Archos Gmini 500 Series User Manual
Archos Gmini 500 Series User Manual

Archos Gmini 500 Series User Manual

Video player / music player & recorder / photo wallet & viewer / usb 2.0 hard drive
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1
ARCHOS
ARCHOS
MOBILE VIDEO RECORDER
MOBILE VIDEO RECORDER
™ ™
Gmini
Gmini
500 SERIES
500 SERIES
™ ™
Video Player / Music Player & Recorder / Photo Wallet & Viewer / USB 2.0 Hard Drive
English Language User Manual
User Manual for ARCHOS
Gmini
Version 1.3
Please visit our website to download the most recent manual and software for this product
2
Dear Customer,
ARCHOS
thanks you for your choice of this exciting Gmini
companion to your home entertainment system. You can connect the Gmini
photos or videos as well as connect it to your PC to transfer over your favorite photos, videos, and music onto
it. By connecting to a computer, you get the advantage of being able to download legal music and video content
from the Internet. Since it is a PlaysForSure
on the Internet. For more information about the PlaysForSure
This manual will explain, in detail, the functionality of your device. We have packed this product with many
functions and capabilities. The better you know how to use it, the more enjoyment you will get from it. Remember,
with the Gmini
500, you can...
• Play MPEG-4 SP & WMV video fi les* on the built-in screen, a television or video projector
• Listen to MP3, WMA, or WAV music fi les* or PlaysForSure
• Synchronize your Windows
• View JPEG and BMP digital photos and create slide shows
• Copy Pictures directly from your digital camera via the built in host USB port
• Store .DOC, .PDF, or any type of data fi le – it's a portable hard drive too!
2
500 series
device, you have a wide choice of music and video content available
®
Media Player music and video library to your Gmini
500 product. The Gmini
500 to your TV system to play back
program, see www.playsforsure.com .
downloaded music fi les
500
1
500 is designed to be the

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Summary of Contents for Archos Gmini 500 Series

  • Page 1 Gmini 500 SERIES 500 SERIES ™ ™ Video Player / Music Player & Recorder / Photo Wallet & Viewer / USB 2.0 Hard Drive English Language User Manual User Manual for ARCHOS ™ Gmini ™ 500 series Version 1.3 Please visit our website to download the most recent manual and software for this product...
  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    We wish you many years of enjoyment from your Gmini website www.archos.com to ensure that you get have access to our help line and to be informed of technical support and free software updates for your product. Wishing you the best Video, Music, and Photo experience, The ARCHOS ™...
  • Page 3 Synchronizing Music from Windows Media Comparison of Windows Media Player 10 to Windows Media Player 9 Transferring your CD collection to the Gmini Installing Windows Media ® Player 9 (WMP9) ® Installing Windows Media Player 10 (WMP10) MUSIC – Playlists Playing a Playlist Creating a Playlist Saving a Playlist...
  • Page 4: Intro - Buttons And Connections

    INTRO – Buttons and Connections INTRO – Buttons and Connections a On indicator b Hard drive activity indicator (read/write) c Battery charger indicator (blinks when battery is charged) d Loud speaker e Move UP (also increases volume during media playback) f Move DOWN (also decreases volume during media playback) g Move LEFT (also plays previous song or fast reverse through song or video) h Move RIGHT (also plays next song or fast forward through song or video)
  • Page 5: Intro - First Time Usage

    Power Connector (Use only the supplied Archos power charger/adapter) f Multi-connect jack* – for headphones, TV docking pod, FM Remote and AV in/out connections * Optional accessories such as TV docking pod and FM Remote are available for purchase from the ARCHOS INTRO – First Time Usage INTRO –...
  • Page 6: Changing The Interface Language

    Japanese, Simplifi ed Chinese, etc.). You can fi nd the language fi les CodePage_name.4FZ in the font folder under ™ /Data/Asian Fonts on the Gmini 500 hard drive or on the ARCHOS for example, you would like to have the Korean language display, then you would copy the fi le CP949.4FZ into ™...
  • Page 7: Video - Playing Video Files

