Archos AV Community's General PVP Wish
updated 2004-9-22
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11/2/2003:

It's time to start a new wishlist from scratch. The AV300, Archos' 3rd generation PVP, has been out for a while, the AV500 is somewhere in the pipe, there is a possibility of an open-source firmware for the Archos units (Avos), and we all have many dreams and wishes for the future. Let's help guide these people to make a better product for all of us to enjoy!

I want to hear from everyone. I will try to sort through everyone's wishes and make a comprehensive, organized web-page. If you have an idea you want to add, email me at shanebdavis@yahoo.com or post to the yahoo group: archosmultimedia@yahoogroups.com.

2/20/2004:

-Shane Brinkman-Davis

Wishlist Summary - The Ultimate PVP

The biggest thing is making a real OS that can run 3rd party applications. At its core, all it needs to do is:

Specific wishes for the ultimate PVP:

Hardware:

Wishful Thinking:

Un-organized: Write-ins

mad8k wrote:

Some things I can think of are:

And borrowing from the rockbox features page:

Added later:

Jimmy Moore wrote:

Also the av3xx has a serial port, although not rs232 you can make a converter easily, which would mean being able to attach (eugh) a modem, mouse, keyboard, printer, other archos's to xfer files/play mutliplayer games, etc etc etc

Have you got a scandisk/defrag feature on the wishlist? Why cant the av300/av100/jbmm do the scandisk/defrag itself... No need to connect a computer. Just get it to do it. You could even tell it to do a defrag/scandisk when it feels like it automatically when it's not doing anything else... Say its just loaded up a big video, it passes on the data to the dsp, the harddrives still spinning for a bit, may as well do some disk cleanup...

gclmail wrote:

Basic enhancements:

1. WAV Recording, requested frequently by others also
2. Text viewer native on the machine (doc+pdf support even better)
3. Support progressive jpg's
4. Multiple bookmarks
5. More choices in video rate for recording (i.e. 750kb/s)
6. Faster photo loading routines

Wishful-thinking enhancements:

1. TV-tuner module
2. Matching direct plug-in mini speakers
3. Decode more video formats (mpeg1,mpeg2,wmv)
4. Module for 802.11b connection, browse network like CF card

Really Wishful-thinking:

1. Mini matching multiple-brightwhite-led projector to project up to a 20" display in darkness
2. Different design that allows clip-in cell-phone style batteries, with larger capacity versions available

rkloiber wrote:

1) An  automobile cradle to "drop" the player into, with direct plugin to different stereo head units would be nice.
2) pda
3) Multi brand TV/VCR/Sat/Stereo  IR remote control
4) Maping with GPS plugin.

More or less... a iPac / Toshiba handheld with a hard drive... and .. oh yeah... It should start the coffee maker in the morning.

Fior@H wrote:

OK, i'll try not to repeat what was already requested... Here's my wishlist for future PVP (based on AV300 serie) :

- Firmware with open source
- ID3/ID2 tag supported + tag editor
- Search capabilties
- Videos allowed in playlists
- Writing on Flash Cards
- Random without repeat (i.e. shuffle only once)
- More than 2 LCD Brightness settings for display
- MP3 listening while browsing pictures (and vice cersa)
- Sleep Timer/alarm
- Mute function
- Audio DSP
- Audio settings to/from file
- Audio visualizations (oscillo, waveform...)
- Screen Savers
- Customizable UI (fonts, colors, icons, background...)
- FM transmitter module
- Swappable Hard Drive
- Games included

shecky504 wrote:

You should also add a crossfader to that so you can fade in/out between songs....i'd say 1 to 10 or 15 seconds for the crossfade

Tim Gulick wrote:

Wow! lot's of excellent ideas being floated... here's my short hardware wishlist:

::» OLED screen (Organic Light Emiting Display) or at least,
::» Transflective LCD
::» Water-resistant and quality carrying case
::» On-board 10/100 ethernet connection

Gunnstein Lye wrote:

Other wishes:
OS: Qtopia by trolltech.com (the same that sharp zaurus uses)
Higher resolution of video recording and playback
TV tuner
USB host capability, with support for at least: keyboards, mice, web cams, and
usb mass storage devices (which includes many digital cameras)

Djohan wrote:

Compact Flash Type I/II module which is able to support GPRS/GSM/GPS interface card. Then the hardware expansion would be unlimited, and those who asked for wireless functions would be easily satisfied.

