Archos already has its hands in the kiddie-tablet market, with its 7-inch Arnova Child Pad, and it’s taking on the productivity-minded crowd with its keyboard-toting 101 XS. Now the company is going after another niche segment with the just-announced GamePad. The 7-inch slate runs Android 4.0 with a dual-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz and a quad-core Mali 400 MP GPU, and it sports physical gaming controls in addition to the standard touchscreen. Archos includes its own “game recognition and mapping tools,” which ensure that the physical buttons are compatible with Android games that use virtual controls (some 1,000 titles are apparently compatible with the GamePad at this point). Of course, this is an internet-enabled device as well, and it will include full access to the Play market and WiFi connectivity when it goes on sale at the end of October. Other specs include 8GB of internal storage, plus a microSD card slot that adds up to 64GB. There’s also a mini-HDMI connection for outputting content to your TV. For now, Archos is only announcing pricing as “less than €150”, and the device will drop in the US and Europe at the same time. For now, the below-the-break press release will have to satisfy your curiosity.
There are so many tablets running around these days, that it can get quite hard to keep track of them – especially when you are referring to those which run off the Android operating system. Well boys and girls, here is some bit of news for you – the Archos Gen10 XS tablet is the latest device to arrive from Archos’ stables, and it is their flagship model which is said to deliver extremely fast web browsing capability, coming in an extra slim design, not to mention sporting a unique magnetic Coverboard for protection (smells like the iPad cover, no?), docking and easy typing.
As the main event of the Gen10 XS tablet line, the Archos 101 XS will come in a generous 10.1” form factor, but despite the seemingly large screen size, do not be perturbed – it will tip the scales at a mere 21 ounces, while measuring 0.31 of an inch thin, making this one of the first few ultra slim Android-powered tablets to hit the market sometime in the middle of September onwards, with a couple more tablets to arrive from Archos later this year – namely, the Archos 97 XS and Archos 80 XS.
Let us take a closer look at the self-proclaimed innovative Coverboard, where it is touted to be a “unique magnetic keyboard conceived for each tablet model that will offer protection, a kickstand, docking and easy typing”. Good to know the Coverboard comes as a standard accessory with each tablet purchase. Not only that, the whole Gen10 XS line is Google certified, running on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich while giving users full access to Google Play. Fret not, there is an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update coming your way in the fourth quarter of the year.
The presence of a chiclet-style QWERTY keyboard makes it a snap to type, and other hardware specifications include a 1.5GHz smart multi-core processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB of internal memory, a microSD memory card slot, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, Google Maps with Street View and Navigation, Google Drive with 5GB of free cloud storage, and a slew of accessories to get you started. Any takers for this $399.99 tablet when it arrives later this year?
It seems that apart from Archos’ recently released tablet, the 101 XS (you can check out our review here), the company has more tablets planned and has announced two additional tablets, the 80 XS and the 97 XS, both of which will sport smaller displays (8” at 1024×768, and 9.7” at 1280×800) but is expected to feature the same hardware specs as its larger 10.1” sibling, and will also come with a keyboard housing cover that will fit each of the tablet’s sizes. No word on pricing or availability yet, but if you prefer a smaller tablet then perhaps these two devices might be worth keeping an eye out for.
In case the 101 XS is news to you or you have forgotten, the specs include a 10.1” display, a 1.5GHz processor with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage which can be expanded via its microSD card slot. The 101 XS is also expected to receive its Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update in November although it is unclear if the smaller models will be receiving the same treatment as well.
The new Archos 101 XS ultra-thin Android tablet with a keyboard dock will be available for purchase in Europe next month. Priced at $399.99, the tablet features a 1.5 Ghz OMAP 4470 dual core processor with PowerVR SGX544 GPU, a 10.1-inch touchscreen display with a 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, a 1GB of RAM, a 16GB internal storage space, which is upgradeable via a MicroSD card (up to 64GB), GPS and a 720p front-facing camera for video calls. The gadget also provides several connectivity options such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and Mini HDMI. The Archos 101 XS is powered by the Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. [Liliputing]
When Archos says they’re going to get thin with their new tablet lineup, they really, really mean it – with just 0.31-inches in the tablet portion alone, they’re amongst the thinnest slates on the market. This 0.31 number comes from the first device to hit the market in the Gen10 XS lineup – have a peek at our Archos 101 XS full review to get a better look at it! Meanwhile hear this: this lineup has the folks at Archos taking the vertical integration route like many manufacturers have been prone to working with lately, creating a docking station and boombox for the lineup as well.