    VIDEO – Playing Video Files VIDEO – Playing Video Files Click on the Video icon in the main menu, highlight the desired video fi le, and then click on PLAY/GO o. The thumbnail images on the right side will show you a frame from the highlighted video fi le (center) as well as a frame from the fi...
  • Page 8: Resume Function

    Auto Format Default mode. Adjusts the video size to best adapt to the built-in screen or television. Maximized Image Enlarge the image to fi ll the screen (LCD or TV). Sides may get slightly cut in this mode. Full Picture Format The entire picture will always be seen on the television and the built-in screen.
  • Page 9: Video - Creating Mpeg-4 Video Files With Your Computer

    If you have some video fi les that do not play directly on your Gmini Windows Media ® Player 10 (Available only for Windows XP) will convert your video fi le automatically when you sync the fi le that is on your PC to the Gmini You can also use the software MPEG-4 Translator included on the Gmini encode your video fi...
  • Page 10: Installing The Pc Software

    MPEG-4 Translator This program, developed by Archos, is a “Front-end” for the Virtual Dub program. It has a simple interface which you use and it then tells Virtual Dub how to process the video fi le. It sets all the parameters for Virtual Dub specifi...
  • Page 11 If the Gmini ™ 500 device is not listed, select “ARCHOS Default”. You will see a Priority box appear. This control is to allow you to select which feature of the video to be guarded. If for example you are re- encoding a video fi...
  • Page 12: Music - Playing Music Files

    MUSIC – Playing Music Files MUSIC – Playing Music Files When you click on the music icon in the main screen, you will be sent directly to the ARCLibrary. From here you can choose to either browse your music by the fi le system (Browse hard drive) or by music characteristics (Album, Artist, title, Genre, Year).
  • Page 13: Browsing Through Your Music Library

    ARCLibrary will put them under the category ( Unknown ). Audio fi les created with the Gmini ™ 500 from analog sources are indexed as Artist = (ARCHOS) and Album = ( Audio Recordings ). 500’s music library. It is a system ® Player...
  • Page 14: Playing Through Your Stereo System

    Playing Through your Stereo System Playing Through your Stereo System To play your music through your stereo system, you can connect your AV cable as shown. Playing through a Stereo system with an AV Cable Setting a Bookmark Setting a Bookmark If you are listening to a song, or perhaps a long recording, and would like to place a bookmark in it in order to pick up from this point at another time, you can use the Bookmark function.
  • Page 15: Music - Putting Music Onto Your Gmini

    Functionality Functionality Auto-synchronize the WMP library to ARCHOS Can synchronize subscription music (‘to go’ services) to your Gmini Carefree USB disconnection (no special green arrow unmount procedure) Will convert video fi les** to play on your Gmini Supports protected Internet video downloads ™...
  • Page 16: Transferring Your Cd Collection To The Gmini

    ‘ripping’. It is actually a re-encoding process, taking the CDA (CD Audio) format and converting it to WMA or MP3 format which the Gmini are many music ripping programs on the market, but ARCHOS you use Windows Media...
  • Page 17: Saving A Playlist

    when highlighting a folder, artist, or album. All the contents of the folder, artist, or album will be added (that is, appended) or inserted before the selected song in the current Playlist. You can jump back and forth between the browser and the Playlist by selecting the Focus buttons. A Playlist can have a maximum of 5000 songs.
  • Page 18: Music - Recording Music

    500 series, you do not need a computer to create digital music fi les. Using the optional multi- connect adapter (AV Travel cable kit P/N 500671, available at www.archos.com), it is possible to record from any standard analog line source (ex: HiFi system, Boombox, CD Player, etc) into a standard Windows either PCM (uncompressed) or ADPCM (compressed).
  • Page 19: Where Is The Recording Saved

