yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Gen9, Gen10 General] Deen0X:
nope, they don´t get in contact with me. i figure i'm a "persona non grata" for they.

i really want to help to solve this issue, because i have so interested on people to know this kind of devices. Im colaborating for more than a year with some chinese manufacturers (JXD, Yinlips), distribuitors and sellers of this kind of products, and i really think Archos may be a good introduction for most people that don´t know this kind of devices. I'm not a Archos-Hater, in fact, i like so much the archos devices (my favorite is Archos 5IT, that i have to play movies and is a little baby for us, my wife and me).

May be i have so much expectations about this device, with hope that Archos solve many problems we found on other devices that i tested until now. (i have the fortune of testing the major part of the most important android gaming devices until now) and may be i'm a little (so much really) dissapointed about the product.

I hope Archos will give us an aswer to keep calm and trust of many users and potential customers on his products.

And i offered to them my help on any thing i can do. I have so much experience testing this kind of devices and is too easy for me to found problems. in fact, i found more "things" of the device, all software related, but i don´t posted videos of this, waiting for any answer from Archos.

But i want to release my review this weekend, and i use all these videos to show pros and cons of the device (all devices have pros and cons).

The device is not bad. is a good device for most "casual" gamers, but for hardcore gamers (or at last, for me) there are many problems that get this device as uncomfortable to use, but i still have some hope that Archos will fix this.

if i have any news i post here for your info.

greetings!
[Gen9, Gen10 General] jlino83:
I get you..

Yesterday I "threw" the gamepad at a a friend of mine. He is a gamer.. On his TopTen you can find Metal Gear Solid for the PSOne. I set the hole thing up, start the game and gave the gamepad to him. It was almost instant..he knew there was something off. From there to pinpointing the problem it was about 30 seconds. The obvious solution was the nub, which he used throughout gameplay.

This has to be fixed..
[Gen9, Gen10 General] Jonnyapps:
I am still in communication with Archos although I haven't heard back for a couple of days.

I am confident they are keen to resolve any problems based on the email I have had from them.

It doesn't make sense to bombard them with emails which is why I am patiently pursuing one avenue of enquiry with one member of staff at Archos. He's probably busy tackling 100 other discussions with other people about their whole range of products or maybe he's just had a day off work.

Amongst the other issues I will be raising with them, over time, once each issue is suitably discussed, is the following:

- I get flickering at the bottom of the screen

- The game mapping software causes the 'back' button in games to not work

- The game mapping software causes games to lag when the analog nubs are used

- Holding R1 causes the down button on the D-Pad to stop working

If people have other issues to put forward please let me know. By all means contact Archos yourself if you feel it would be a better way of getting answers.

For what it's worth I don't think the DPAD is particularly viable for fighting games, even if the buttons did work successfully, as it is not a unified pad and the buttons are too far apart and too difficult to press rapidly. To counter this I map the left analog stick to the DPAD and it works very suitably for myself in MAME (Marvel Vs Capcom) as well as on SNES/GBA/PS1 games (Link to the Past/Minish Cap/Metal Gear Solid).
[Gen9, Gen10 General] jlino83:
I understand that it would be more productive to streamline the "issues". Nevertheless, if it is not done both ways you get some people in the dark...like me. Because of this:

I asked for an answer on the facebook page of Archos and got this:

"Ladies'n Gentlemen, Jon Appleyard, Cristian Mateu Gomez thank you for your feedback, we are looking into the overlapping."
[Gen9, Gen10 General] Deen0X:
well. this is something

about issues, jonny, i found some things.

- when using the mapping tool, i get freeze the devices almost 3 times yesterday. i don´t have a specific clue, but was when i trying to setup the start button (i think)

- I get some "ghost buttons" when using mapping tool. When i opened the tool, i put a stick on the screen but the tool don´t let me to work on it (to configure), then when i press "play", this button still on the screen, and now let me to configure (but never react really). I must reset to get them out.

- I see a problem that other users reports too. When i use a sdcard, the system turn unstable, laggy. closing apps can take more than 30 seconds in some times (apps such system settings).

