Archos Grows Android Tablet PC Selection

By Joseph Palenchar On Sep 13 2010 - 4:01am

DENVER – Archos will dramatically expand its portfolio of Android-based tablet devices with the launch of five Android 2.1-based models, including a 10.1-inch model and the industry’s first Android tablet at less than $100.

The new Wi-Fi-equipped models, four of which will be available in two memory capacities, will ship in September and October to join two current Android-based Archos tablets. The five new models will be available in screens sizes of 2.8, 3.2, 4.3, 7 and 10.1 inches at prices ranging from $99.99 to $349. .

All are the company’s first Android tablets upgradable to Android 2.2 to support Adobe’s full Flash Internet-video player. Three are also the company’s first with 1GHz processor, two are the first to use capacitive multitouch touchscreen in lieu of resistive touchscreen, and one is the company’s first to store HD video in 1080i format. Two are also the company’s first with integrated webcam for video web chats, and one is the company’s first Android device with a videocamera, which captures 720p.

The new products also expand the company’s selection of models with 720p HD video storage, which is available on the current Android tablets.

All models access Archos’s App Library, which currently features 3,500 free and paid apps and will expand to 5,000 apps by year’s end, said Ron Ferguson, senior VP/GM for Archos North America. Archos teamed with Android developers to offer its own library because Google had not yet created certification standards for Android-based tablets, Ferguson explained. Without certification, a device can’t access the Android Store.

Google has since developed certification standards for tablet devices lacking cellular, but the standards include GPS, which the Archos models lack, Google told TWICE.