Content is the future of the PMP market ! Though each brand has its own online store which can be browsed directly from the players, Apple and Archos have a different point of view on the subject.

Archos’ ’Archos Content Portal’ (ACP) has a wide partnership policy with content providers, which all have their dedicated area on the portal. Archos thus manages to cut down the prices of its players, since the partnerspay fees for renting their portal space.

Apple’s iTunes WiFi Music Store is a way to catch the customer and keep him in their net, since the AAC files sold there will only play on an iPod... Besides, being the leader of the online music store market, iTunes had to build such a mobile version of the store not to let the competition take over.

This mobile version of the iTunes store is quite similar to the original one. You may browse albums, artists, styles... Every item bought is acquired for ever, and is automatically synchronized on your iTunes. You may listen to 30-second extracts, or use the quite efficient research engine. The store offers the complete audio content of the classic iTunes Store, but no bideo or podcast is available, only music ! However, you may purchase the DRM free iTunes Plus music.

The ACP mostly offers video, though a few music partners appear here and there... For the moment the partners’ offers are quite empty which is quite distressing. Please note as well that available content may vary according to your country. The content hes been expected for a long time now and most of it is still unavailable. In some countries there is nothing at all that you can purchase !

 Winner : Apple (since the ACP remains empty)

 Score : Archos 5-4 Apple

 Next Article : Round 10 - Additional features