Archos PMPs get radio, TV and flash updates

As well as new television and movie content

23 April 2008 18:22 GMT / By Katie Scott

The news that GPS is finally coming to Archos' line-up of PMPs was one of the biggest stories of the day, but Archos also made four other key announcements.

First up, Archos is claiming a world first with a firmware update bringing Adobe Flash Player 9 and Windows Media Video (WMV) 9 compatibility to the Archos 605 and 705 WiFi devices.

The company says that it is, in fact, now offering the only Portable Media Player to fully support Flash 9.

Next was the announcement of a £14.99 plug-in that will give Archos PMP owners access to Web TV shows and radio
stations.

In a presentation today in central London, Archos said that the plug-in will allow users to connect to 9600 web radio stations, 600 web TV stations and 110,000 podcasts streamed live over the internet.

It added that users can search for radio or TV stations by city, country, and station genre.

The plug-in works with the Archos 605 WiFi, 705 WiFi and
Archos TV+ models, and is available today from www.archos.com.

The third announcement is an update to Archos TV+.

The new TV portation feature, which is also claimed to be a world first, brings live television streamed from the Archos TV+ to any wireless-enabled device, including Archos players, smartphones, laptops and computers.

And finally - Archos has signed content deals with Deutsche Welle (which provides a smiliar service to the BBC) and Jamendo, which provides unlimited, free and legal music downloads.

Content from both companies will be available in May as will 160 movies from Paramount Pictures through the Archos Media Club.

There is no pricing yet for the movies, which will be available both for rent and to buy - but Archos has promised an update soon as well as hinting that more titles may soon join the library.

Also soon to be available through the Media Club are films from Marc Dorcel, which, with 18 certificates, are of a errr ... saucier nature.