OESF Portables Forum

General Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: maslovsky on March 23, 2005, 01:24:23 pm

Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: maslovsky on March 23, 2005, 01:24:23 pm
I've got the new Archos 430 to play with untill at least Monday.
The specs on their web site don't tell everything, so I'll have to figure out some

There is 64 Mb of RAM.

There is 64 Mb of "Program Area", which maybe be flash or maybe part of the harddisk.

It's just plain Qtopia 1.7.0 with some apps missing from GPL version (ex. EMail)

Kernel is 2.4.19-rmk7-omap1

Screen is so-so, but movies look very good - I think they are antialiased or something like that

The battery doesn't have any mAh info

Opera is 7.26 RC8 build 623

Standard qtopia applications run slowly, Archos custom apps (Video Payer, Music, etc) run much better

There is no keyboard but navigation with buttons is very convinient

Built-in wireless card is CF card, from Agere Systems, manfid: 0x0156, 0x0003, same as the new Socket WiFi card

Default fonts are ugly

I will do more researching and post info here
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: cradlinski on March 23, 2005, 01:33:26 pm
I heard that you only get 8-bit color in the Qtopia apps, including the web browser.  True or false?  I imagine web pages must look quite ugly in dithered 8-bit color.
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: nathanwms on March 23, 2005, 01:58:23 pm
Is it able to act as a video recorder and record directly from the television?  If so, how well does this work and what video format is the information stored in?
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: rickh on March 23, 2005, 02:04:39 pm
Quote
Is it able to act as a video recorder and record directly from the television?  If so, how well does this work and what video format is the information stored in?
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=71979\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
And if you can record, can you then take the resulting file and play it on another Zaurus using the default player?  If not, does it work with Kino2?  Or Dr. Video?  Or anything else that might be available?  If so, it would help to know the specifics of the file so we know how to encode.  RIght now, it seems pretty hit-or-miss.

R.
==
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: maslovsky on March 23, 2005, 03:00:53 pm
Quote
I heard that you only get 8-bit color in the Qtopia apps, including the web browser.  True or false?  I imagine web pages must look quite ugly in dithered 8-bit color.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=71977\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Yes, this seems to be the case
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: maslovsky on March 23, 2005, 03:10:36 pm
Trying to install some Zaurus applications. Advanced Alarm Clock works
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: ev1l on March 23, 2005, 06:32:23 pm
How's the music player/management software?
What software do they use for video playback?
Can you run KDEPIM/PI on it?

Too bad about the screen being low-res. I would have bought that instead of a PDA if it wasn't. The USB 2.0 and hosting are the major upside. Moving music to a 3k must be painful.
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: xjqian on March 23, 2005, 06:47:38 pm
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The USB 2.0 and hosting are the major upside. Moving music to a 3k must be painful.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=72023\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Yak, one more reason I would prefer C1000 to 3k. Hope usb 2.0 is coming to future Z.
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: Tom61 on March 23, 2005, 09:18:51 pm
There's a couple of Yahoo groups with tons of info on using the PMA430, including forcing Zaurus apps that won't normally install on the PMA430 to install. There is even information on the video codec. Appearently, if the source you're recording from uses MacroVision (i.e. a copy-protected DVD or VHS tape), the file is DRMed and can only be played on the LCD (not transfered, or played on the TV), but non-Macrovison sources are not DRMed. The LCD and video chip are not limited to 8-bit color, only Qtopia is for some unknown reason. Means it can be fixed by a patch.  

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/archos_PMA400/ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/archos_PMA400/) <- main one
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/archosmultimedia (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/archosmultimedia) <- member's only, deals with all Archos products, but has a couple of PMA430 users with very informative posts.
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: maslovsky on March 24, 2005, 03:08:41 am
Quote
How's the music player/management software?
What software do they use for video playback?

The music/video software is so-so, there is some propriatry software form Archos.
BUT, video playback is excellent!

This file (640x480 24fps 1500Kbit/s 2-pass XviD 44Khz Stereo 128Kbit/s MP3) is played without any problems with great quality that Zaurus currently can only dream of:

http://picard.exceed.hu/samples/RL_XQ_640x480_1500_128.avi (http://picard.exceed.hu/samples/RL_XQ_640x480_1500_128.avi)

Quote
Can you run KDEPIM/PI on it?[/right]

Haven't tried yet.

