New ARCHOS Gmini 402 Camcorder is the Premier Audio and Video Podcast Device with 50 Hours of Video Capture

Business Wire, Nov 11, 2005

IRVINE, Calif. -- With Audio and Video Recording, Editing and Playback, the Gmini 402 Camcorder is the First Portable Media Player to Let Consumers Create and Enjoy Any Content, Anytime, Anywhere

Today at the Portable Media Expo and Podcasting Conference in Ontario, Calif., ARCHOS(R), Inc., the global consumer electronics manufacturer and leader in portable digital entertainment solutions, showcases two new podcast and videoblog devices aimed at consumers who want not only to play back audio and video content, but create personal feeds as well. The new Gmini(TM) 402 Camcorder and AV 500 Mobile Digital Video Recorder with video capture accessory are the first portable media players to provide audio and video recording, editing and playback functionality directly on the device. The Gmini 402 Camcorder features a 20GB hard drive while the AV 500 is offered in 30GB or 100GB capacities and both are available today.

The sleek and slim Gmini 402 Camcorder is the first portable media player with an integrated camera and camcorder for capturing still pictures and video, making it the perfect device for those wanting to self-publish and syndicate personal radio and video shows -- podcasts or videoblogs. Podcasters and video enthusiasts can record up to 50 hours(1) of personal video or 650 hours(1) of audio. The Gmini 402 Camcorder measures only 4.17 x 2.37 x 0.69 inches and is 5.64 ounces, fits easily in a pocket and displays video on a bright, 2.2-inch color LCD screen. The AV 500 Mobile DVR features a 4-inch color screen and a hands-free camcorder accessory that allows for easy capture of everyday experiences, while both products enable easy editing of video files directly on the devices themselves.

Videoblogging, the ability to deliver personal video content via blogs, RSS feeds and emerging TV over the Web, is still in its infancy as video capture devices with significant hard drive capacities were not readily available -- until now. Analysts believe that videoblogging is in the midst of explosive growth fuelled by products such as the ARCHOS Gmini 402 Camcorder and AV 500 that empower consumers to easily capture, edit and share content.

"The Gmini 402 Camcorder and AV 500 with Digital Mini Cam are breakthrough products not only for ARCHOS but for the millions of consumers and businesses looking to create and extend their audio and video podcasts beyond the computer," said Larry Smith, ARCHOS chief operating officer. "ARCHOS devices provide a complete ecosystem for bloggers, by offering high-quality audio and video playback and recording at a time when consumers are increasingly creating content for the Web. We are excited to help people not only enjoy favorite songs and movies on their devices, but create and feed consumer-generated content to various podcasting, blogging and RSS sites."

Between 50 and 400 Hours of High-Quality Audio and Video Recording

With the Gmini 402 Camcorder and AV 500, consumers can record personal video in the MPEG-4(2) format directly onto the device hard drive. ARCHOS is at the forefront of developing MPEG-4 as the standard for video blogging, resulting in content recorded in the highest quality with the highest level of compression, and the ability to play back on the widest array of portable devices, PCs and Macs. As more videobloggers take advantage of emerging standards such as MEPG-4, the impact of consumer-generated content will find a larger mass audience accustomed to professional programming.

The Gmini 402 Camcorder offers five different video settings for capturing at various resolution rates, and houses a CCD sensor for recording in low light. For low resolution images, consumers can capture up to 50 hours(1) of personal video, with high resolution resulting in 13 hours(1) of video. The ARCHOS Gmini line competes in both price and hard drive capacity with the most popular digital music players, yet offers color screens, music and video recording, editing and playback, camera functionality, Microsoft PlaysForSure compatibility, PC and Mac integration, a USB Host port for transferring content directly to other devices, and a host of other features not found in traditional portable music players.

The AV 500 Digital Mini Cam accessory features a built-in microphone for recording up to 3500 hours(1) of audio and 400 hours(1) of video hands free onto a 100GB hard drive. The Digital Mini Cam enables high-quality video recording at VGA resolution (640x480) even in low light environments (1.0 Lux/F1.2). The Digital Mini Cam features a headband strap for attaching to a helmet, hat or head and is perfect for taking action video, such as snowboarding or biking, or professional activities, such as recording university lectures and military exercises. As a full recording device, the AV 500 includes video input ports that allow professionals such as broadcasters and camera operators to connect their own cameras and record hundreds of hours of video onto the device.

Pricing and Availability

The ARCHOS Gmini 402 Camcorder is $369.95, while the AV 500 Mobile DVR is $499.95 and $699.95 for the 30GB and 100GB models, respectively. The AV 500 Digital Mini Cam accessory is $199.95. All products are available today at www.archos.com and through select online and retail outlets nationwide. Additional product information and add-on accessories are available on the ARCHOS Web site at www.archos.com.