Archos to go up against Apple with ARCHOS TV+

4 January 2008 22:03 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

Archos has announced that it will be going up against Apple with the launch of a Wi-Fi enabled digital video recorder.

Called the ARCHOS TV+, the new device combines a Wi-Fi media player with a 250GB hard drive to allow you to stream or store movies, music, photos, podcasts and web video under your TV.

The unit will also offer full internet access and the ability to transfer content directly to an ARCHOS portable media player with promised speeds of 10 minutes for a 2-hour movie, something that at present Apple TV can't do.

The unit, which will also come with the ability to record and schedule your favourite TV shows and movies in high quality with the TV program guide, hopes to take on the likes of Sky Plus system here in the UK by offering content for download via the company's "Content" portal.

The unit will also come in an 80GB model in addition to the 250GB offering.

The player will, like the Archos PMP range, supports most file formats, although appears, by the released specs sheets to not support DivX. Supported formats include; MPEG4, WMV, H.264 up to DVD resolution and AAC sound, and MPEG2 MP@ML up to 10Mbps and AC3 stereo sound.

Connectivity features include: Wi-Fi, stereo analog, composite, S-video, RGB, YPbPr (component), Ethernet, USB, SPDIF and HDMI.

No word on pricing as yet. We will keep you posted.