Archos announced the TV Connect today with intentions to demo the new product at CES 2013 during the second week of January. According to Archos, the TV Connect with TV Touch remote turns any HDTV into an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean-powered Smart TV. The TV Connect enables users to access apps and play games from the Google Play store right on their television, essentially turning it into a giant tablet with tap, swipe, zoom, select and typing capabilities.
As for the device’s hardware, we’re looking at a 1.5GHz “multi-core” processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage with expandable memory via microSD card slot, mini HDMI-out port, microUSB port, ethernet port (plus WiFi), and an HD camera. The controller features a 5-row QWERTY keyboard, a gamepad with d-pad and dual-stick controls, and traditional Android keys (back, home, menu, volume -/+, power). We’ll be at CES to film a demo video of the TV Connect, but consumers can expect availability in February for $129.99. The press release, image gallery, complete list of features and product specifications are posted below.
Press Release:
ARCHOS Unveils TV connect – Future Ready your Existing TV – First and Only Multi-Touch for Android on TV
ARCHOS TV Connect features a multi-gesture TV Touch remote with game control mapping and an HD camera for video call
Denver, CO – January 03, 2013 – ARCHOS, a pioneer in multimedia portable devices, is pleased to announce the ARCHOS TV connect, the only multi-touch “Androidon TV experience” for your apps and games. The ARCHOS TV connect turns any HDTV into an Android powered smart TV providing the full Android ecosystem with a specially designed TV Touch remote.
The TV connect allows you to control your TV just like a tablet – tap, swipe, zoom in, zoom out, select or type. With the TV connect users will be able to play games, stream videos, video chat in HD, email friends or surf the web all from their big screen TV. The ARCHOS TV connect runs Android 4.1TM ‘Jelly Bean’ and will be available starting in February, 2013 for $129.99.
“As a pioneer in multimedia Android devices, we wanted to create a bigger, better way to enjoy Android,” says Henri Crohas, Founder and CEO of ARCHOS. “The ARCHOS TV connect provides users with a multi-touch, multi-media Smart TV experience powered by AndroidTM.”
Revolutionary TV Touch remote - A smartly designed remote for every task
- Pointer – Allows you to control your TV just like you would your tablet with a tapping and/or swiping motion
- Full multi-touch gesture support - Control your apps easily with zoom in, zoom out and rotate with ARCHOS developed unique gesture controls
- Full keyboard with Android shortcuts - The TV touch remote includes a full keyboard and Android shortcut keys including a key for voice controls and voice typing
Play Android Games on your TV - Critically acclaimed games at your fingertips
- Thousands of games available on your TV – Choose from over 700,000 apps and games on Google PlayTM
- Dual thumb sticks and buttons - Play all your favorite games with full gaming controls and dual analog thumbsticks
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ARCHOS Gaming Mapping Tool – Map the controls of games to the buttons and controllers of the remote for playing virtually any game on your TV – as recently introduced on the GamePad
Turn your TV into a Smart TV - Get a full web experience on your current HDTV
- Internet - Surf on the net from a big screen
- Online video streaming – Stream videos directly on your TV through YouTubeTM, Daily motion and other video applications
- Emails – Send and receive emails or share photos from your Facebook page with friends
HD video calls - Connect with a group of friends or family members on a big screen
- HD webcam - ARCHOS TV connect is equipped with an HD webcam for High quality video calling
- LED notification – LED lights notify you when you have an incoming calls while watching TV
- Compatibility with all popular video calling apps - Video chatting with Skype or Google TalkTM as a family from your sofa has never been easier
Multimedia Player - The ARCHOS TV connect includes the critically acclaimed ARCHOS Media Center applications so you can finally get control of your home media content, including:
- Best video codecs and format support - Read all your favorite video files with format and codec support including H.264 decoding in full 1080p HD
- Media Center Library - Tailor-made UI with automatic jacket, synopsis and subtitle download as well as library organization even for files stored elsewhere on your home network
- Easy home streaming - Stream your media content over your home network either through WiFi or Ethernet
- The right connections – Features HDMI (cable included), full USB host and micro SD slot
- Google™ Certified with Full Access to shop on Google Play™ – With over 700,000 applications, get all your favorite Android content on your TV including books, music, magazines and movies
Tech Specs
| Storage | • Flash memory: 8 GB* • Expandable via micro SDHC Slot up to 32 GB |
| Operating system | • ANDROID™ 4.1 “Jelly Bean” |
| CPU | • 1.5 GHz Smart Multi Core processor |
| RAM | • 1 GB |
| Interfaces | • HD camera • Micro USB port • USB host port • Mini HDMI output • Ethernet • Micro SD slot |
| Communication protocols | • Wi Fi |
| Miscellaneous | • LED notification • Microphone • Front camera |
| Dimensions | • 235 x 105 x 34 mm |
| Compatibility | • Microsoft® Windows® 7, 8, Vista, XP, or higher and Windows Media Player 11 |
| Computer interface | • USB 2.0 interface |
| Package includes | • ARCHOS TV connect, TV Touch remote, Power supply, HDMI cable, User guide |
| Requirements | • An HDTV with standard HDMI in able to display or scale 1080p |