I tested many SDCards, all class10, with sizes of 8, 16 and 32GBs. I feel that the 8GB sdcard works well, but system still lagging.

because i'm not root of the device, cannot get more info/testing to determine the problem, but talking with some android scenners, they comment to me that may be the governor used may cause this behavior (the governor is interactive)

and there is a most common problem with the mapping tool present on other similar software such Gamekeyboard, USB/BT Center Joystick, Sixaxis controller, and similar. on games that don´t have native support for joystick such Modern Combat 3, Nova 3, we can map onscreen buttons with mapping tool. until here all is ok.

the problem is, games such Nova3 uses dynamic virtual stick, this means, when you move a stick, the first point (when you touch the screen) is the center of the screen. If you emulate this, when you move the analog stick of the device quickly, the system don´t register the complete move, and only register the final point of this, and understand this as the center of the virtual stick, but you have your stick at the border of his movement.

i think the solution for this is enabling a option of the mapping tool that set "always pressed" on the screen. then, stick always press the center of the virtual joystick. and register correctly the movement when stick is moved, inclusive when users move quiclky from the center to the border.

i'm trying to upload a video to show this behavior and explainme better (apologize again for my english). I must be clear this is not a real error of the device, because is a common issue on many software similar (as i said, Gamekeyboard, USB/BT Joystick Center, Sixaxis, JXD Mapping tool, Yinlips mapping tool, etc), but i think this may be "solved" to become many games playable. (yes, currently games such Nova 3, Modern Combat 3 and similar without native joystick support are unplayable with the sticks)

when i get more things to comment to you, i post here again.

edit: here is uploading a video showing the behavior of the mapping tool

http://youtu.be/TinRz6e87Ec

greetings!
[Gen9, Gen10 General] Jonnyapps:
I also have the 'ghost' button problem and the crashing problem. With Nova it worked properly (I think it depends on the control scheme you pick in the options) but Nova goes incredibly laggy.

With the general lag on the SD Card - I haven't noticed this but what I did notice was the NOVA3 caused massive system instability even when not running. I reinstalled my Gamepad and did not install NOVA3 again and the system runs extremely smoothly.
[Gen9, Gen10 General] Deen0X:
yes, in fact, nova run some laggy. i hope this night do some testing with the Nova version installed on any of my 5" devices (JXDS5110 or Yinlips G18A) and use these files on the Archos. i think can gain performance.

if i get root, i can testing with chainfire to down the resolution of the game... but i can´t get root...
[Gen9, Gen10 General] cajl:
Problem on some emulators OK

no problem with Android game

and i use also an external PS3 pad with usb !
[Gen9, Gen10 General] roger-cageot:
I heard Chainfire was not compatible anymore with Jelly bean... you should investigate before...
[Gen9, Gen10 General] cajl:
what is the name of your apk on your video ?
[Gen9, Gen10 General] Deen0X:
Multitouch visible test

https://play.google.com/store/apps/...vbS5iYXR0ZXJ5cG93ZXJlZGdhbWVzLm10dmlzdGVzdCJd

but you can test with any multitouch testing app on the market.

note: I have enabled the option to display the on-screen touch

go to settings->developer options->enable this options (up-right corner)->show touch inputs (or anything similar, sorry, now i can´t see on the tablet). this help showing where the tablet register inputs touches on the screen.

greetings!
[Gen9, Gen10 General] nubisde:
Could it be that there's a fundamental flaw in multitouch (on Android or in general),

which causes problems with the way that the button mapping works on Archos Gamepad, too?

On my Samsung Galaxy S Plus i've used the "Multitouch visible test" with two fingers:

I hold finger A constantly on the touchscreen without moving at all, then I briefly touch the screen with finger B for just a second.

I see two circles, one for finger A, the other for finger B, even if finger B is long gone.

Only if I move finger A a tiny bit, then the circle for finger B disappears.

My theory is that the Archos Gamepad mapping is too perfect for it's own good.

If the simulated button press would not just hit the same pixel constantly, but would "wobble" around that area a bit, maybe then the detection for the dpad would work better? Just a thought.

