (WxDxH): 182.5 x 270 x 31 mm
Weight: 1.1 Kg
Thanks BenMars for your report from the Hong Kong Sourcing fair!
Source: http://www.jbmm.fr/2010/10/17/hong-kong-5-arnova-art-nouveau/
Archos 70 eReader, sub-95€ 7″ LCD e-reader
5 million e-readers were sold in 2009, 15 million are expected to be sold this year. Most are e-ink based e-readers, but LCD based ones are coming as well (soon enough with Pixel Qi based LCDs as well). This one runs Android with a custom UI optimized for e-readers, may come with a touch-screen, WiFi and video codecs support as well even though it’s to be sold below 95€, to be confirmed.
Thanks BenMars for your reports from the Hong Kong Sourcing fair!
Source: http://www.jbmm.fr/2010/10/17/hong-kong-6-archos-7o-ereader/
Archos Arnova Pocket Cam
The flip camera type of product is a growing trend, a lot of consumers want these compact pocket camcorders.
Specs:
Thanks BenMars for your reports from the Hong Kong Sourcing fair!
Source: http://www.jbmm.fr/2010/10/17/hong-kong-5-arnova-art-nouveau/
Archos Arnova Web Radio and TV
Another cheap web radio player with speakers, also supports Web TV channels. Those are trendy as well for the kitchen or the bedroom, probably also works as an alarm clock. Probably cheap as well.
Specs:
Thanks BenMars for your reports from the Hong Kong Sourcing fair!
Source: http://www.jbmm.fr/2010/10/17/hong-kong-5-arnova-art-nouveau/
