Archos teases new Android-powered �phone tablet� - Internet

Posted on 16-09-2009

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Recently, Archos was all over the news for its new Android-based Internet tablet and media player, the Archos 5. Set to launch in Europe today, September 16, the company held the mandatory press conference. And then dropped a bombshell: They’re making an Android-powered ‘phone tablet’.

One of the biggest drawbacks of the Archos 5 is that it cannot allow the users to place calls, unless via VOIP over Wi-Fi. In a world where ‘do-it-all’ convergence devices are becoming more and more important, it was important to address this issue.

So instead of coming out with a mobile phone by itself, Archos has stuck with its comfort zone – Internet tablets – and just thrown a phone into the mix.

The screen size has been made a bit smaller, coming to 4.3 inches at a resolution of 854x480 pixels. And the processor to run Android is a monstrous 1GHz affair, which is even more than the 800MHz that the Archos 5 sports. And of course, it will come with a slew of connectivity options necessary for calling and high-speed Internet, all packed in a 10mm-thin body.

In terms of size and power, this upcoming gadget is the same as the HTC Leo that leaked yesterday. But while that one’s a ‘phone that can do Internet and media’, the Archos device is set to be an ‘Internet tablet that can make calls’. Marketing is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?

Source: ElectricPig