The full Google Marketplace with Gmail, Google Maps now works on Archos new range of Android Internet Tablets, says Charbax at ArmDevices.net.
It has been made available as a one-click installation file with the name “gApps4Archos.apk” in the ArchosFans forum by a forum user.
In this video of the Archos 43 Internet Tablet which retails at $199 (Amazon), G-Mail, Skype, Bluetooth speakers, 720p MKV high bitrate video playback and a couple 3D games on the HDMI output are demonstrated.
Archos announced five new tablets ranging from small phone-size devices with 2.8- and 3.4-inch screens to higher-end 4.3-, 7- and 10.1-inch tablets (pdf) this August.
All will ship with Android 2.2 “Froyo” and will include accelerometers, while only some have capactive touchscreens, front-facing cameras and 1GHz processors. But these 2nd generation Android tablets still don’t have Google apps included, says Carrypad.com. Instead of the Google Market, it uses the AppsLib store.
Google’s Android 2.2 platform, known as Froyo, has not been optimized for tablets, a Google executive told TechRadar. Android 2.2 Froyo operating system is not what Google had in mind for tablets. So far, Google hasn’t officially given the go ahead for any hardware maker to install the Android Market on a device that doesn’t meet the minimum requirements — a device with an accelerometer, WiFi, and phone capabilities.
That’s why the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Dell Streak both have Android Market access while the Archos 101 and Augen GenTouch78 don’t. The former have 3G modems and the ability to make phone calls. The latter don’t.
