From DailyTech: French hardware company Archos (EPA:JXR) is perhaps best known for in 2000 releasing the Archos Jukebox 5000, arguably launching the portable media player (PMP) craze. A year later Apple, Inc. (AAPL) would jump on the bandwagon with the iPod, a device that would overshadow Archos to the point that many felt the American company "invented" the PMP. By 2003 Archos tucked tail and abandoned the traditional MP3 player market, unable to compete with Apple. However, its products remained coveted devices to some enthusiasts, as Archos was about a year ahead of Apple in storage capacities on its PMPs.
Eventually the PMP segment would fade and Archos continued to tinker with tablet-style PMPs in the latter half of last decade. With the advent of Google Inc.'s (GOOG) Android, it saw a minor resurgence establishing itself as a top budget Android tablet maker.
Now Archos' comeback may be poised to enter a new phase. The OEM has announced an aggressively priced Windows Phone device -- the 40 Cesium -- and a Windows 8.1 tablet -- the 80 Cesium. It also teased at two budget Android devices -- the 45c and 50b Platinum -- and a budget 1080p Android tablet -- the 101 Oxygen. All of these devices carry elemental nicknames, with numbers reflecting their display size (40=4.0 in., 80 = 8.0-in., 101 = 10.1-in., etc.).
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