And please also add a strap to the jukebox for easier holding. The kind that most DV had to avoid accidental falling.

skyfire360 wrote:

An adapter to insert into my Digital camera's SM/CF slot that will allow the player to store pictures directly without the need for a SM/CF card.

Geoffrey Reed wrote:

Here is my everything device for your wishlist:

The new sony pda is pretty close - why won't they just add a 1.8 inch hard drive (like the ipod's)? I know this sounds like star trek but most of these things exist already they just need to be packaged together.

don kkkkkk wrote:

  1. AV500 should use latest fastest processor. I thought Texas Instruments or Intel or Samsung could do processors that can be compared with a 700mhz PC, would let full HD DivX plazback and at least 352x288 resolution real-time Mpeg-4 encoding from camera or video-input.
  2. Higher resolution better touch-screen. LEt it work like all those cool PDA's..
  3. Wireless internet connectivity through Bluetooth UMTS phones and in Wi-Fi hotspots.
    1. for uploading/download files to/from the internet when in a WiFi hotspot, or connected to a Bluetooth UMTS modem.
    2. to connect to modules wirelessly, like a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a remote (maybe all of them in one)
    3. to transfer video wirelessly to the TV. Like plug some little Bluetooth connector on the TV which talks wirelessly to the Archos.
    4. Other wireless modules are wireless headphones, microphones and cameras.
  4. The best functions from a PDA, internet-browsing, let it have horizontal resolution nearly as 800x600 computer screen, email- reading, Symbian OS like applications to remote control programs on a computer, a server or another internet connection.
  5. Keyboard and joystick modules, to intype text fast, or control a mouse, a pointer, a game-like thing on the thing.
  6. Make the AV500 wearable. Archos should think how people wear the AV500, design special pockets in clothes to fix, carry and re-charge the unit, as there could be more battery power placed in other pockets in the jacket.. Also a connector for extra screen, keyboard or remote-control joystick on the special jackets sleeves. Specially designed headphones and microphones insite the shirt/jacket, also Archos should think letting people use the best possible video- glasses.
  7. Archos should work with http://www.kiss-technology.com to make the Archos the thing that works with that Set-Top-Box which KiSS is making.
    1. When people are home, they use Set-Top-Box (which records playsback DivX. When people go out they wear the Archos clothes and have the Archos in front pocket.
    2. The Archos is in synch with that Set-Top-Box. It's like a Tivo machine, with two 7200rpm harddrives, storing video-on-demand from internet. And with DVD-burner ethernet connection to possibly more KiSS or normal computers in the home.
  8. Tons of software.
    1. Video-Editing, Music-Making, Picture-Editing, Remote-Controlling, Internet-Browsing, Video-Conferencing, Voice-Over-IP..
    2. Basically Archos should consider working with UMTS company to make the Archos work as a phone/modem on itself. (built-in UMTS- simcard and GPS)..

1000 dollars for an AV500 is OK. Even for huge success of the unit. AS long as the AV500 can practically replace mobile phones, computers, televisions, DVD-players, VHS-recorders and cameras.

rkloiber wrote:

Hell,  put Satellite radio on too.. and while you're at it... could you strap a DTV/Dishnet dish on as well...

masterjamesbond wrote:

That's it ...this would make me happy!!

Steve Fritz wrote:

When I saw the search engine idea, it gave me another idea ... how about voice recognition to find a certain folder (like you can use voice on your cell phone to find a phone book entry). "Jazz" could take you to the Jazz folder ... "Joe Cocker" could take you to the Joe Cocker folder -- assuming you had recorded those voice patterns into your MultiMedia machine.

Susanne wrote:

I'd like to see a flash memory adapter that can anly WRITE to the cards. I could move mp3 from the jukebox to my mp3 player.

solfra wrote:

Different memories for audio setups for example listening in the car, conected to home amp, to home TV, etc.

Rich Gallo wrote:

I'd also like to have the ability to manage multiple bookmarks on my video files, and to be able to save more than ONE at a time!