We’ll be seeing accessories for this line of tablets later this year, and the 101 XS model, the first in the line of three tablets, will be available in the USA in November. So it’s all still sort of far off – we’re hoping they make a move to either upgrade the software to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean by then or are able to bring the slate (and its siblings) to the states a bit earlier. Otherwise there might be a bit of stiff competition from the manufacturers ramping up their Jelly Bean and ultra HD offerings right this minute.
What you’ve got with this lineup that remains constant across all three tablets, the 101 XS, the 97 XS, and the 80XS, is a “thinnest Archos tablet ever” specification. You’ve also got the same unique magnetically-connected keyboard dock (aka the Coverboard) for each unit (shaped according to the unit, of course), and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich as well. This version of Android is an “un-skinned” version of Google’s mobile OS, only adding in a couple of media playing apps in the end.
Each of these units is ever so slightly different in its display size, but other than that, they’re bringing on one remarkably similar experience. Have a peek at the timeline below to see what Archos has brought to us in the past, and check our our full Archos 101 XS experience above to see how they’ll be changing the tablet game – in one way or another – this Fall.
Archos has just launched its Archo Gen10 XS Android tablet line, which is spearheaded by the Archos 101 XS. As its name indicates, it is a 10.1″ Android tablet running on Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0.23), and the main differentiation point is its ultra-thin design, keyboard dock (included in the base model) and relatively fast graphics processor.
The Archos 101XS goes after a market similar to the ASUS TF300, but in a slightly different way. As a standalone device, the tablet is very thin and that can be felt immediately when holding it. The keyboard has a unique design that does not rely on a hinge, but on magnets to keep the keyboard and tablet together in the “closed” position.
This week we’ve got our hands on the Archos 101 XS tablet (part of the G10 series) with included keyboard dock, featuring a dual-core OMAP 4470 processor and a 10.1-inch display as well as Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. This tablet brings on a nearly completely vanilla version of Android, here bringing on an un-skinned version of the software essentially the same as the Google Nexus lineup of tablets and smartphones. The unique build here is the star though, this tablet being rather unique with its keyboard dock that connects magnetically and protects the display when you’re not using the device.
Hardware
This device rolls out with a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 pixel resolution 10.1-inch display surrounded by a rather unique looking bit of chassis. You’ll be working with this device in white with slightly darker gray nearer the display, and the device brings on Archos’ own “Coverboard.” This Coverboard is both a protector for the display and a keyboard dock.
The Coverboard’s keyboard is made up of a collection of chiclet-style keys that are easy to type with when compared to the touchscreen interface. It’ll be difficult for you to get used to this keyboard if you’re used to a MacBook or if you’re using a keyboard on a desktop computer with massive keys – they are indeed physical keys here, so you’ll be able to do real typing, but beware their connection to Android.
While Android does accept the connection to Bluetooth keyboards and has for some time, there’s always a bit of lag that you’ll be dealing with. It’s certainly not the fault of Archos hardware, as we’ve had this situation occur many times with devices using Android, it’s simply the place that Google’s mobile software build is at right this minute. That said, this device is the closest to a real everyday typing machine using Android that we’ve seen thus far.
The Coverboard connects to the tablet using a magnetic interface and a kickstand that rises up from the board itself. This kickstand works well, but you should be careful with it – make sure you’re not letting your kids work with this device as there is a chance that said stand will snap off – watch out!
Archos lets us know that this tablet is 21 ounces light and 0.31″ thin, quite small by any tablet’s standards. The Coverboard adds 0.2″ of thickness and holds tight with magnets to the tablet when you’re ready to put it in your backpack. The Coverboard also has a strange combination of power abilities: when the tablet is docked and the dock is plugged in to the wall, the dock will charge the tablet. When the dock is not plugged in, however, the tablet will charge the dock. Strange stuff!
