Archos 704 WiFi
Last update: Review by CNET.UK (added on 05/06/07)
The Archos 704 is a portable media player features 40GB/80 GB hard drive, ntegrated 802.11g wireless networking for connectivity to desktop PC, downloading videos from online stores, and a 7-inch LCD touchscreen. The device plays everything from MP3, WAV, WMA and protected WMA music files; also compatible with JPEG, PNG and BMP image files. It measures measures 7 by 5 by 0.75 inches and weighs just 22 ounces.
REVIEWS (last updated: 05/06/07)
CNET.UK reviews the Archos 704 (Rating: 7.3/10) and writes;
“Video playback is very smooth and the 704 responds speedily when fast-forwarding or rewinding during a film. The screen has an impressive resolution of 800×480 pixels, so movies looks bright and detailed. The display’s matte finish, however, means that it doesn’t look quite as razor sharp or as vibrant as some of the glossy screens we’ve seen on rivals such as the Creative Zen Vision W…What we think: An impressive big-screened portable media player with an exciting range of features but it needs some software tweaks before we’d wholeheartedly recommend it.”
Archos 704 Review by GenerationMP3
Techgage reviews the Archos 704 and writes;
“Transfer speeds peeked at 14.3MB per second over USB 2.0. Using WiFi, however, the 704 managed to push a miserable 870KB per second (on an 802.11n wireless connection)… Would I buy the 704-WiFi? Probably not. That’s not to say it’s a bad product, but the market for it is such a small one that I’m afraid it might be lost in the shuffle. It does have a lot of uses, but it only totally satisfies a few. Since no form of Flash is included, the web browser is almost useless.”
Pocketables reviews the Archos 704 and writes;
“I tested the video rating by turning off WiFi and playing a couple of oddly spec’d XviDs (576 x 304, 778kbps; 576 x 320, 825kbps) at mid-volume and various brightness settings. Here are the results: Lowest screen brightness: 6 hours, 33 minutes, Middle screen brightness: 3 hours, 53 minutes, Highest screen brightness: 3 hours, 21 minutes..So if you agree with reviewers and owners who have called the 604 WiFi’s processor sluggish (or you didn’t like what you saw in the videos above), then you should probably put that extra $100 to better use.”
CNET reviews the Archos 704 (Rating: 7.3/10) and writes;
“The good: The Archos 704 WiFi multimedia player features smooth video playback on a bright, reasonably sharp screen. The PVP offers a good viewing angle, and A/V recordings are very high quality. The touch screen is responsive to fingers or a stylus, and the player’s WiFi features add lots of versatility. The removable battery is a nice touch as are the included AC adapter and wireless remote. The bad: The Archos 704 WiFi suffered from audible system noise during testing, and the built-in video codec support isn’t as broad as it should be (additional codecs cost extra). You’ll also have to pay extra to get the hardware required to use the recording features. The Opera browser isn’t supported by some Web sites, and this version doesn’t support Flash or Java. Plus, the browsing experience could be smoother and quicker. The bottom line: The Archos 704 WiFi multimedia player looks amazing on paper, but the Web browsing isn’t quite smooth enough. Still, as a video player it succeeds: the large screen size makes it ideal for planes, trains, and automobiles, though it’s too big to be an everyday music player.”
LaptopMag reviews the Archos 704 (Rating: 4/5) and writes;
“Surfing the Web with the included Opera browser was a pleasurable experience visually. Because of the large screen, page formatting nearly matched that of the same site viewed on a PC. The bright, clear screen also makes Web pages legible from almost any angle, and the tabs let you view multiple pages within one window, à la Firefox and IE 7… If you’re on the hunt for a device that will handle almost all of your multimedia needs, check out the Archos 704 Wi-Fi. It’s too big for a pocket, but it’s perfect for a long flight or car ride. If you’re looking for portability, get the 604 Wi-Fi, but if you can handle the size and price, the 704 won’t disappoint. “
PCMag reviews the Archos 704 (Rating: 4/5) and writes;
“PROS: Huge, sharp, bright TFT screen. Video and audio recording capabilities. Wi-Fi-enabled. Excellent sound quality. Highly customizable through plug-ins and onboard settings. Programmable for auto-recording TV. CONS: Huge and heavy. DVR station (sold separately) is essential for recording. No built-in line-in audio jack. No FM tuner. BOTTOM LINE: This player has loads of functions and options, from video recording to Wi-Fi connectivity and file streaming. And though its capabilities can overwhelm, it’s worth all of its $550 price. “
T3 reviews the Archos 704 (Rating: 5 Stars)and writes;
“Wi-Fi is easy to set up, and you’ll soon be hopping online to browse the web and download files using the Opera browser. Opera is devilishly effective, zipping from page to page speedily over a wireless network. The onscreen “buttons” here are so diminutive, you’ll definitely need to use the pointer. Despite our petty niggles, this is a cracking gadget. It’s terrific for video and audio and the web browser is extremely handy. It isn’t cheap or especially pocketable, but it’s quality all the way.”
PCPro reviews the Archos 704 (Rating: 4/6)and writes;
“he 704 WiFi is undoubtedly niche: it won’t replace your laptop, as its restrictive operating system simply doesn’t offer the flexibility, but as a way of watching video on the move it offers good battery life, as well as being a nifty way of surfing the net away from your main PC.”
