Opera powers Web 2.0 and Widgets on the award-winning ARCHOS 605 WiFi and new 705 WiFi and Archos TV+
Oslo, Norway – 7 December 2007
ARCHOS, the global consumer electronicsmanufacturer and leader in portable digital entertainment solutions hasselected the Opera 9 SDK for Devices for its Generation 5 portable mediaplayers – the ARCHOS 605 WiFi, 705 WiFi and new ARCHOS TV+. With Opera’sfull-featured Web browser, users can enjoy access to all Web pages andadvanced Web 2.0 applications on the device’s high-resolution,touch-screen. The Generation 5 players also come Widget-ready with Opera9, giving users easy access to the content they want from the convenienceof the home screen.
Optimized for performance, Opera 9 is fast, reliable and also supportsadvanced applications including Flash technology, enabling users to streamvideos or music directly to their ARCHOS device from popular sitesincluding YouTube, Dailymotion and others – wherever they go. Whilenavigating their favorite Web sites, users can seamlessly alternatebetween viewing modes to see a site in full width or zoom into the contentfor an ultimate surfing experience.
Opera 9 SDK also provides the ability to integrate Opera Widgets -extending the device capabilities through standalone Web applications andenabling a more personalized browsing experience. Widgets for ARCHOSinclude instant access to services such as weather forecast, news,currency and unit converters and calculator. The popularity of Widgets hasgrown significantly over the past months. According to Jupiter Research,awareness and use of Widgets among online users, which was less than 5% inearly 2007, has now zoomed to more than 39% and 26%, respectively.
This growth has led software developers to create more fun and usefulWidgets that can run on any handheld device. Instead of coding for aspecific platform, developers now code for the Web. Opera will also openits Widgets community to ARCHOS users, allowing them to download andeasily create new Widgets.
“Our partnership with Opera helps turn ARCHOS portable media players intothe most advanced and compelling wireless devices available today,” saysHenri Crohas, CEO, ARCHOS. “From the Web browser for accessing the fullInternet in the palm of your hand, to the new Opera Widgets with instantaccess to popular Web content, we are continually enhancing our deviceswith the features that keep consumers engaged and entertained whereverthey go.”
“ARCHOS develops some of the most innovative products available toconsumers today. The ARCHOS 605 WiFi and 705 WiFi are incrediblyWeb-friendly with their touch screen and easy download of video content,”says Scott Hedrick, Senior Vice President, Business Solutions, OperaSoftware. “Opera and ARCHOS focus is the same – to provide people withthe highest quality entertainment experience on any device. Opera achievesthis not only with its intuitive usability and Widgets functionality, butalso due to the optimized Web browsing experience that easily adapts toARCHOS’ one-touch display.”
Availability
The Opera Web browser plug-in for ARCHOS Generation 5 WiFi-enabledproducts is available from www.archos.com for $29.99.
Opera’s Widget Community can be accessed on widgets.opera.com