My Gamepad will hopefully arrive soon so that I can run a few tests.
[Gen9, Gen10 General] Deen0X:
well, this may be a fault on the touch tester. it only refresh screen when you do some moves.

i use this only as an example.

the real touch (the important for this test) are the white circles on the video. these circles you can configure on development options, show touch (or anything like this). these cicles are the operating system responses.

when you turn this on, use any software (such the proper Tool Maping from Archos) and show that you get.

If you wish, use any other software to test the button problem. doesn´t matter the program really. These are only useful to show that the problem exist.

The issue is real. Archos is working around this problem (they answer officially on facebook about this). and hope they found a solution for it.
[Gen9, Gen10 General] Jonnyapps:
Can anyone that has slowdown caused by their SD Card please give me the exact brand/size/class of the cards.

Can you please make sure it's the SD Card causing the problem and not something else (such as the NOVA3 lag I mentioned before).

Archos have requested these details.

I have also now been in touch with Archos about all of the problems mentioned in this thread. They have told me that one of the issues - lag caused by the use of the mapping tool - is already being fixed and an updated app will be released.
[Gen9, Gen10 General] Deen0X:
- Samsung MicroSD 32GB class 10 (the same i reviewed here)

- PNY 16GB Class 10
[Gen9, Gen10 General] Jonnyapps:
From further conversations with Archos today I believe they are looking into a software fix for the button issues. Hard to tell if this will be a 100℅ fix but it ought to stop the various issues around buttons not working when others are pressed.

I am not saying there is a solution, just that they are investigating.

The more important problem for me is how the analog sticks cause the whole system to lag. This occurs even when using a natively supported game such as Mupen64.

I believe ARCHOS are looking into this too.

It is worth remembering they swapped from ICS to Jellybean quite near the launch so maybe there were some problems caused by that which will hopefully get resolved.
[Gen9, Gen10 General] pgunning1:
Hi it'll be interesting to see where they are at with the next batch, had an email yesterday saying that the devices were ready to ship but came with a Euro charger and did I want to wait for a UK charge. I said ship asap as the charger it's of no consequence, I wonder if they have updated anything in the new stock??

Atb
[Gen9, Gen10 General] Jonnyapps:
Mine also shipped with a European charger although I was given no warning of it.

Let us know how you get on with yours but I would guess they haven't had any time to implement any new hardware and their mapping tool is on the app store so I would guess any updates to that would show up for all of us at once.
[Gen9, Gen10 General] Deen0X:
Hi guys!

Jonny, i keep testing the device based on some things you told me about you thinking overlaping problems of Up+Right may be a hardware problem, because you can get them to work if you press heavy these buttons.

as i said before, i get them to work too, but doing the precise streng on the buttons (not heavy, not soft)

i keep pressing many times these buttons (and "X") this last two days, simulating a heavy use of the device (yes, i pressed MANY MANY TIMES. i get my hand so tired now) and today i get a better response of the buttons (all, in general words)

i can do up+right with easy (more than few days ago), and now i get working A+B and X+A

Down + Right working too, but as i said before, only works the first time i press down, no matter another keys i press, if i get down + another key in a combo, down only works the first time.

anyway, today i can get down + right working together for more than 5 secs (before this, i get them to work only few times and get hem to work together only for 0.5 secs)

then, i can confirm that what you're thinking may be correct. The combo issue is hardware based, and can be "fixed" by doing something like a mod (the mod of DroidX360 i put as an example), or with a heavy usage of the devices.

for now, we have another problems and wait for any answer from Archos. The problems that i identified are:

1- overlapping of action buttons (A, B, X, Y). I can´t get any combination of 3 or 4 buttons at the same time .

2- Second time pressed DOWN in a combo get no response.

3- Slowdown of the system when using Analog stick (not only on Nova 3. The system slowdown with any app/amulator)

other problems i identified are related to the mapping tool, but i think these can wait for now.

if you want more info to give to Archos guys, let me know.

and... if you can... please, ask to Archos for a way to get Root on the device. is too necessary for many apps...

Greetings!
[Gen9, Gen10 General] Jonnyapps:
Hi,

Archos are aware of all of the problems you have identified and are working to sort them.

