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Archos launches 20GB disk-based MP3 player

updated 09:50 am EST, Thu January 8, 2004

GMINI 220 MP3 Player

Archos today introduced its , which it says is the "industry's smallest 20GB portable MP3 player." It weighs six ounces and is small and light enough to fit in a shirt pocket. The GMINI 220 features a 2.5" grayscale LCD with a blue backlight, an icon-based interface, and the ability to edit song info and manage playlists on the device. It ships standard with three modules: Audio Recorder/Voice Recorder with a built-in microphone; Photo Wallet offering a CompactFlash memory slot; and FM Tuner and Remote Control (with recording functions). The GMINI 120 (10GB version) was introduced in November 2003 for $250, while the GMINI 220 is available this month for $350.

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Fresh-Faced Recruit

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01/08, 09:58am | report spam | close Reply |
Small, but utt-bugly

tisay adsbay-ookinglay.

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01/08, 10:04am | report spam | close Reply |
at least

it is Mac compatible.

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01/08, 10:13am | report spam | close Reply |
Dunno, but

4.1 by 2.4 by 0.62 inches and 5.6 punces for the iPod sounds smaller than 4.45"x3.07"x1.02" for the Gmini 120. So the Gmini 220 must be a different machine

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01/08, 10:18am | report spam | close Reply |
weight

Apple 20G ipod 5.6 (lighter)

This thing looks ok. Guessing it has all the features of the 120 it's got some things on the ipod
1) built in spdif and analog input recording to mp3 up to 192 (not bad)
2) built in at lower quality for voice (probably selectable)
3) built in tuner (this is good, but did they do the smart software thing and let you record from the radio?)
4) built in compact flash transfer/reader (good)

Important things it probably doesn't have:

a fast firewire based sync interface/itunes, AAC support (real or itms), a cool engraveable booty

Things it's got to be missing, but may not be that important:

calendar, alarms, games, addresses

Finally....how does it perform as an HD. Go to a 40Gig g3 ipod and you're getting a decent mac to go.

All said an done this is a nice little block for pc users and some mac users and illustrates that apple needs to integrate or reduce pricing. what's the dollar at today :(

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01/08, 10:30am | report spam | close Reply |
Pricing

I think this thing is priced right in the market with iPod. If anything, this will convince Apple that it's full-sized iPod is priced correctly. The iPod mini, however, is highly fashionable but too expensive.

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01/08, 10:34am | report spam | close Reply |
Integrate what . . .

What should Apple integrate? A software MP3 player? A calendaring application? A music store? Portable storage? Zero-configuration setup (For a Mac that already has iTunes)? An entry-level music production system?

Oh yeah, Apple already did all that. What else did you want?

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01/08, 10:40am | report spam | close Reply |
what about

a simple FM radio? I want to hear the news when iim jogging, can't do something as simple as that. Imagine!

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01/08, 10:42am | report spam | close Reply |
Re: what about

Why don't you just buy a simple little fm walkman for 30 bucks and be quiet?

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01/08, 11:24am | report spam | close Reply |
Features

From reading their web site, it looks like all of the extra features are in optional "plug-ins" that are purchased separately.

It doesn't mention how it syncs with a Mac - I'm guessing you have to manually copy your files.

And as was said earlier, it is not the smallest MP3 player. The iPod is, and soon the iPod mini will be - which is what I will buy when it becomes available in April.

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01/08, 12:02pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: Features

"The iPod is, and soon the iPod mini will be - which is what I will buy when it becomes available in April."
Just what Apple is counting. Someone that chooses smaller size over value. You own a cube, don't you?

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01/08, 01:37pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: Features

"Someone that chooses smaller size over value. You own a cube, don't you?"

Don't you think that it just might barely be possible that there is more to "value" than merely price?

Most of the rest of the world seems to think so.

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01/08, 02:06pm | report spam | close Reply |
Archos

Three letters: P O S
Two words: RUN AWAY!

