At the Portable Media Expo and Podcasting Conference in Ontario, Calif., ARCHOS, Inc. showcased two new podcast and videoblog devices aimed at consumers who want not only to play back audio and video content, but create personal feeds as well. The new Gmini 402 Camcorder and AV 500 Mobile Digital Video Recorder with video capture accessory are the first portable media players to provide audio and video recording, editing and playback functionality directly on the device. The Gmini 402 Camcorder features a 20GB hard drive while the AV 500 is offered in 30GB or 100GB capacities and both are available today.

The Gmini 402 Camcorder features an integrated camera and camcorder for capturing still pictures and video, making it the perfect device for those wanting to self-publish and syndicate personal radio and video shows--podcasts or videoblogs. Podcasters and video enthusiasts can record up to 50 hours of personal video or 650 hours(1) of audio. The Gmini 402 Camcorder measures only 4.17 x 2.37 x 0.69 inches and is 5.64 ounces, fits easily in a pocket and displays video on a bright, 2.2-inch color LCD screen.

The AV 500 Mobile DVR features a 4-inch color screen and a hands-free camcorder accessory that allows for easy capture of everyday experiences, while both products enable easy editing of video files directly on the devices themselves. Videoblogging, the ability to deliver personal video content via blogs, RSS feeds and emerging TV over the Web, is still in its infancy as video capture devices with significant hard drive capacities were not readily available--until now. Analysts believe that videoblogging is in the midst of explosive growth fuelled by products such as the ARCHOS Gmini 402 Camcorder and AV 500 that empower consumers to easily capture, edit and share content.

Between 50 and 400 Hours of High-Quality Audio and Video Recording With the Gmini 402 Camcorder and AV 500, consumers can record personal video in the MPEG-4(2) format directly onto the device hard drive. ARCHOS is at the forefront of developing MPEG-4 as the standard for video blogging, resulting in content recorded in the highest quality with the highest level of compression, and the ability to play back on the widest array of portable devices, PCs and Macs.

The Gmini 402 Camcorder offers five different video settings for capturing at various resolution rates, and houses a CCD sensor for recording in low light. For low-resolution images, consumers can capture up to 50 hours of personal video, with high resolution resulting in 13 hours of video.

The ARCHOS Gmini line offers color screens, music and video recording, editing and playback, camera functionality, Microsoft PlaysForSure compatibility, PC and Mac integration, a USB Host port for transferring content directly to other devices, and a host of other features not found in traditional portable music players. The AV 500 Digital Mini Cam accessory features a built-in microphone for recording up to 3500 hours of audio and 400 hours of video hands free onto a 100GB hard drive.

The Digital Mini Cam enables high-quality video recording at VGA resolution (640x480) even in low light environments (1.0 Lux/F1.2). The Digital Mini Cam features a headband strap for attaching to a helmet, hat or head and is perfect for taking action video, such as snowboarding or biking, or professional activities, such as recording university lectures and military exercises. As a full recording device, the AV 500 includes video input ports that allow professionals such as broadcasters and camera operators to connect their own cameras and record hundreds of hours of video onto the device.

The ARCHOS Gmini 402 Camcorder is $369.95, while the AV 500 Mobile DVR is $499.95 and $699.95 for the 30GB and 100GB models, respectively. The AV 500 Digital Mini Cam accessory is $199.95. All products are available today at www.archos.com and through select online and retail outlets nationwide.