Archos GPS in-car holder
As shown: $129.99
See manufacturer site for availability
CNET Editors' Review
CNET Editors' Rating
- Reviewed by: Donald Bell
- Reviewed on:
The good: The Archos GPS in-car holder transforms the Archos 605 WiFi portable video player into a fully functional GPS navigation system.
The bad: Using the Archos 605 WiFi as a GPS system requires the bulky GPS dock, and the suction cup window mount and associated power cables are awkward.
The bottom line: The Archos GPS in-car holder is a great way to extend the capabilities of an existing Archos 605 WiFi, but the end result isn't as sophisticated or portable as many standalone systems.
The Archos GPS in-car holder ($129) transforms your existing
Constructed mostly of black plastic, the Archos GPS in-car holder isn't much to look at. The holder uses an adjustable arm and high-grade suction cup to attach to the inside of your car's windshield, while jawlike clamps keep your Archos 605 WiFi secured. Powering the Archos GPS in-car holder ... Expand full review
The Archos GPS in-car holder ($129) transforms your existing
Constructed mostly of black plastic, the Archos GPS in-car holder isn't much to look at. The holder uses an adjustable arm and high-grade suction cup to attach to the inside of your car's windshield, while jawlike clamps keep your Archos 605 WiFi secured. Powering the Archos GPS in-car holder requires an included adapter cable that runs from the side of the cradle to your car's cigarette lighter, which can be a messy proposition depending on your car's design. A second, shorter cable connects from the Archos 605 WiFi's dock plug to the bottom of the GPS holder.
Features
At first glance, the Archos GPS in-car holder may seem like a glorified suction cup, but its built-in GPS antenna offers the only way to add in-car navigation to your Archos 605 WiFi. Unfortunately, requiring a bulky dock attachment to turn the Archos 605 WiFi into a GPS receiver makes it a poor choice for those whose navigation needs extend beyond the car.
If you can accept its in-car limitations, the Archos 605 WiFi's large 4.25-inch antiglare touch screen is a natural fit for a navigation system, and GPS-enabled features such as 3D maps (courtesy of TeleAtlas), searchable points of interest, spoken turn-by-turn directions, and saved locations, are every bit as good as many of the modest systems offered by Garmin or Magellan. You won't see advanced features such as Bluetooth call handling or voice recognition on the GPS-enabled Archos 605 WiFi system, but at this price, we were more than happy with the options offered.
The best argument for using an Archos 605 WiFi as an in-car GPS system is its secondary use as entertainment for bored passengers. With or without the Archos GPS holder, having a 605 WiFi handy is great for watching movies, listening to music, playing games, and browsing the Internet--features that standalone GPS devices include in a more limited scope.
Donald Bell is CNET's senior editor for tablets and portable media players. He's also a musician, a hardware hacker, and a collector of vintage audio gadgetry. He appears every week on CNET's Crave video podcast. His band, Aloha Screwdriver, plays regularly around the Bay Area.
User Reviews
See all user reviewsMost recent user reviews
Showing 3 of 6 reviews
"worked out of the box?" By piwired
Pros: Easy to set up and get working, I like the functionality
Cons: lousy customer service
Summary: activation codes, phone calls plus wait time to technical support, then it was up and running
"so far so good, been using for 1 day, no problems" By pip123555
Pros: Like that I can extend the use of my 605. The screen is a good size, easy to see. directions are clear and easy to follow. Easy to set up and get working. easy to use. automatically switches to 'night' mode at dusk. beeps at me if I'm speeding.
Cons: Dislike the fact that the GPS has to be plugged in to the car to access the GPS functionality. All route inputting has to be done in the car rather than sitting at home to load routes.
Summary: Overall I like the functionality, the product installed straight from the box without any issues, went to the car and installed it and was up and running in a few minutes. System recalculates the route you are taking quickly and accurately if you deviate. Have turned on the functionality where ... Expand full review
Specifications
See full specsQuick Specs
- Product type: GPS kit
- Antenna: Built-in