Last week I did extensive testing covering all possible button combinations and passed the results on to Archos who have now passed this on to their Research and Development team.
[Gen9, Gen10 General] jlino83:
Since you guys are talking to Archos, have you asked that if this turns out this is hardware related, are the devices to be recalled and fixed?

Apart from the issues I'm enjoying the device very much. But the fact that my game boy has better buttons, the screen doesn't seem to stop flickering and the mapping leaves buttons behind and

loves

attention (even though it was updated) is getting on my nervs to the point that I'm considering selling mine.

It's more and more looking like a hardware issue..I'm not modding it...is recalling an option?

---------- Post added at 11:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:57 AM ----------

Got an answer!!!

So far the word is:

This is either code for "shut up" or "shut up".
[Gen9, Gen10 General] el_brio:
I've been following this thread since the release. I was planning of getting one of these but from what I have read, it sounds like this tablet is pretty much unusable as intended. I guess I will hold out to see if the JXD S7300 suffers from the same sort of nonsense. How can a company invest millions of dollars on R&D and production of a tablet such as this and then completely mess it up? Just plain stupid I guess.
[Gen9, Gen10 General] xperiax10.awesome:
guys,

Should I cancel my order???
[Gen9, Gen10 General] jlino83:
As a TouchPad, for me, it's awesome! Great performance, hands down awesome. It has some software issues but all fixable, and not really a problem.

As a gaming device, for me, it's not what was promised. Guaranteed good fun, no doubt, but seems to have hardware issues that retro gamers may see as problematic. Casual gamers will have no problem with this I suppose..

Personally, I'm considering returning it, but haven't made up my mind. I'm still talking to them to see if the speech changes..I'll keep informing you.

EDIT: After talking to Archos about the origin of the issues and what is to be done about it, I no longer am considering returning it.
[Gen9, Gen10 General] Deen0X:
Hi guys!

i wrote a review for this device (in spanish, but you can use the translator tool on the page).

http://manguiro.blogspot.com.es/2012/12/review-video-consolatablet-archos.html

hope you found useful!

greetings!
[Gen9, Gen10 General] baladev:
So, it is possible to use analogue nubs instead of the d-pad? Which means there's a way around the d-pad problems, right? Can you use nubs for combined directions, like right+up?

Exactly my feelings. I had been waiting for this device since i heard about it, couldnt imagine they would screw it up in the unlikeliest of places, i mean how hard it is to get a working d-pad? We have been making them since early 80s, should be pretty good at it by now, one would think. Now i'm also waiting for the arrival of the JXD S7300, hope it has a bigger battery and working controls.
[Gen9, Gen10 General] Deen0X:
Yes, in most cases you can use analog instead of D-PAD

The main problem is there are some bugs with analog stick. When you use, all the system slowdown speed (turn laggy)

check this:

Archos Gamepad - N64oid (2)

I'm using analog until minute 3:47, when i start using d-pad

There is a big difference between the 2 ways of controls. first minutes the game lag so much and is un playable.

from 3:47 minute, the game turn playable.

I hope Archos fix this, because i think this is software related (driver?, operating system configuration?)
[Gen9, Gen10 General] jlino83:
Hi guys,

I've been in touch with Archos and their speech has in fact changed. Radically!

I was please to know that the problem with the buttons was something that appeared pre-release, accompanied by the addition Jelly Bean, meaning that in some of their test cases firmware diagonals worked well. The diagonals problem is firmware related and it not only can be fixed, it may have been fixed already, with the revised firmware still in testing. The guy from Archos I've been talking to said they now work in his device, that has a still in testing firmware. Based on that I don't see a reason to thing the same wont happen to the other issues.

All the issues this device has seem to be fixable by firmware update. And seeing this is Archos, firmware updates can be expected, a lot of them, many just to maximize the performance of their devices.

My fears have come and gone, the GamePads hardware does not seem to have hardware issues, contrary to my believe, and the software issues are being sorted.

I'm not returning my unit, no way!

---------- Post added at 12:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:15 PM ----------

I'm not returning mine, nor selling it. My advice now it: buy it, have a lot of fun with it, and keep it up to date for the issues to gradually disappear.

