Archos Launches Video iPod Competitor

France-based firm Archos has launched its version of an iPod with video-killer, a range of portable devices featuring flash video and YouTube support.

The range includes the Archos 405, 605 Wi-Fi and 705 Wi-Fi and offer different screen sizes and capacities ranging from 2GB flash drives to 160GB hard drives.

Their introduction ups the ante in the portable digital media market, with the addition of Wi-Fi networking in the 605 Wi-Fi and 705 Wi-Fi.

They also introduce support for Flash-based video across the range: that last feature means users can view, download, store and play YouTube videos, for example.

In a stab against the Apple TV, the company explains the new devices also support wireless streaming of video and music content from the computer to the television.

"Our new line of portable media players provide the easiest access to content - and not just favourite videos and TV shows, but also personal and online video," said Henri Crohas, Archos founder and CEO.

"By working with Adobe to support Flash, millions of videos per day will be available to consumers wherever they go, or enjoyed from the living room through our players and DVR Station."

The products can access and download content from the company's own service, the Archos Content Portal, which offers television, films and music for direct download to the device, without the need for a computer.

The range also offers full web access using the Wi-Fi-enabled products using the Opera web browser plug-in. Prices for the new products start at US$237 and will ship in the U.K. starting in August 2007.