ARCHOS INTRODUCES THE GMINI XS 100 WITH 1500-SONG CAPACITY ON AN ULTRA COMPACT AND COLORFUL DEVICE
The Perfect Gift for Graduates this Spring, the Ultra Thin, 3-Gigabyte Gmini XS 100 Synchronizes with Windows Media Player 10 and is Offered in Black, Pink, Blue or Silver
IRVINE, Calif. — May 9, 2005 — ARCHOS, Inc., a global consumer electronics manufacturer and leader in portable digital entertainment solutions, introduced today the new Gmini XS 100 portable music player, with a range of colors, a significant 3-gigabyte hard drive and support for the Microsoft PlaysForSure program. The new ARCHOS Gmini XS 100 is the perfect gift for high school and college graduates, as the small form factor, four colorful options and entry-level price point make the Gmini XS 100 more compact and affordable than competitive devices.
The ARCHOS Gmini XS 100 is the smallest player in the ARCHOS line-up of portable audio and video products, measuring 3.6″ x 1.7″ x 0.5″, and weighing only 2.8 ounces. The Gmini XS 100 also features a 1.5″ gray-scale LCD screen and a host of benefits for students and graduates this spring, including:
Multiple File Formats: Store and enjoy up to 1,500 songs in a range of formats, including MP3, WMV, WMA and protected WMA music files;
Microsoft PlaysForSure Support: Purchase, download, subscribe or rent protected music content from PlaysForSure-compatible online stores;
Windows Media Player 10 Support: Automatic synchronization with Windows Media Player 9 or 10 for fast transfer of music;
Colorful Casing: Select a Gmini XS 100 in Black, Pink, Blue or silver to match your style;
Stereo Connection: Connect the Gmini XS 100 to the stereo and play music around the house;
Easy Music Management: Use the ARCHOS ARCLibrary to sort music by artist, genre, title and year, and rename, move, copy or delete files and make playlists directly on the device;
Icon-Based Navigation: Simple menus and a 1.7″ gray-scale LCD screen;
USB 2.0 Connection: Download content using a high-speed USB 2.0 connection;
File Storage: Use the Gmini XS 100 as a standard storage device, as it is recognized as an additional drive when connected to the computer;
Optional Accessories: Use an optional carrying case that connects to the belt, arm or slips around the neck, car chargers, and more.
“The Gmini XS 100 is an exciting new product from ARCHOS, and complements our line of innovative portable video, audio and storage devices with something even more fun and extremely functional,” said Henri Crohas, ARCHOS chief executive officer. “The Gmini XS 100 is the perfect MP3 player for teens and active people who want to take their music–whether recorded CDs, downloads or music services–with them wherever they go.”
Access to Music Downloads and Services through Microsoft PlaysForSure
Consumers can fill their ARCHOS Gmini XS 100 with up to 1,500 songs from their own CD collections or downloaded from the Internet. The new Gmini XS 100 is included in the Windows Media PlaysForSure program, where consumers can purchase tracks from several online music stores, including MSN Music, Musicmatch Downloads, Napster and Wal-Mart Downloads. Microsoft PlaysForSure support ensures easy integration with Windows Media Player 10, the ability to play protected Windows Media Audio files, and access to streaming and downloadable content from all PlaysForSure music services.
With the introduction of the Gmini XS 100, ARCHOS and Buy.com will launch and extensive promotion featuring an ARCHOS store on the Buy.com Web site, online and email advertising, and a free car charger/adapter ($29.95 MSRP) with the purchase of a Gmini XS 100 from Buy.com.
Pricing and Availability
The ARCHOS Gmini XS 100 will be available at retail and online beginning in June, 2005, and is priced at $179.95. The ARCHOS Gmini XS 100 comes standard with stereo headphones, a protective carrying case, lanyard, USB 2.0 cable and power adapter. Optional accessories include an audio cable for connecting to home stereo systems, car adapter, additional protective carrying cases, and a multi-standard power adapter for recharging the Gmini XS 100 while overseas. Additional product information and add-on accessories are available on the ARCHOS web site www.archos.com.
About ARCHOS
ARCHOS is a global consumer electronics hardware manufacturer and is the technology leader in the field of digital portable entertainment solutions. Committed to the most innovative technology,
ARCHOS offers award-winning digital pocket-sized products that feature audio & video recording, photo viewing, gaming, as well as other multimedia and productivity applications, for the enjoyment of the most exciting entertainment anywhere, anytime. ARCHOS has offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. More information is available online at www.archos.com.
1 One gigabyte equals one billion bytes. Formatted capacity is less.
# # #
The names of companies mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.
Contacts:
Press and Analysts: Samantha Steinwinder, SPR, 206-760-9809, samantha@steinwinder.com
Marketing: David Feldman, ARCHOS, Inc., 949-900-1903, feldman@archos.com
