Archos 5 IMT Install

I own the Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet now over 2 months and use it every day in my car. Here so far my experience and Jeep install.

Pros:
- All-in-one device. It has FM, GPS, Wifi, Bluetooth, (optional DVB-T) and 500 GB on a brilliant 5 inch colour touch screen. No more dozens of USB dongles, Hubs, powered hubs to have the basic Car PC setup
- Small, light and mobile with powerful hardware to play HD movies, multitasking and nice 3D UI capabilities. I use it 90% in my car but when on trips I have an Internet Tablet at conferences in hotel. Don't have to wire the "bulky" laptop to surf the net or check and write emails
- Very energy efficient. It runs at max. 8W if under full load. This allows to run for hours on car battery withouth worrying too much
- Instant-on, always-on. THIS IS THE BEST compared to custom car PC / motherboard solution. It has internal battery to run approx 7 hours. and is charged via cigarette lighter. Resuming from suspend takes 1 second. Energy consumption on suspend is below 1 W and that is why I have it always in "charging" mode on cigarette lighter. I am doing this now over 1 month and never had cranking problems in the morning although it is very cold here. No more hassles with expensive PSU/DC-DC/Startup controllers (which already cost have of an Archos with 500 GB), slow BIOS post times, S3, Hibernate and USB issues etc.
- Good GPS solutions to choose from IGO Amigo (Motonav), Copilot, soon Navigon and TomTom to follow

Cons:
- Android is still in its childhoold and therefore apps (software) are not that many yet as on Windows basis. But the combination of widgets make a usable and good looking UI. And seeing all those Android smart phones coming up next year and with Google's support the apps will explode. Also there is a SDK for interfacing Android which could be something to build a frontend around it
- You have to pay extra bucks to replay MPEG2 (DVD) and AC3. This is kind of a ripp off but still cheaper than any equivalent PC solution (where you pay for OS). Some codecs dont play, i.e. WMV7 and WMV8 which must be converted. MPC is not supported either-
- Touchscreen is sometimes not the right input device during driving. Although there are no real button solutions available for Car PCs neither (except some Ibus/steering wheel solutions), there are many input devices made for PC usage which can be used in Car environment as well (Touchpads, joysticks, Space nav). But the fact that Archos has USB and Bluetooth should allow to attach another more mechanical device for Input. It is then only a driver / Android issue.

I could list dozens more of Pros than Cons compared to custom motherboard/PC solution. I used to have a laptop and a Little Valley install before. The ugliest thing was always engergy, startup, bios and USB hell. This is all gone with Archos.

And NEVER FORGET: This is 500 GB of music/video with HD capability and fast internet browsing on 200 Gramm device which does not consume more than 8 WATTS!!!! Once data plans get cheaper I will teether via bluetooth to 3G mobile or mount a mini access points with 3G SIM card in car and have full Google Maps and Streetview for navigation. Oh boy...

Now see my install and how easy it is two unplug for mobile usage.

This is almost exactly what I want to do.

I've been waiting for something similar with android 2.0 and 3g built in...because I have a droid which is awesome...and the 2.0 + google nav is awesome. Android in the car is reaching its potential for being a perfect carPC platform (or a very viable alternative to windows) IMO.

You mention that you will tether 3g over the wifi eventually, but will you be able to install google nav on a device that doesn't have native 3g built in without rooting?

I'm really liking your install. If you ever do the 3g/tethering bit, keep us updated on how that works out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by senseless228

This is almost exactly what I want to do.

I've been waiting for something similar with android 2.0 and 3g built in...because I have a droid which is awesome...and the 2.0 + google nav is awesome. Android in the car is reaching its potential for being a perfect carPC platform (or a very viable alternative to windows) IMO.

You mention that you will tether 3g over the wifi eventually, but will you be able to install google nav on a device that doesn't have native 3g built in without rooting?

I'm really liking your install. If you ever do the 3g/tethering bit, keep us updated on how that works out.