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01/08, 02:38pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: Features

""The iPod is, and soon the iPod mini will be - which is what I will buy when it becomes available in April."
Just what Apple is counting. Someone that chooses smaller size over value. You own a cube, don't you?"

I don't know about that guy, but I know LOTS of people who are thinking seriously about the iPod Mini who don't have Cubes -- or even Macs at all.

They wanted something incredibly small and light (check), but don't own huge music collections and/or wouldn't know what to do with the other 10 GB in a 15GB iPod. Believe it or not, that actually describes MOST non-geek people.

I certainly wish the thing had come in at $199 instead of $249, but I have NO DOUBTS it will sell well. Try to remember back two whole years ago, when the 5GB iPod came out -- at $499. Everyone scoffed, including all of us.

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01/08, 05:16pm | report spam | close Reply |
Features

Talk about lame. At least Apple doesn't have a microphone built in. Sure it has a microphone and media ports, but you have to PAY EXTRA to use them. At least Apple would've just charged everyone $50 more and just let everyone use them.

Oh, and I want to know how I can replace the battery. I find no replacement batteries anywhere on their site....

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01/08, 07:14pm | report spam | close Reply |
i love my ipod

i love my ipod and all, but this thing is a pretty cool little machine. ou can always tell when the zealots get to feeling threatened when they use irrational statements and illogic to diss what they fear. I am the biggest machead youll meet and I am not at all a fan of anything M$, but I know a good product when i see it. Compare this 20 gig thing to the 20 gig ipod. the Archos has a lot of pretty cool features that pod does not. nothing wrong with that. just shows that apple better up the ante a little. for 399 you get

5.6 ounces
2.4 x 4.1 x .62 inches
Apple Earphones
AC Adapter
FireWire cable
PC FireWire adapter
Wired remote
Carrying case w/ belt clip
iPod Dock

and with the arkos you cant sync with itunes automatically, but you CAN just make a playlist within itunes that corresponds with the ones on the archos. BOOHOO it takes you 3 seconds to drag and drop it from itunes to the archos. for 50 bucks more you get the audio recorder, AND the flash reader jpeg backup capabilities. that brings it up to 299, 100 bucks less than the ipod. if you add that stuff to the ipod, its gunna make the price of the ipod go up 40 bucks (it does have a built in speaker though) for a belkin voice recorder, and 17 bucks ofr and fm capable headphone kit. (belkin pulled out on their product). they both have the remote capability, but the ipod costs much much more than the archos when you get more with the archos. one thing though, is that the archos's interface i have yet to see but i dont think an icon based interface belongs on an mp3 player. sounds like it coud get messy. all in all, all the zealots gettin scared of a little competition from a GREAT product should just get a life. macs rule and all, but cmon now people, some of you need to wake up and see that sometimes otehrs make good stuf as well.

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01/09, 01:06am | report spam | close Reply |
The Archos is bollocks

The Thomson/RCA Lyra Audio/Video Jukebox is where it's at... maybe.
They finally shipped, and the thing sells at Amazon for $380. Not bad for a slim player with a really nice color screen, 20GB hard drive, and MPEG4 playing and recording capability.
If Apple doesn't hurry delivering a vPod, I might end up getting one of those to complement my iPod.

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Archos launches 20GB disk-based MP3 player

updated 09:50 am EST, Thu January 8, 2004

GMINI 220 MP3 Player

Small, but utt-bugly

at least

Dunno, but

weight

Pricing

Integrate what . . .

what about

Re: what about

Features

Re: Features

Re: Features

Archos

Re: Features

Features

i love my ipod

The Archos is bollocks

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Archos launches 20GB disk-based MP3 player

updated 09:50 am EST, Thu January 8, 2004

GMINI 220 MP3 Player

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Small, but utt-bugly

at least

Dunno, but

weight

Pricing

Integrate what . . .

what about

Re: what about

Features

Re: Features

Re: Features

Archos

Re: Features

Features

i love my ipod

The Archos is bollocks

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