...and Apple will only want to give it Quicktime support... and of course there's no chips for that (that I know of) so it will be a long time coming for sure.
The older (020) models really do get about 6-7 hours (Archos claims 8). I played 3 full-length movies on mine yesterday on one charge and it was pretty well drained. Surprisingly I don't get much more life just playing MP3.
Of course, adding the bigger screen will suck more battery juice. So unless they made the batteries bigger (read: heavier and bulkier) then I would expect the 3.8" screen to last significantly shorter.
I think that's a much better idea than having a product that you can't add on too. At least with this capability they could add other features (like the FM broadcast that that other product had) as needed. Camera module? If you want it, it's available. If you already have another digital camera (or 5 like me), then you're not forced to buy it in the bundle.
Now if only they would open source the API and the hardware specs so that 3rd party companies could develop popular modules.
But how much do replacement batteries cost? What about getting extra memory? Rebuilding the OS several times over? Replacement HD for a small device? Bound to be expensive.
If you need a laptop, buy a laptop. If you just want an MP3 player that can happen to play some video if you need... get the Archos.
I own the first generation Archos Multimedia (020) and I really like the styling. The big rubber bumpers really do help. I haven't had it fall apart yet, and it certainly feels sturdy (read:heavy). The usability is pretty good if you're used to Archos products (like the previous Jukebox's).
As far as I can tell, the Lyra is STILL vaporware and even when it comes out will not have as good specs as the current Archos models, yet will be priced slightly higher.
The simple answer is because the chip manufacturers aren't making a super-cheap, super-plentiful, easy to use ogg decoder chip.
You can get an integrated chip that encodes as well as decodes MP3s as well as handling the video decompression. The older Archos Jukebox Multimedia (020) that I have uses a chip from TI that is also used in a lot of digitial cameras. Not sure what the new models are using.
Chip companies only want to put the development and manufacturing costs into something that they can sell many millions of units on. Unfortunately, ogg just doesn't have that kind of support yet (and I won't encode into it until it has the hardware support). Double-edged sword.
Really, the only way any of these options will catch on is if people can standardize. Switching between ABCDEFG keyboards (like on my 2way pager and a lot of games) and QWERTY is hard enough. If you have to have a different keyboard at work, home, the library, internet terminal, etc. nobody will ever learn these odd (though likely better) keyboards.
"The companies will explore ways for AOL and MSN Messenger to interoperate, which Microsoft has sought for years."
Isn't that a major concession from AOL? Weren't they the ones claiming that was "impossible"/"too expensive"/"too difficult"???
--Darren
p.s. "Microsoft will help distribute AOL CD-ROMs to PC builders around the world." Yay! More coasters!!:)
Getting there
on
Neuros Review
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
Honestly, I'm impressed that companies are starting to get the idea that they can offer something for everyone. I think you'll start to see more devices with multiple storage options, multiple formats, etc.
The next step I'd like to see (since most companies won't open source their code) is built-in "modules" so additional features (and/or hardware) can be added by third party companies.
--Darren
p.s. I still like my Archos Multimedia, especially for the price.
Slashdot Mirror
...and Apple will only want to give it Quicktime support... and of course there's no chips for that (that I know of) so it will be a long time coming for sure.
--D
The older (020) models really do get about 6-7 hours (Archos claims 8). I played 3 full-length movies on mine yesterday on one charge and it was pretty well drained. Surprisingly I don't get much more life just playing MP3.
Of course, adding the bigger screen will suck more battery juice. So unless they made the batteries bigger (read: heavier and bulkier) then I would expect the 3.8" screen to last significantly shorter.
--D
I think that's a much better idea than having a product that you can't add on too. At least with this capability they could add other features (like the FM broadcast that that other product had) as needed. Camera module? If you want it, it's available. If you already have another digital camera (or 5 like me), then you're not forced to buy it in the bundle.
Now if only they would open source the API and the hardware specs so that 3rd party companies could develop popular modules.
--D
But how much do replacement batteries cost? What about getting extra memory? Rebuilding the OS several times over? Replacement HD for a small device? Bound to be expensive.
If you need a laptop, buy a laptop. If you just want an MP3 player that can happen to play some video if you need... get the Archos.
I have both. My laptop usually remains at work.
--D
I own the first generation Archos Multimedia (020) and I really like the styling. The big rubber bumpers really do help. I haven't had it fall apart yet, and it certainly feels sturdy (read:heavy). The usability is pretty good if you're used to Archos products (like the previous Jukebox's).
As far as I can tell, the Lyra is STILL vaporware and even when it comes out will not have as good specs as the current Archos models, yet will be priced slightly higher.
--D
The simple answer is because the chip manufacturers aren't making a super-cheap, super-plentiful, easy to use ogg decoder chip.
You can get an integrated chip that encodes as well as decodes MP3s as well as handling the video decompression. The older Archos Jukebox Multimedia (020) that I have uses a chip from TI that is also used in a lot of digitial cameras. Not sure what the new models are using.
Chip companies only want to put the development and manufacturing costs into something that they can sell many millions of units on. Unfortunately, ogg just doesn't have that kind of support yet (and I won't encode into it until it has the hardware support). Double-edged sword.
--D
Who owns those stations? Are they individually owned/operated or run/sponsored by the sattelite companies themselves?
And even then, don't all the media conglomerates have a stake in both companies?
--D
Really, the only way any of these options will catch on is if people can standardize. Switching between ABCDEFG keyboards (like on my 2way pager and a lot of games) and QWERTY is hard enough. If you have to have a different keyboard at work, home, the library, internet terminal, etc. nobody will ever learn these odd (though likely better) keyboards.
--D
"The companies will explore ways for AOL and MSN Messenger to interoperate, which Microsoft has sought for years."
:)
Isn't that a major concession from AOL? Weren't they the ones claiming that was "impossible"/"too expensive"/"too difficult"???
--Darren
p.s. "Microsoft will help distribute AOL CD-ROMs to PC builders around the world." Yay! More coasters!!
Honestly, I'm impressed that companies are starting to get the idea that they can offer something for everyone. I think you'll start to see more devices with multiple storage options, multiple formats, etc. The next step I'd like to see (since most companies won't open source their code) is built-in "modules" so additional features (and/or hardware) can be added by third party companies. --Darren p.s. I still like my Archos Multimedia, especially for the price.