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Archos 5 Internet Tablet has no built-in 3G phone but you can tether via bluetooth to your mobile. At the moment this does not work reliable yet for most phones (pairing, dropping). It is only a question of time and it will (firmware issue).

I am preferring to tether over wifi. I don't want to use my phone for that and possible expensive roaming costs when abroad for data usage. You can get cheap Mobos (mobile access points) where you can put prepaid SIM cards. Especially in Europe with expensive roaming fees if you want to you Google Nav when you are abroad it is better just to have a prepaid SIM ready with no contract.

Google Maps and StreetView works on my Android 1.5. Very nice!!!

Hi upspace, very nice setup, similar to what I have. Just a point, you've a Archos 5 IT, not IMT, IMT is the old generation, Generation 6. Yours is a Archos 5 IT, Generation 7. Not your fault, Archos were a bit dumb naming the things so similar (I dunno, maybe they sound completely different in French!).

I've a Archos 250GB IMT (the previous version to yours, the one without Android), with a mini-dock, but I set it up with a hacked off back of a noreve case, which I then rigged up myself and for the holder I got one from profit-intl, similar to these,
http://www.pro-fit-intl.com/shopcombos

but a more generic one, because they didn't have one for my car, a Toyota Avensis. From the looks of that kit, they looked very solid and I thought the ball & socket effect would be nice for in the car. Unfortunately it's nowhere near as solid as I thought it would have been and since then the holder's lost it's rigidity, so the only time it's solid is when it's hanging at it's lowest....

Anyway, to cut it short, can I see exactly how you have the Hama holder connecting to the back of the Archos? Did you put a permanent fixture in there, or is it a clip or something? I wouldn't really be too keen on a permanent fixture as I wouldn't want to change the exterior of it at all. How solid is it in the car, when driving? That's always been the biggest irritation, for me, I've had 3 revisions in the car (504, 605 wifi and the 5 IMT I have now, and even then a iRiver beforehand) and with each one, no matter what mount I bought, it was always a bit shaky in the car.

Last thing, you don't have bluetooth in the stereo, do you? I recently bought an ok Sony stereo and one of the things it did have was the bluetooth in it. What I'm thinking here is that that, combined with the USB charger (http://www.data-mind.co.uk/acatalog/...cessories.html), you'd then only need one cable, the cable charging from the cigarette lighter and everything else'd be wireless.

You are right, the naming is confusing. I have the new 5 Android, lets call it A5A (Archos 5 Android).

I dont mind about one or two cables. To me also, cables provide higher quality in transmission which is very important for me for audio.

I know, I'm not sure if I'll be staying with the bluetooth 100%, but I'll try it out certainly and then decide when I get it.

can you possibly show me how the Hama holder connects to the back of the Archos, or how it holds it in place? I really like how there's no evidence of it being held from the front, that's a really smooth system.

you have google maps, but you don't have google nav right?

seaders: the Hama holds via 2mm thick plastic plate (B part of Hamas component; A part is the one attached to the dashboard; there are different options with arms, suctions cups etc.) attached with provided double Scotch to Archos back plate. Even if Archos is in my hands the plastic does not bother

senseless: google maps yes

Hi, for Archos 5 IMT 7th Generation users i recommend get a Car holder with FM transmitter Adapter plugs in to your car's cigarette lighter. When it charges your device it also enables the Fm transmitter in Arhos. I have one setup in my car. They did a great job with this feature coordinating to work excellant with adapter. No static or no sound loss it is working great and sound quality is as like you were playing from Cd player. Plugging in the Adapter to the Archos and enabling Fm transmitter is about same total 10 sec.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/ima...&s=electronics

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/ima...ctronics&img=1

Oh man imagine the luck. I was just looking at either the Zune HD or the Archos 7 to do something similar. My only concern is the lack of buttons, but I noticed that the DVR dock comes with a Qwerty keypad remote http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...&Sku=A685-0062. Do you think this dock is something that can be used in-car?

What's the difference between the Archos 7 Home Tablet and the Archos 7 Internet Tablet?
Also, does this support Shoutcast Internet Radio?