Comments on: Archos 32 Android PMP gets pictured & detailed at Amazon

By: Nicolas Charbonnier

Nicolas Charbonnier — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 05:29:27 +0000

Sure few people might install Google Marketplace, but I am sure your audience deserves to know that if they are interested in Google Marketplace, then for sure they will be able to install it. If you keep saying there isn’t Marketplace, then even advanced geeks begin to think that there isn’t. It’s like saying Windows XP doesn’t come with Adobe Flash nor Adobe PDF because they require the user download and install .exe file for those first. It’s a piece of cake.

By: Nicolas Charbonnier

Nicolas Charbonnier — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 05:24:34 +0000

Well, just as HTC Tatoo, Sony Ericsson X10 Mini, Acer beTouch E110/120/130 are designed for low cost, so is Archos 28 at $99 and Archos 32 at $149. Millions of people are already using QVGA Android devices, so the resolution isn’t too small or unsupported.

By: Chris Davies

Chris Davies — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:04:17 +0000

True, but it’s likely the minority of PMP-buying people that will know they can install the Market that way.

As for the display, the HTC Hero and Legend have 3.2-inch displays running at HVGA resolution, and the Motorola i1 is only 3.1-inches and still HVGA. Yes, there are QVGA Android devices out there, but having used plenty of them I’d say the screen resolution is their primary shortcoming. Are people buying them because the resolution is okay, or is the primary motivator the low cost of the handset overall (and the resolution something to be suffered in order to achieve that price)?

By: anujahooja

anujahooja — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:59:11 +0000

I agree with Nicolas, those “downsides” are quite trivial. And looks nice but are those +/- buttons for the volume? What a waste of space..

By: Nicolas Charbonnier

Nicolas Charbonnier — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:26:56 +0000

Google Marketplace is not absent. You can install it easily on all Archos devices, it’s like finding an .apk file and simply double clicking on it from the file browser to install full Google Marketplace on it.

As for 480×320, aren’t you thinking about 3.5″ phones? There are many QVGA Android phones, like HTC Tatoo, Sony Ericsson X10 Mini, Acer beTouch 110/120/130, Dell Thunder (rumored), Huawei Pulse Mini and a bunch more. If there are so many popular QVGA Android phones, then that must mean the resolution is not too low. And WQVGA is better than QVGA.