[div align=\"right\"]Too bad about the screen being low-res. I would have bought that instead of a PDA if it wasn't. The USB 2.0 and hosting are the major upside. Moving music to a 3k must be painful.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=72023\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
It's not good for PDA at all. The PIM software is lacking - just plain Qtopia 1.7.0 apps.
I can also hardly enjoy web surfing or reading e-books with 320x240 screen.

But it's very good as a media player!
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: tovarish on March 24, 2005, 03:52:13 am
it would be interesting if the achos media apps could run on the zaurus, but i guess that would be asking for too much.

are there any other apps that can be useful in the zaurus

tovarish
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: silvio on March 24, 2005, 04:15:55 am
Quote
it would be interesting if the achos media apps could run on the zaurus, but i guess that would be asking for too much.

are there any other apps that can be useful in the zaurus

tovarish
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=72089\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

As far as I know the Archos media apps rely on special hardware.

The PMA is a very simple PDA. The PDA part of this device is only a accessory matter. The main usage for this device is the media part.

The only thing Zaurus user could benefit from is that this PDA enlarges the market for Linux PDAs.

regards,
Silvio
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: tovarish on March 24, 2005, 08:22:34 am
Quote
Quote
it would be interesting if the achos media apps could run on the zaurus, but i guess that would be asking for too much.

are there any other apps that can be useful in the zaurus

tovarish
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=72089\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

As far as I know the Archos media apps rely on special hardware.

The PMA is a very simple PDA. The PDA part of this device is only a accessory matter. The main usage for this device is the media part.

The only thing Zaurus user could benefit from is that this PDA enlarges the market for Linux PDAs.

regards,
Silvio
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=72091\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]


their tech specs show that Mophun games can be played, could this Mophun fuctionality be ripped to the zaurus. the zaurus can't presently play the cell phone games made for java or mophun.

i dont think that mophun uses any of the media hardware, so it could be easy to rip for use on the zaurus.

tovarish
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: zautrix on March 24, 2005, 08:36:05 am
Yes, one question from me:

Is there a VoIP application on the unit?

z.
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: lpotter on March 24, 2005, 04:30:56 pm
Quote
Yes, one question from me:

Is there a VoIP application on the unit?

z.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=72116\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Not until you install one
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: xjqian on March 24, 2005, 11:16:27 pm
Quote
This file (640x480 24fps 1500Kbit/s 2-pass XviD 44Khz Stereo 128Kbit/s MP3) is played without any problems with great quality that Zaurus currently can only dream of
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=72085\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

How does a 640x480 movie play on the 320x240 screen? Downsampled? If so, what's the advantage of having the movie encoded as 640x480.

Is this just an test w/o user appreciable difference of  the movie's 320x240 counterpart? If so, it only proves the capability of the vedio card doing downsampling (or similar algorithm) without losing the speed of playback? This is the only info I get from it. What's so impressive in terms of the end results (i.e. viewing experience)? I didn't get it or am I missing something?

edit: are you emphasizing on the higher fps instead of the resolution? That may be a fair point.
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: maslovsky on March 25, 2005, 01:27:12 am
Quote
Quote
This file (640x480 24fps 1500Kbit/s 2-pass XviD 44Khz Stereo 128Kbit/s MP3) is played without any problems with great quality that Zaurus currently can only dream of
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=72085\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

How does a 640x480 movie play on the 320x240 screen? Downsampled? If so, what's the advantage of having the movie encoded as 640x480.

Is this just an test w/o user appreciable difference of  the movie's 320x240 counterpart? If so, it only proves the capability of the vedio card doing downsampling (or similar algorithm) without losing the speed of playback? This is the only info I get from it. What's so impressive in terms of the end results (i.e. viewing experience)? I didn't get it or am I missing something?

edit: are you emphasizing on the higher fps instead of the resolution? That may be a fair point.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=72207\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

The downsampled 640x480 movies looks much better that 320x240 one. It looks more detailed. Especcialy when there is some text. It could be simply due to the fact that in this particular case 640x480 movie also has mich higher bitrate than 320x240 one (1500 vs 500). Unfortunately Zaurus can only dream on playing video at such a bitrate...