Another feature on the AV320 I'd like to see is a function button on video playback that acts like a commercial skip and will shoot you exactly 30 seconds forward on each press.  I watch recorded television, and find the manual fast forwarding thru commercials with the joystick to be an annoyance.

Add auto power off AFTER all timer events have completed! :-)

dan_manfr wrote:

As for HW modules. I think you covered most of them. The TVmodule, FM transmitter and GPS module would be great. As for SW, the mainwish is really open source and application/games porting capabilities. There is no need to reinvent the whell everytime. Would be great if we could have Winamp for example on the AV5xx and similar apps which are known and out there for a while. As for interfaces, blutooth, WIFI would be great. What could you ask more? Telephony functionality which the TO chip definitly supports would round that up if an internet browser would be available.

My first priority would be a robust product and not half not working functionality so we might shorten the list and follow up on half way implemented functionality. Well that's my 2c

margerison wrote:

Could you add 'CUE' file support to the Audio playback wishlist. I suppose this could be a part of 'Gapless MP3 Playback'. I have a few 'mix' albums in one large mp3 file with a cue file, and this would be invaluable.

In the Video Playback Wishlist could you add VBR soundtrack support (this really should be at the top of the list IMHO!) and AC3 soundtrack support.

neozuel wrote:

A 3-6 foot cable you could connect to the minicentronix end of the JBMM 20 unit and connect the other end to the camera so..

If you had a car mobile mount like I do you could connect the JBMM to the cable then connect the other end of the cable to the camera and manipulate the placement of the camera.  I.E. like turn the camera out so you could record digitally all the morons out on the road so when they run in to you you could show the cop what the moron was doing.  Great Idea!!

Or you could have the camera in the pouch on your belt and the camera fed through your jacket so the camera was strategically located on your person so you could record what you see as you walk around.

Perhaps the camera mount end of the cable would have a mount where you could mount the microphone (which I don't have yet).  

Rik wrote:

I just can't resist asking Archos again for subtitle support. That would make the best holiday present! Look at it as a gift in return for PVP Tools.. ;)
sub/srt/ssa are all fine. I'll just use sub2ssa to convert if needed. Sub might be the best way to go though... or just all of them, they dont differ much right?

David wrote:

The plugin module I would like to see the most is a Wifi plugin. I would love to use the 380 from my Laptop, PC, Work PC, and iPAQ with Wifi. All of these units have Wifi built in, but the Archos is the odd one out. Particularly for the iPaq. I could have the Archos in the backpack, and use its space from the iPAQ, without even connecting them. I can walk into work, and home, and immediately use the space on the server or PC. Would be great to have this use on the move. Could even possibly do this with a CF wifi adapter and the CF card reader adapter, although not pretty...

David Goldwasser wrote:

[why can't Archos] either have it treat THM files as a JPG or at least through a GUI interface or some text file we put on the Archos have a user definable list of extentions that it should treat as JPG files. Now these thumbnails are only 160x120 so not very high quality. The ultimate goal for me is the have the Archos read the 2mp jpg that is embedded in the Canon 6pm raw file.

I seem to get about 1.6mb/sec and got 11gb of transfer before the battery died. I get the feeling that I’m in the minority of users for this who use it first as image storage and then for other features. This is double the download capacity than most other PSD’s (portable storage devices). This could be made even better if the screen could sleep during download. As is I just set it to the dimmest setting.

Jan van der Weerd wrote:

This is about traveling light, right ? We don't want to carry a laptop to archive our photo's or video's when the camera's are full. And the Archos AV300 itself is a wonderfull solution. But unfortunately we need more to take along on a trip than the AV300 (/500) itself; adapter, several cables, remote control, ... usually these things are packed together in a case with a lot of space inside, not at all as compact as possible. I would wish those manufacturers would be as careful with the volume of the total product containing all the acessories, as they are with the main item itself. Maybe they will, for the 500 ?

technicsplayer wrote:

(Refering to AV300 FIRMWARE 2.0.00) Now that we have editing features, which take some time, but let's face it are better than nothing and probably as good as you can get with the processor in the archos how about a fade? It's easy to start a movie immediately after the MGM or 20th Century logo etc but more difficult to get a clean ending without encoding 4 minutes of credits you may not want. So how about a 15 sec smooth fade out of both video and audio so you can keep just the first page or so of credits with the main players and dump the rest to save space?