    You can record from any line-level audio source to the Gmini a line level and not an amplifi ed signal (turning down the volume on the player will work if you are using the headphone out signal of your audio device). A signal that is amplifi ed too much will make for a terribly distorted recording.
  • Page 20: Music - Using Itunes

    . However, for Macintosh ® ™ , ARCHOS has developed a special i-Tunes ™ 500 hard drive or at the ARCHOS ™ will recognize the Gmini Attention ® (you can only create Playlists from songs that have been copied ®...
  • Page 21: Photo - Viewing Photos

    1 11 1 PHOTO – Viewing Photos PHOTO – Viewing Photos The Gmini ™ 500 series support the viewing of JPEG (.jpg) and Bitmap (.bmp) image formats. Progressive JPEG images or certain camera formats such as NEF or RAW are not supported. The Gmini resize the image to fi...
  • Page 22: Transferring Photos To Your Gmini

    Gmini ™ 500’s USB Host port and copy your photos with the ARCHOS MSC type camera, you can use a USB card reader and plug this into Gmini host adapter cable). Finally if neither of these solutions is available to you, you can always copy the photos to...
  • Page 23: Browser - Using The Browser

    500, it is STRONGLY ADVISED that you keep a neat and orderly fi le structure. Otherwise, you will be spending time searching for fi les and not listening or watching them. ARCHOS keep the factory created folders: Data, Music, Playlists, Video, and Pictures.
  • Page 24: File And Folder Operations

    Move the selected folder or fi le to the other pane. The folder will be deleted from its current location. Copying and Moving Files and Folders By using the unique ARCHOS ™ double browser system, you can copy or move fi les from one location in the fi le structure to another (1000 fi...
  • Page 25: Using The Virtual Keyboard

    12.3 Using the Virtual Keyboard 12.3 Using the Virtual Keyboard It is recommended that you create folders and rename fi les or folders from your computer when it is connected ™ to the Gmini 500. The computer keyboard is much easier to use. However, at times when you are not near your computer and need to enter text directly with the Gmini this, the virtual keyboard screen will appear.
  • Page 26: Connecting/Disconnecting* The Gmini

    1 13 3 Connecting/Disconnecting* the Gmini Connecting/Disconnecting* the Gmini 13.1 USB Connection Type (‘Hard Drive’ or ‘Windows Device’) 13.1 USB Connection Type (‘Hard Drive’ or ‘Windows Device’) Your device comes confi gured as a Windows are running Windows ® XP (with Service Pack 1 minimum) and Windows Media ®...
  • Page 27: Disconnecting The Gmini

    13.3 Disconnecting the Gmini 13.3 Disconnecting the Gmini ™ ™ Windows Device Mode If the Gmini ™ 500 is connected to your computer as a Windows Device, verify that no data is being transferred between your Gmini fl ickering). You can now safely unplug the USB cable from your Gmini Hard Drive Mode If the Gmini ™...
  • Page 28: Connecting Devices To The Usb Host Port

    1 14 4 Connecting Devices to the USB Host Port Connecting Devices to the USB Host Port Thanks to the USB Host port, you can connect USB Mass Storage Class (MSC) devices such as many digital cameras and external hard drives in order to transfer pictures or data to/from your Gmini manufacturer’s information to fi...
  • Page 29: Play Mode Settings

    The Sound Parameters Parameter Parameter Description Description Volume 0 – 99 Bass 10 levels. Decreases or Increases the low frequencies. Treble 10 levels. Decreases or Increases the high frequencies . Balance 10 levels. Favors the right or left channel of the Stereo signal . Bass Boost 10 levels.
  • Page 30: Display Settings

    15.4 15.4 Display Settings Display Settings These settings regulate the interface language and the presentation of the screen. Setting Setting Description Description Language The Gmini ™ 500 can be set to English (default), French, German, Spanish, or Russian. Action icon notes Displays the explanation or name of the action icons when moving up and down through the menu.
  • Page 31: System Settings