Also, remember that this device can play movies on external TV. In such case you should have a movie with as much resolution as possible. Imagine how 320x240 movies will look on a TV screen...
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: richie on March 25, 2005, 09:14:27 am
Quote
Also, remember that this device can play movies on external TV. In such case you should have a movie with as much resolution as possible. Imagine how 320x240 movies will look on a TV screen...
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=72209\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Hi Maslovsky

Is Qtopia useable plugged in to a TV screen. Interested to know if using the konsole terminal and other apps like Opera is okay on a TV with 320x240. Thinking it could be used for limited work with a usb keyboard when travelling, using hotel tellys as a bigger screen.

I find Zaurus 5500 apps slow at times, but useable, would you say the Qtopia apps on the PMA430 are slower than a Zaurus?

Cheers
Rich
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: maslovsky on March 26, 2005, 01:59:20 pm
Quote
Quote
Also, remember that this device can play movies on external TV. In such case you should have a movie with as much resolution as possible. Imagine how 320x240 movies will look on a TV screen...
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=72209\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Hi Maslovsky

Is Qtopia useable plugged in to a TV screen. Interested to know if using the konsole terminal and other apps like Opera is okay on a TV with 320x240. Thinking it could be used for limited work with a usb keyboard when travelling, using hotel tellys as a bigger screen.

Yes, it's usable, but the problem is that you need stylus for some oprrations...

Quote
I find Zaurus 5500 apps slow at times, but useable, would you say the Qtopia apps on the PMA430 are slower than a Zaurus?

Cheers
Rich
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=72242\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]


Yes, I feel they are a bit slower thna on 5500. I'm afraid applications like KO/PI will be crowling...
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: maslovsky on March 26, 2005, 02:22:28 pm
Some more impressions:

 - Video payback is very good on TV screen. But it needs to be a high-res video (640x480 at least). 320x240 looks noticably worse.

 - Video recording is also good. The best quality on recording settings is 2500 kb/s. 1500 kb/s is considered a low quality  The video recordig format is MPEG4.

Ultimately, this device is NOT a replacement for Zaurus, especialy after C-series. It's a different kind of device. Its PIM capabilities are poor. The screen is too low res to be used for web surfing or comfortable reading. Built-in WiFi sems to be useless with such a screen. Qtopia apps run slow. Memory is 64 Mb, but 40 Mb are used even when no applications are running.

But, it's an excellent media player. 30 Gb of internal storage, USB 2.0, TV in/out, video recording and playback - all this make it a great portable video player. Audio playback quality is also good - I didn't notice a difference from Zaurus when using good earphones.
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: richie on March 28, 2005, 09:10:22 am
Quote
Quote
Is Qtopia useable plugged in to a TV screen. Interested to know if using the konsole terminal and other apps like Opera is okay on a TV with 320x240. Thinking it could be used for limited work with a usb keyboard when travelling, using hotel tellys as a bigger screen.

Yes, it's usable, but the problem is that you need stylus for some oprrations...

Hi

Thanks for the info. I read on one of the French forums that someone has succesfully used a usb mouse with a usb keyboard. However it is a shame it is slow, a wonder if a future firmware upgrade would fix the high memory usage in Qtopia.

Cheers
Rich
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: lpotter on March 28, 2005, 10:42:47 pm
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Qtopia apps run slow. Memory is 64 Mb, but 40 Mb are used even when no applications are running.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=72390\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I see a total used of ~27 mb.

ps aux tells me that qpe takes 14135, quicklauncher is 12128 and the avplayer is 13055, embeddedkonsole is 10608. So I wouldn't say the memory consumption is very high.
Title: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions?
Post by: maslovsky on March 29, 2005, 03:03:31 am
Quote
Quote
Qtopia apps run slow. Memory is 64 Mb, but 40 Mb are used even when no applications are running.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=72390\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I see a total used of ~27 mb.

ps aux tells me that qpe takes 14135, quicklauncher is 12128 and the avplayer is 13055, embeddedkonsole is 10608. So I wouldn't say the memory consumption is very high.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=72594\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Well maybe memory was used up after playing some video files...