PCAdvisor reviews the Archos 704 (Rating: 4/5) and writes;
“The Archos’ sound contained some distortion, and the player generated more noise. At default settings, the Archos 704 WiFi sounded flat and hollow. But tinkering with the equaliser to boost the bass and treble response yielded much better music quality – on a better set of headphones, that is… The large Archos’ calling itself a “mobile DVR” is a legitimate claim. This multimedia device is well suited to video lovers with big pockets – and a willingness to shell out again for the DVR Station, to hook up to and record from their TV”
Stuff.TV reviews the Archos 704 and writes;
The 704 Wi-Fi isn’t just about surfing, of course – with that screen, it’s made for watching video. Sadly, our opinions here are mixed. The contrast is a bit lazy – we want blacker blacks and brighter whites – and rapid action assaults the 704’s otherwise composed picture. Off-axis performance isn’t brilliant, either, meaning once you find the visual sweet-spot you best not move a muscle. There’s no question the 704 Wi-Fi is an awesome bit of kit – it can e-mail, browse, stream, record and juggle, and the battery life impresses. But that frustrating UI plus some performance glitches mean that it may be the biggest Wi-Fi capable PMP, but it’s not the best. “
PCWorld compares the Archos 704 to Cowon D2 and writes;
“The tiny Cowon D2 lacks the seamless photo playback of the Archos model, which simplifies moving through photos by letting you drag the stylus across the touch screen to summon the next picture. On the D2, you have to touch one of two icons to move forward or back through your collection. (On both models it’s just as easy to use your fingertip as the included small–and easy to misplace–stylus.) Even worse, the Cowon took 2 to 3 seconds to render my photos; each time, the pixelated blocks looked like a stalled game of Breakout until the full details showed up. “
USER MANUALS
- Download Archos 704 WiFi User Manual in English (PDF – 4.4 Mb)
- Download Archos 704 WiFi User Manual in Spanish (PDF – 4.3 Mb)
- Download Archos 704 WiFi User Manual in Chinese (PDF – 3.5 Mb)
VIDEOS
Archos 604 vs. Archos 704
Archos 704 WiFi: Multimedia Playback
FEATURES
Wide Touch screen
The Archos 704 WiFi features a wide, high resolution (800 x 480) 7-inch color touch screen that allows you to navigate through menus easily with a stylus or even a fingertip. The size of screen enables a great visual comfort.
WiFi
The integrated 802.11g wireless interface is perfect for those who want to access their media wherever they go, including surfing the Web, sending and receiving email from Web-based mail applications, and connecting the device to a home network to transfer files or play content directly from the network.
With 704 WiFi, you can set it in your living room, hook it up to your home entertainment system with the optional DVR Station, and wirelessly stream movies and music stored on your PC.
Video player
The Archos 704 WiFi is the perfect companion for people on the move: its 40/80 GB hard drive capacity allows you to store up to 50/100 movies encoded with a PC. Play them on the built-in 7-inch LCD color screen or playback on TV in high resolution up to 720 x 576 (DVD quality) with the DVR station. Play a large variety of video files, including MPEG-4, WMV and protected WMV and read MPEG-4 AAC/H.264 (.MP4 QuickTime files), MPEG-2, and VOB with optional software plug-ins (available on this website). The Archos 704 WiFi also offers many more functionalities such as slow motion, adjustable screen size, video editing and even a video bookmarking function.
Record TV or external video sources
Transform your Archos 704 WiFi into a Digital Video Recorder with the optional DVR station. Record TV or most video sources such as satellite/cable box, VCR, DVD player or camcorder in MPEG-4 format. Set up the DVR station by connecting it to the external video source; simply slot in your ARCHOS and record instantaneously or make scheduled recordings with the included infrared receiver that controls the external video sources.
Turn your ARCHOS into a camcorder
ARCHOS allows you to transform your device into a camcorder by connecting most digital cameras to your Archos 704 WiFi, or by connecting the optional high resolution helmet camcorder. The Archos 704 WiFi records video directly on its 40 GB hard drive in MPEG-4 format, up to VGA resolution (640 x 480).
Photo wallet
Transfer your photos directly from a digital camera with the USB 2.0 Host interface. Store and view up to 800,000 photos (JPEG, PNG and BMP formats) and display slideshows with music and transition effect. Manage your files and folders directly on the device for a better mobility. Enjoy the large size of the screen and the cool sleek design of the product to display the Archos 704 WiFi in your living room and use as digital photo frame.
Music Player
Store up to 40,000 songs on the hard drive and play most popular music files such as MP3, WAV, WMA and protected WMA files. Easily organize songs with the enhanced ARCLibrary and customize your view by artist, album, type of music, title, year, and create your playlists without having to use a computer. Use the voice recorder to store notes quickly for a later use.
Charge and sync
Charge your Archos 704 WiFi with the included power adapter. Purchase, download, subscribe to or rent protected video and music content from online stores on your PC, and, using the high-speed USB 2.0 interface, the Archos 704 WiFi will easily auto-synchronize this content with Windows Media Player 11 each time you connect it to your PC, or convert your Windows Media Player 11 library content to one of the many compatible formats (MP3, WMA, WAV, protected WMA, MPEG-4, WMV and protected Windows Media Video).
What’s in the Box
Archos 704 WiFi, headphones, USB 2.0 cable, USB 2.0 host adapter, DVR Station saddle, 2 styli, remote control, power adapter/charger, protective pouch, QSG, legal and safety notice
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