iPod touch TV: Packet Video Mobile Broadcast Receiver

Packet Video's Mobile Broadcast Receiver turns Wi-Fi-enabled phones and personal media players into mobile TVs. The little white box works by receiving DVB-H, MediaFLO or WiMax, and transcoding it on the fly to a video stream sent out via Wi-Fi. The user's device receives the video stream over Wi-Fi and displays it. The receiver can tell what video codecs the playback device uses and adapts the video accordingly.

So rather than replace a device to get mobile TV capability, the Mobile Broadcast Receiver can provide the functionality on the old device.

[TechRadar via Gizmodo]

Archos 605 Wi-Fi versus Apple iPod touch: CNET Review

CNET pitted the Archos 605 Wi-Fi to the iPod touch in a head-to-head competition. Why those two devices? Well, according to CNET, both offer wide-screen video playback, a Wi-Fi Internet browser, the ability to play Internet video content from YouTube, wireless music purchases, a music player, photo viewer, video player, and more. The devices were compared in five categories: Navigation, Sexiness, Compatibility, Sound and Science, and Wallet Factor. See the details here.

And the winner is... the Archos 605 Wi-Fi!

Here’s a comparison chart of the features (click on the image to display it actual size):

Archway to Multimedia: Archos 704 Wi-Fi

 

The Archos 704 Wi-Fi multimedia player has a 7” LCD touchscreen with 800 x 400 pixel resolution and measures 7 x 5 x 0.75 inches.

The 704 Wi-Fi features Wi-Fi for wireless download of movies from online stores, surfing the Web, sending and receiving e-mail from Web-based mail applications, and connecting the device to a home network to transfer files or play content directly from the network.

The Archos 704 Wi-Fi also offers many more functionalities such as slow motion, adjustable screen size, video editing and even a video bookmarking function.

Transform the Archos 704 Wi-Fi into a camcorder by connecting a digital camera (most models) , or by connecting the optional high resolution helmet camcorder. The Archos 704 Wi-Fi records video directly on its 80 GB hard drive in MPEG-4 format, up to VGA resolution (640 x 480).

Like the Archos 604 and 605, the device can be connected to a television via the optional DVR Station to watch movies and photo slideshows on a larger screen. The DVR station also allows the 704 Wi-Fi to be used as a digital video recorder (DVR). Set up the DVR station by connecting it to the external video source; simply slot in your ARCHOS and record instantaneously or make scheduled recordings with the included infrared receiver that controls the external video sources.

Transfer photos directly from a digital camera with the USB 2.0 host interface. Store and view up to 800,000 photos and display slideshows with music and transition effect. Manage files and folders directly on the device. Enjoy the large size of the screen and the cool sleek design of the Archos 704 Wi-Fi as digital photo frame.

Supported music formats: MP3, WAV, WMA and protected WMA

Supported video formats: MPEG-4, WMV and protected WMV and read MPEG-4 AAC/H.264 (.MP4 QuickTime files), MPEG-2, and VOB (with optional software plug-ins)

Supported image formats: JPEG, PNG and BMP

Check out other Archos products in the webstore.

More than a PMP: Cowon Q5W

The Cowon Q5W 60 GB is more than a portable media device. It’s actually more of a UMPC than a PMP. The Cowon Q5W is just 3.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches sporting a 5 inch (diagonal) LCD with 800 x 480 resolution. As a portable media player, it plays movies, TV shows, music, and photos but it does a whole lot more.

The Cowon Q5W has built-in Wi-Fi, an Internet browser, e-mail, voice enabled MSN messenger, and Bluetooth. In addition, it features a touch sensitive interface, an FM tuner and recorder, a voice recorder, built-in stereo speakers, wireless remote control, and TV-out supporting component, S-video and composite connections. It runs Microsoft Windows CE 5.0.

The Cowon Q5W has an optional GPS navigation package using Cowon Navigator cradle equipped with GPS receiver antenna (SirF3 internal), FM transmitter switch for audio playback on vehicle radio.

The Cowon 40 GB Q5W comes with a 40 GB hard drive.

Supported audio formats: ASF, MP3, MPC, WAV, WMA, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, MPEG 1 Audio, MPEG 2 Audio, MPEG 2.5 Audio, APE (Monkeyís Audio)

Supported video formats: ASF, AVI, WMV, DivX, XviD, MPEG-4, OGM (Ogg Media)

Supported image formats: BMP, PNG, JPEG; Audio features: VBR, 5 band EQ, ID3 tags support.

Check out other Cowon products in the webstore.