Author Topic: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions? (Read 6587 times)

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

cradlinski · « **Reply #1 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.

nathanwms · « **Reply #2 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?

rickh · « **Reply #3 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.
==

maslovsky · « **Reply #4 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

maslovsky · « **Reply #5 on:** March 23, 2005, 03:10:36 pm »

Trying to install some Zaurus applications. Advanced Alarm Clock works

ev1l · « **Reply #6 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.

xjqian · « **Reply #7 on:** March 23, 2005, 06:47:38 pm »

Quote

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.

Tom61 · « **Reply #8 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/ <- main one
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.

maslovsky · « **Reply #9 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

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!

tovarish · « **Reply #10 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

silvio · « **Reply #11 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

tovarish · « **Reply #12 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

zautrix · « **Reply #13 on:** March 24, 2005, 08:36:05 am »

Yes, one question from me:

Is there a VoIP application on the unit?

z.

lpotter · « **Reply #14 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

News:

Author Topic: I Have Archos 430 In My Hands! Any Questions? (Read 6587 times)