    Parameter Parameter Description Description Power Off 1-9 minutes or Never. The number of minutes of user inactivity (no buttons pressed) before the Gmini off. During the playback of music or video fi les, this setting takes effect only after the fi les are fi nished playing. Backlight Off 10-90 seconds or Never.
  • Page 32: Updating The Gmini

    OS. To check what version you have, click on the Settings action icon and then go to System . You will fi nd the most recent version of the OS and its version number at the ARCHOS the download section.
  • Page 33: Replacing The Battery

    1 1 7 7 Replacing the battery Replacing the battery Your Gmini™ 500 has a removable battery. You may want to purchase a second battery for cases when you know that you will be unable to recharge your Gmini™ 500 before the supplied battery runs out. Refer to the chapter Settings –...
  • Page 34: Technical Support

    3) Look at our Support section on the website (www.archos.com). Here, you will fi nd Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for our different products, and there is a chance that somebody else has already asked your question.
  • Page 35: Troubleshooting

    WWW.ARCHOS.COM United States & Canada ARCHOS Technology ™ 3, Goodyear - Unit A Irvine, CA 92618 USA Phone: 1 949-609-1483 Fax: 1 949-609-1414 United Kingdom ARCHOS (UK) Limited ™ PO Box 1420 Southampton SO15 1WF United Kingdom Phone: +44 (0) 1264 366022...
  • Page 36: Charging And Power Issues

    Problem: (Hard Drive mode) What do I do if I try to disconnect via the green arrow but keep getting “The device ‘Generic Volume’ cannot be stopped now. Try stopping the device again later.” Answer: Shut off any program that might be accessing data on the Gmini this does not work, shut down all programs, wait 20 seconds, then try the green arrow one or two times again.
  • Page 37: Technical Specifi Cations

    Power source Rechargable Lithium-Ion battery External: AC charger/adapter. Use ONLY the specifi ed Archos adapter/charger supplied with this product. Physical Dimensions Approx.: 7.6 x 12.4 x 1.8/2.4 cm - 3” x 4.9” x 0.7”/0.9” ; weight: 256/312 g (slim/standard version) Temperature Range 5 °C to 35 °C running ;...
  • Page 38: Legal

    All brands and product names are registered trademarks and the property of their respective owners. Specifi cations are subject to change without notice. Errors or omissions excepted. Images and illustrations may not always match contents. Copyright® 2005. ARCHOS. All rights reserved.
  • Page 39 Any modifi cation to the hardware, software, or physical enclosure of the product must be approved in writing by ARCHOS™. Non approved modifi ed products are subject to the withdrawal of any or all guarantee clauses.
  • Page 40: Index

    The Product : The crossed-out garbage can symbol on your product signifi es that it falls into the category of electric/electronic equipment. Products of this type contain substances that are potentially dangerous to the environment and to human health. Therefore, you should not dispose of the ARCHOS electronic device in a regular trash.
  • Page 41 Codecs VIDEO – Installing the PC Software – MPEG-4 Codec (Compression/Decompression) VIDEO – Installing the PC Software – MP3 Sound Codec Compression VIDEO – Playing Video Files from the Internet VIDEO – Creating MPEG-4 Video Files with your Computer MUSIC – Putting Music onto your Gmini ™...
  • Page 42 New Playlist does not display SETTINGS – System Settings NTSC SETTINGS – Display Settings Operating system SETTINGS – System Settings Updating the Gmini ™ 500 Firmware/OS Operating system Version SETTINGS – System Settings SETTINGS – Display Settings Play songs randomly (Shuffl e) MUSIC –...
  • Page 43 Thumbnails VIDEO – Playing Video Files – Video Browser Action Icons VIDEO – Playing video fi les: Save as Thumbnail Time and date SETTINGS – Clock Settings Troubleshooting Version of the Operating system/fi rmware SETTINGS – System Settings Video fi le size and frame rates VIDEO –...

Table of Contents