Andrea wrote:

Red Dragon wrote:

txarlye wrote:

Giovanni wrote

I think that a great add to AV3x0 could be a way to control SAT-TV-VCR from the AV3x0 using an infrared transmitter, like the 'Emitter' placed in front of the TV set of the wireless video transmitter.

Ben Kooijman wrote

Here are what I think are basics that should be implemented (leaving fancy stuff to others).

Aaron Dylewski wrote

I do not know if this has been asked for yet - but I think a 'Blue Tooth' wireless adapter would be keen for this unit. I use the unit primarly in my vehicle. It would neat to update or listen to my music at my desk while the units still in my car.

IF archos did go all out with this - they could make a blue tooth adapter that works indepentadly - without a computer. It would be neat to host some sort of party and change the songs while youre talking to people. That would be smooth.

marahstone wrote

I wish for the archos av320 to be created where you can put whatever you want on the display desktop. Also where it is a touch screen using the pen because it is a better touch screen with less of a weak point. This way if I only want a specific movie to play with one touch of the screen, I coudl do that.  I want it where only the movie I want to have played is shown on the desktop and using the touch screen I can touch it and walla the movie starts playing. It would be even better that after the movie plays that in like 1 minute the device shuts itself off.  This would be ideal for the project I would be using it for.  In fact, if archos did this, then I would end up buying their product literally by the 100's and in the near future the thousands. 

I forgot one thing that should be added to perfect this and that is where it would have an area where you could touch the screen to fastforward, rewind, pause and etc while the movie is playing.

fscjase wrote

I would like a DVR that captures DVD or higher video quality and the ability to capture Dolby 5.1 surround and DTS. The ability for the user to add whatever video/audio codecs users would want. The ability to have a memory card reader that handles multiple card types. Have the recording module built into the unit. Use a sharper and larger TFT LCD. Have built in scandisk/file system correction in the firmware. Use the smaller laptop drives. Use a battery that can last for 5+ hours in video playback mode.

paulgartside2000 wrote

Belial wrote

Bix Byte wrote

I think that an easy add to the Archos' software could be an automatic naming of the files using the date+hour instead of the videoxx. The file name could be video13-03-04 10_52 I see that in the left upper screen the file creation date comes up, but...it is more comfortable see the creation date without selecting the file.

Cheryl Badger wrote

Love the unit but want to protect it! Afraid im going to damage the LCD screen.

Jesper Söderlund wrote

I would very much liek to see an off-line reader, kind of like MobiPocket-reader ported to the platform. Alternatively an RSS-feed client which could store the RSS feeds when connected to a destop for later consumtion while on the move. The large screen would really enhance the experience from the smartphone I'm using today.

Hadi wrote

What I really like to see is PalmOS compatiblity, so it becomes a PDA/gameMachine. Checkout www.Tapwave.com/zodiac to see what I mean... A hybride between the ArchosAV380 and the Tapwave Zodiac would be ideal seeing that the Tapwave Zodiac supports Emulators, So 2.5 GB can be reserved for give or Take 4000 games (With some of the best ever made):

(I have 5 SD cards 512 MB with on them 4000 games for these Consoles for I'm gonna buy a Tapwave zodiac)

If the New processor is powerful enough (Compareble with Pentium 3 500 Mhz) you can even run N64 (200 games will cost you about 3 GB) and the Tapwave can already run Playstation at full speed (but Playstation roms take abou 200-600 MB each!!).. The Fun thing about it as that the AV3xx series already has the perfect Layout to be a Handheld Console (compare to Sega Gamegear, Atari Lynx and Tapwave Zodiac for reference).. Furthermore If you link it to the TV you can have some Nostalgic Moments! These are very attainable goals fir Archos (given that Copyrights are not violated and the games are either in your possession or abondonware al Consoles named except for the Nintendo Systems and Sony Playstation have complete romsets that are abondonware). The only thing that needs to be changed:

For Bros I think you agree with me that the ultimate Mobile entertainment is not only Listening MP3 and watching Movies and Pictures But Also Playing Games and Processing Data (If the Archos AV series get PalmOS you can also install Wordprocessors, Spreadsheets etc...). No more need for: PDA, Gameboy Advance, Archos AV380. No just One machine that would be bliss!!

