Version 2.0.54 – Android “Froyo” 2.2.1 – November 30th, 2010
- Higher performance: just in time compiler (JIT) technology makes applications run up to 5 times faster than previous Android “Eclair” 2.1 firmwares
- Enhanced Microsoft Exchange support: it is now possible to synchronize contacts and calendar events
- Allow to install more 3rd party applications by installing them on the storage memory (for applications that supports it)
- Video: movie information and cover retrieval in video file info dialog
- Multiple selection mode is now always enabled in the file manager
- External bluetooth GPS receivers are now supported
- Better assistance is provided in the tethering wizard to pair with cell phone using bluetooth DUN profile (smart APN detection)
- OpenVPN is now supported
- Slideshow support for network shares has been added to Gallery and Photoframe applications
- Photoframe: full screen picture can now be displayed on double tap when in floating image mode
- Manual white balance setting has been added in Camera application
- Faster USB write transfer
- Battery: more accurate battery charge estimation
- Audio: improved compatibility with android audio stream volume management (voice/music/ringtone etc.)
- Orientation: fixed compatibility issue with some applications working with inverted accelerometer axis
Here’s a demo showing how you can open a bunch of bookmarked websites fast in multiple tabs in Dolphin HD browser, you can switch tabs using the volume buttons or using the tabs UI, click around, all is fast and responsive.
Here’s a cool video by Yuriy of AndroidCircuit.com showing a bunch of emulators nicely running on the Archos 70 Internet Tablet and using the Bluetooth Wii remote to play all the games. He also shows it works great on HDTV using the HDMI output as well in the part 2 games emulator video. Imagine the 250GB version of this tablet, you can load it full of a thousand console games, playable on the go with multi-touch or with the Bluetooth remote as well as on your HDTV. Basically this includes a full games console.
Before interviewing me about my interest for Archos 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. You can watch the whole presentation video here.
For people who just want multimedia features at the size of an iPod Touch and no Android/WiFi stuff, here is the (likely) $99 Archos 35 Vision, now being released in Europe.
Yup it includes HDMI, 720p full codecs support (to be tested and confirmed in the forums) battery runtime for up to 5 hours of video playback. Pretty cool for $99 to $129 msrp huh?
Summary of the iPod Touch competitors to be on the market:
Archos 24 Vision (4GB) for $59 MSRP, mostly just for audio and basic video stuff, no touch screen
Archos 3 Vision (8GB) for $79 MSRP older video playback, no HD/HDMI, no Android/WiFi/Bluetooth/USB-host stuff
Archos 28 Internet Tablet (4GB) for $99 MSRP has a smaller screen, no HD playback, no HDMI output.
Archos 35 Vision (8GB, microsd) for $129 MSRP has 3.5″ touch screen, 720p/HDMI, but no Android/WiFi/Bluetooth/USB-host/camcorder stuff.
Archos 43 Vision (8GB, microsd) for $129 MSRP has 4.3″ touch screen, basic video playback Archos 50 Vision (probably starts around $149) has 5″ touch screen, 720p/HDMI, 250GB/500GB hard drive and microsd storage
Archos 32 Internet Tablet (8GB) for $149 MSRP has a slightly smaller screen, no HD playback, no HDMI output.
Archos 43 Internet Tablet (16GB, microsd) for $249 MSRP Android and has all HD/HDMI/HD camcorder features
Also rumored:
Archos 32 Internet Tablet (8GB) with MicroSD slot instead of second set of volume buttons, possibly to replace current A32IT
Archos 35 Internet Tablet (8GB) possibly with capacitive amoled screen
I would recommend they try to reach these prices:
A24V: $49
A3V: $59
A28IT: $79
A35V: $99
A43V: $99
A32IT-with-MicroSD: $129
A35IT-with-capacitive-amoled: $149
A50V-250GB: $149
A50V-500GB: $179
A43IT: $199
As I told you in yesterday’s MacBreak weekly 221 post, last Sunday as I was in the Silicon Valley to video blog the ARM Technology Conference for my http://ARMdevices.net site, I had fun traveling up to Petaluma and bring Leo Laporte some of the Archos Gen8 tablets so he could test them out and let his Twit gang also play with them. So that they could compare those with Apple and Samsung tablets. The time code in this “This Week In Google” episode 69 where they start talking about Archos is around the 5th minute.