This device will also be working with accessories in the future with the same docking technology including an ARCHOS Speaker Dock, an ARCHOS Docking Station, and ARCHOS Pouches. We’ll have a peek at those when they’re ready for the market. This device also comes with 16GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot that’s able to take up to SDXC 64GB cards. You’ve also got a miniHDMI port, charging and PC access via a micro USB port, and both Wi-fi and Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless connectivity.
Software
This tablet comes with a nearly vanilla version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It’s got all your Google favorites like Google Play for digital media purchases, Gmail, Google+, and access to Google Drive right out of the box. Of course all of these apps (minus the Google Play store) are available to download by any Android device just so long as you’ve got the Google Play store and support for said store on your hardware.
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is in full effect with multi-tasking via your recent apps button on the screen in the dock and we’ve been told that Archos will be updating this device to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean by the end of the year. Archos has also added a collection of Media Center apps so you can see codec and format information on your movies and photos. Seeing your codec and format information also allows you to search items like title, series, actor, subtitle, and other information at will – just so long as your media has that information in the first place.
This device also comes with OfficeSuite Pro 6 for your Microsoft Office documents. This app allows you to read and edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents as well as read PDF documents at will. Also have a peek at a benchmark or two below to see how this device performs with the OMAP 4470 CPU with PowerVR SGX544 GPU. Note that we’re working with an Engineering Sample here, so these might not be perfect final numbers:
Battery Life
This device works well to bring on an abundance of battery life, that’s for certain. We’ve not yet seen a tablet in the Android universe that didn’t last a full day even with heavy usage, and this Archos slate doesn’t disappoint. With the Coverboard you’ve also got an extension of your battery life- with both, you’ve got at least 10 hours of action even if you’re playing games.
Of course you’ve also got to note that we’re still using an Engineering Sample, so final results on the battery may differ in the end. Standby time, though, will likely remain largely the same. If you’re not using the device at all and leave it to sit on its own, with the display off, you’ll have days of battery time – we’re currently at more than four days without needing to charge – what a whopper!
Wrap-Up
This device presents a rather interesting – and certainly unique – offering to the Android tablet universe. Compared to the ASUS Transformer Prime with keyboard dock, this device doesn’t quite seem as high quality a final product – but it’s a lot less expensive at the same time at $399, dock included. We’re also thinking about how this device is currently set for a November release: this doesn’t bode well for a tablet that’s already slightly behind the times for specifications when compared to devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, for example.
If the Archos 101 XS is released in November sporting Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and essentially the same build we’re seeing here, it might be worth $399. It’s still a slightly surprising combination though now that the 7-inch wave is upon us.
If you’d like to know anything we’ve not covered above about this device, please feel free to let us know in the comments area below!
Archos has had its hand in the slate game since the early days of “internet media tablets,” and while its products don’t have quite the same brand recognition as, say, Samsung’s, we’ve found the French company’s devices to be some of the best-value tablets available. Budget-minded prices and innovation don’t usually go hand in hand, but in the case of its new 101 XS Android 4.0 tablet, Archos has a few tricks up its sleeve. The slate boasts a keyboard cover and kickstand, along with a magnetic hinge allowing the lid to attach to the display. Arriving in November for $400, the Archos 101 XS is a productivity-minded take on slates, complete with a full set of keys and a bundled copy of OfficeSuite Pro. Do the hardware and software add up to a killer combo? Read on to find out.
Archos’ new Coverboard-decked 101 XS tablet isn’t the end of its Android efforts for 2012. During our briefing, the manufacturer revealed that it has both a 9.7- and 8-inch model incoming. The duo are set to arrive before the end of the year, and will, aside from dimensions, pack the same list of features we saw on the bigger model. Each will come with its own, perfectly-sized keyboard cover and what’s likely to be the same raft of connectivity options seen on Archos‘ first XS tablet. The 8-inch model (80 XS) will pack a 1,024 x 768 resolution screen, while the larger 9.7-inch slab (97 XS) will house a 1,280 x 800 16:10 screen, a ratio that differentiates it, if only a little, from the slightly bigger model unveiled today. Archos is keeping some vital points — like pricing — a secret for now, but we’ll update with more details as soon as we hear them.
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It seems that apart from Archos’ recently released tablet, the 101 XS (you can check out our review 
