Archos TV+ is a media extender that has features not found in similar products in the market today. For one thing, the TV+ has comes with a generous storage capacity of 250GB. Other features of note are the Internet browser and the DVR for recording TV programs. Among the downsides is that its user interface is old-fashion and sluggish at times. Out of the box, it also has limited file support. You’ll need to purchase extra audio and video codecs. Though the author likes the Apple TV more, he concedes that the Archos TV+ does the job it’s designed for and has more features than Apple TV.

In an effort to topple the reigning best digital media adapter for the living room, the Archos TV decided to take the capabilities of a media adapter even further. Aside from the usual video and music streaming, the reviewer stated that you can surf the Web, download premium content from CinemaNow, and record your favorite shows to its built-in hard drive. Setting it up will take only a few minutes since there are no software to install. Media playback on the Archos TV+ pales in comparison with Apple in terms of resolution. While the Apple lets you watch at 720p, highest resolution setting on the Archos TV+ is only 576p. The remote control that comes with the Archos is feather-light, though the reviewer stated that it’s confusing. Using it as a recorder worked reasonably well, but the recording interface is not very user-friendly. Though the Archos claims you can surf the net using the device, you still have to purchase an addition plug-in for another $30. Though the Archos TV+ does include everything but the kitchen sink, the reviewer stated that at its present form, the Archos is just a pale imitation of the Apple TV.