---------- Post added at 12:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 PM ----------

Will you do an english version? Google translate is your friend :)

---------- Post added at 12:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:36 PM ----------

As Deen0X said, yes there is. The great majority of time it's a great solution. And the nubs are quite nice!

I also have experienced the lag from the analogs. In my case I only noticed it playing Carmageddon for the PSX. Hope it is fixed soon.

This is not a d-pad. A d-pad is a disk where all buttons are connected, these are directional buttons. The directional buttons worked well in a non released firmware version, so rest assured they will work well again, in an upcoming firmware release.

I'm also curious about the JXD S7300..the thing about the GamePad is..support and service. Although I have to agree with you on the battery, even though it isn't a problem for me.
[Gen9, Gen10 General] xperiax10.awesome:
Guys,

Wat about the Gamepas as normal tablet, I mean is it butter smooth, browsing, youtube etc..
[Gen9, Gen10 General] jlino83:
Handles that well.

When I'm outside I always connect to my home server over VPN to surf the web and listen to music, both youtube and mp3. Does that with no problem. It can also handles 1080p video stream from my server, when I'm at home (my upload speed does not allow for 1080p over the internet).

I didn't bought it for this purpose, but it handles it well.
[Gen9, Gen10 General] pgunning1:
Does anyone know if any of the geniuses here or on other forums well have the interest in rooting this device. As the Asus padphone is too expensive for many to work on but as this is a cheaper and more interesting device will there be the interest??

Here's hoping :)

Atb
[Gen9, Gen10 General] baladev:
Thanks for correction..

I'm not so shure.. some of the problems described here seem to be related to design or hardware issues, which i don't think s/w update could fix, but let's wait and see, i would be happy if they could fix it.
[Gen9, Gen10 General] jlino83:
I had the exact same concern. I acted on it by contacting Archos, asking if their R&D dubed the Gamepad hardware as faulty the company would recall it, to fix it, or not. Many email exchanges after my first email I was told that although it might seem the issue came about for hardware issues, they had a firmware where that - the diagonals going in only at precise button preasuses - didn't happen. The firmware in question was dubbed not fit for public, for whatever reason, but still exists in-house.

I was also told the update that sorts this out is in a sort of "internal testing phase", and the issue seems to be gone. It's a matter of time for a fix to be made public.

Another thing I was told is that the buttons really do need to be broken in. Don't know why, don't care why..if it works..right?
[Gen9, Gen10 General] HD2_Noob:
Does somebody has a bad battery time on StandBy?

Overnight my GamePad lost about 50%, but it was just in StandBy, Display Off, Wifi Off, no running / latest apps.

I've also the Bug, that the Mapping Tool won't let me use the back-Button on Apps, the Mapping Tool just reopens itself, but i've already wrote that to the Devs.
[Gen9, Gen10 General] jlino83:
Mine seems to hold it.

I'll test that overnight thing and report back because I usually recharge it overnight.

The mapping tool still has bugs, even after the first update. I've also experienced that many times now.
[Gen9, Gen10 General] Jonnyapps:
I have just heard from ARCHOS that alongside the previously mentioned button fix there should also be a separate fix for screen flickering and, most importantly of all, a fix for the lag caused by the analogs.

Sounds like we will get these updates in the next week or two. Some OTA, some via Play updates.
[Gen9, Gen10 General] jlino83:
To me, those are the main issues. Awesome news!
[Gen9, Gen10 General] xperiax10.awesome:
Game data can be moved to sdcard???

from the Giant Killer Samsung Note 2
[Gen9, Gen10 General] Deen0X:
you cannot use sdcard because there is a bug when use any on the tablet. (if you insert any sdcard, the complete system turn laggy and unstable)

Archos is working to solve this problem.
[Gen9, Gen10 General] xperiax10.awesome:
****tttt !!!

Wat to do with 8GB then :banghead:

from the Giant Killer Samsung Note 2
[Gen9, Gen10 General] Deen0X:
simply install few games, play it, finish it, uninstall it, install another few games...

until Archos solve the sdcard problem.
[Gen9, Gen10 General] yousef8824:
does gta vice city mapping works???