Archos Reveals New TV Radio Plug-in For its PMP Range [Archos 605 WiFi, 705 WiFi, and Archos TV+ Firmware Update]

Archos have just unveiled a new plug-in for its Archos 605 WiFi, 705
WiFi, and Archos TV+ range of PMPs which, according to Archos's press
release, results in 'the first PMP to support the nearly ubiquitous
Adobe Flash 9, Windows Media Video (WMV) 9 and ON2 video formats,
letting consumers enjoy the millions of online video and Flash games
available on the Web'.

According to the press release, the new TV and radio plug-in will allow
users of the aforementioned PMP models to access more than 9,600 web
radio stations, 600 web TV stations and a staggering 100,000 podcasts
all of which will be directly streamed to their Archos PMP wirelessly
via the net. Notably, however, where as download and pay-per-view
services are rife (and by no means new) Archos claims that its customers
will be able top access this content for free 'just as they would on
their laptop'.

The new TV and radio plug-in will be made available next month (May 08)
for $19.99 in downloadable format from the Archos content portal.

Archos's Press Release:

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire - April 22, 2008) - Today’s most
popular TV shows are watched by millions online through their computers,
laptops and mobile phones. For the first time, TV fans can catch up on
full-length TV episodes, music videos, sporting events, news, Web TV
shows, and even favorite radio stations on the Web for free, through
ARCHOS Portable Media Players (PMPs). With wireless access and the
highest quality 4.3- and 7-inch screens of any portable player on the
market, ARCHOS brings true mobile entertainment to consumers wherever
they go.

ARCHOS introduces the first PMP to support the nearly ubiquitous Adobeยฎ
Flashยฎ 9, Windows Media Videoยฎ (WMV) 9 and ON2 video formats, letting
consumers enjoy the millions of online video and Flash games available
on the Web. Through a simple firmware update of the ARCHOS 605 or 705
WiFi devices, consumers will be streaming YouTube videos, watching TV
shows and catching up on the latest news in no time.
ARCHOS also introduces unparalleled access to Web TV shows and radio
stations through the availability of a Web TV and Radio plug-in for its
award-winning wireless PMPs. The $19.99 plug-in will be available at
www.archos.com.

“ARCHOS was founded on the principle of providing consumers the
most compelling mobile entertainment experience possible, and our Web TV
and Radio plug-in, along with Flash 9 support, is proof that we continue
to deliver on this,” said Henri Crohas, founder and CEO of ARCHOS.
“With more than four in five U.S. adults viewing an online video
last year, the time is right to give consumers access to the content
they want wherever they are, without requiring downloads, subscriptions
or separate players to view the video they want.”

Only Portable Media Player to Fully Support Adobeยฎ Flashยฎ 9

Unlike competitive players, ARCHOS does not require consumers to
purchase TV episodes for download or through a subscription service, but
rather allows them to watch their favorite online videos and TV shows
directly from the Web for free — just as they would on their
laptop. By combining Adobeยฎ Flashยฎ Player 9 quality and compression
— a two-fold improvement over Flashยฎ Player 7 — with the
800×480 resolution of ARCHOS touch-screen displays, the viewing
experience is crystal clear and incredibly fast.

Adobeยฎ Flashยฎ Player can be used to view both live and on-demand media
and entertainment on sites such as CBS, NBC, FoxNews Digital, PBS, MTV
Networks, BBC and more. The technology also powers the video
capabilities of popular social networking sites including YouTube and
MySpace.

Hometown TV and Radio from Anywhere in the World

With the new ARCHOS Web TV and Radio plug-in, consumers can access more
than 9,600 Web radio stations, 600 Web TV stations and 110,000 podcasts
streamed live over the Internet to their ARCHOS devices. TV and radio
fans can also search for radio or TV stations by city, country, station
genre, etc., ensuring they’re always in touch with their hometown
stations, news or events wherever they are in the world.

Different from online video streamed primarily in Flash, Web TV consists
of TV channels that exist only on the Web, traditional stations that
simulcast live online, traditional stations that make selected content
(such as news) available on demand at their Website, and traditional TV
stations offering extra content exclusively for their Website. Web Radio
listeners will experience traditional radio stations simulcast online,
independent Web radio stations, and extra content on-demand from
traditional stations.

Pricing and Specifications

The ARCHOS Web TV and Radio plug-in will be available next month for
$19.99 and can be downloaded from www.archos.com or directly from the
ARCHOS Content Portal on the device. The plug-in works with the ARCHOS
605 WiFi, 705 WiFi, and ARCHOS TV+ models. Support for Flash 9 and WMV9
will also be available next month through a firmware update for the Web
browser plug-in at no additional cost.

Archos