Archos 605 WiFi review

Hard disk MP3 players used to be the only option for carrying around more than a few albums worth of music in your pocket. But with 4GB and 8GB flash players now common, they've had to up the ante.

Video is the name of the game with the high-capacity devices these days. Capacities range from the modest (30GB) to the extremely generous (160GB), so there's lots of space available for everything from your favourite TV programmes to film and home movies - and you aren't just restricted to video. These players will also play music files, display photos, and some can even record TV and stream media over Wi-Fi.

Archos has been in the PMP game right from the start, and it shows in the company's fifth-generation 605 WiFi. This player oozes quality, from the slim brushed-aluminium casing to the high-resolution 800 x 480 screen, and it's bursting with features, too. There's a kickstand for extended viewing sessions, a touchscreen for easy navigation, a Wi-Fi connection for streaming and even an electronic programme guide for recording direct from your TV or satellite box. The only catch is you'll have to pay extra to enable some features: you need a plug-in for web browsing and a docking cradle to enable TV recording.

Author: Jonathan Bray