Related Sections: Home Theater
Archos TV+ could show Apple TV a thing or two
Apple TV, while not exactly a runaway hit, is still probably the first truly mainstream media receiver — a component that lets you access all your PC music, photos and video on your home theater equipment. With more people aware of the category now, maybe products like Archos's TV+ have a shot at hitting a bigger audience than they would otherwise.
From the specs, it looks like it deserves to. While Apple TV's 40-GB hard disk is tiny by today's standards, TV+ houses an impressive 500-GB disk. Like Apple, the Archos can stream media from your PC wirelessly, but unlike Apple, it also includes standard-definition video outputs so you can use it with older TVs (Apple TV's incompatibility with SD sets has invited some criticism). Of course, you still get an HDMI output (720p output only) as well as Ethernet and USB ports. To top it off, the Archos remote includes a full QWERTY keyboard — always nice to have when dealing with PC media.
When the TV+ comes out in September, it'll hit Apple TV one more time where it hurts: price. It'll cost about $270, according to SlashGear, making Archos's slick media receiver $30 cheaper than Apple's. Bring it on, guys.
Check out pictures of the remote and back panel after the jump.
JBMM.fr and Generation MP3, via SlashGear
By tvmama at 4:14 PM ON 06/19/07
We will have something to say soon to all the AppleTV critics out there on TVMama.com, the definitive site for news about PC/Internet-TV convergence.
By jebz at 9:12 AM ON 06/21/07
Compare. Compare. Compare. I mean - seriously - are you blog guys such nerds that you have it out for Apple that bad. Just stick to the specs of this product - why do you need to take down the Apple brand. I don't usually write in comments, but lately it's getting a little annoying because I used to read this blog for fun new products...
NOW all I seem to find in each issue is the undying need for the blog writers to make little jabs at Apple. I'll admit - I'm typing this comment right now on a mac. That makes me partial. But I'm also very open minded and I'll admit when some products are better than others. But come on...let's be more thorough in our comparative analysis next time around.
By lwvirden at 1:00 PM ON 06/21/07
I wonder how either of these will compare with a series 2 or series 3 TiVo, which has been making access to the user's pictures and music, at least, on their home PC available for a year or two now.
By MrXavia at 3:36 PM ON 06/29/07
jebz, This IS a better device on paper, 500gb storage compared to 40gb and $30 cheaper... pretty impressive..
But really their not exactly that great devices...
I personally want a PVR with 500gb HD, DVD Recorder, twin digital tuner, wifi access to my Desktops storage & USB port..
Well I can get everything here except for the wifi & USB...
on your cellphone!
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MrXavia:
jebz, This IS a better device on paper, 500gb storage compared to 40gb and $30 cheaper... pretty impressive.. But r...More »