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stars
"still needs work" on by billg1969
Pros: big hard drive, small form factor
Cons: slow processor
Summary: While the size of this device is great and the hard drive space is appealing, I believe the technology of the processor needs more work. I do a lot of video compression for mobile devices and this device was less then what I would expect. My encoded MP4 files (which you have to purchase an extra plugin for $20 in order to playback) would loose sync very quickly. Before long the audio track would not match the video track. Yet, the exact same MP4 file plays back flawlessly on my Qtek s200 phone. I have no idea how this device has the processor power to play back DVD VOBs as is described in numerous places. Maybe other video formats playback better but MP4s not so good.
Updated
Upon further testing, it seems this device has been fine tuned to WMV files. They work great, picture and audio quality can be left pretty high and the audio/video does not fall out of sync. So, compress WMV files and stay away from MP4's for this device.
- 2 replies to this review
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You simply didnt know how to use your 404 and now that you are figuring it out, your 4/10 rating still stands. 404 Perfect? Absolutely not. But your review is unjustified.
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While Archos can be commended/criticised for providing/making you purchase the MP4 codec, THIS IS NOT AN MP4 DEVICE!!! This is a DIVX/XVID device, and THAT is why people want it. When transcoding is necessary, use the included software, or use a pro package like Total Video Convertor. The cinema/Mp4 plugins are CONVIENENT, but truly not necessary. There is 10x (easily) more DIVX/XVID content out there, and what MP4 content there is, it almost ALL started out as DIVX/XVID that someone transcoded to MP4. Downlaod an XVID/DIVX movie from bit torrent, copy it onto the 404, start watching. It's that simple.
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