Brent Pearson wrote

I primarily use this as an mp3 player for my car, and these changes would be very simple to make, and would make the thing 100 times better for this purpose.

Jake Yapp wrote

I would love an L/R swap function. I keep dubbing movies into my AV300 with the audio channels the wrong way round. And I have those ear-specifice headphones so I can't swap them over... It would be great to be able to reverse Left and Right so sound effects aren't all skewy when watching a movie....

Garth Blacker wrote

someone already mentioned audio visualization (oscillo, waveform), but something like Whitecap (http://soundspectrum.com/whitecap/) would be really cool. If possible, the OS should be sensitive to whether the unit is plugged in or running on batteries, and not use the visualizer on batteries unless specifically requested (in settings).

Colin Ives wrote

  1. to be able to seamlessly loop a video clip.
  2. a way to link it to a basic stamp or some other way to allow sensors to control video play back. A basic stamp is a micro controller, this would allow user constructed hardware devices that could communicate with the software through that data port.

technicsplayer wrote (inspired by groskouik)

I took a picture at 2048x1536 and transferred to the archos. Then connected archos to one line in of the tv and the camera to the other line in so I could switch between the two for instant comparison.

Sure enough the archos picture was worse, with significant pixellation on diagonals which were not on the camera output. The camera has a function to copy and paste pictures at 640x480 internally, so I made a copy since this would be nearer the native resolution of the archos display. The result when the smaller picture was transferred to the archos was the same, the camera output was worse than the full size picture (because some interpolation diagonal effects were more apparent) but the archos output was still much worse.

Jason McLaughlin wrote

My wish right off the bat is the ability to use the SPDIF input while recording video.  My LD and DVD player have PCM outputs and instead of doing the "digital-analog-digital" thing, keep it digital all the way.
 
My other request is that they DO use the ID3 tag info to compile the library.  Use that info to allow to build playlists without a bunch of hassle.  My Creative Nomad Jukebox did this out of the box in 2000 when I bought it (paid $500 for that too!).  There is no excuse why this unit can't.  Oh and make it read ALL ID3 tag info.  Including the recording year!  That way a playlist could be made from artist, album, genre, or year.

Chris Margerison wrote

While we're doing wishlists (again ;-p) - I think the sound formats of movie files should be near the top of the list - specifically VBR and AC3.

John Gurd wrote (2004/8/8)

One thing which is prominent in it's absence is a talking menus feature like in Rockbox. I am blind, and this feature has truly revolutionised my MP3 listening experience. Before I got an FM Recorder and installed Rockbox, I could only listen to MP3's on my PC or my laptop where I have a talking screen reader installed. Now I can take 20GB of audio books and music
anywhere, anytime and it's amazing. Three of my blind friends have bought Archos Jukeboxes from E-Bay and installed Rockbox and are completely knocked out by it.

The sad thing is the new generation of Archos players cannot run Rockbox and they no longer make the FM Recorder or others that already work with Rockbox. This was just as blind people literally all over the world were just beginning to realise that for the first time it was possible to get hold of a talking, accessible MP3 player. Check out the Rockbox discussion list and see how many contributors are blind.

So please put talking menus right up at the top of your list, or hundreds or maybe even thousands of blind people will miss out. At least future Archos players should be made accessible for third party firmware like Rockbox which has a caring and responsive community.

Tom Campbell wrote (2004/9/22)

To add another market segment, they only need to make sure two things are included:

With Cameras running 8+ Megapixels, offloading microdrives nightly is imperative, and PVP's (especially the Archos) are ideal.  The Gmini 220 is the only one with a CF2 card right now (boo hoo).  Add these two features (or at LEAST the CF2 support) and you have a HUGE market immediately.

As to other features,

I don't care about wireless connections and all that other stuff - that's full PDA stuff.  My ideal PVP is for entertainment, not calendaring and email.