The Archos 604 is a portable media player with support for both video and music files. The 30GB hard drive of the 604 can hold thousands of songs and dozens of movies, all of which can be played back on an easy to use interface. In addition, the 604's LCD screen measures 4.3 inches, which is much larger than many media players in the same class.
Firmware
Archos will occasionally update the operating system, or firmware, of the 604. The updates often are made to fix any issues with the system or to make it run faster. Sometimes a new application is added to the system through a firmware update. It is important to keep your 604 updated with the latest firmware as it will keep your unit working at its best.
To check if your firmware is up to date press the button with the symbol of the arrows wrapped into a circle located to the left of the "MENU" button. The "Setup" screen will display. Navigate to "System" and press "OK" to bring up all of the information about your 604. Check the number next to "Firmware Vers.:" and write it down.
Open your web browser and navigate to the "Firmware" page of the "Archos" website (see link in the Resources section below). Select 604 from the drop down menu and compare your firmware to the latest firmware download.
If you need to update your firmware, download the file from the website. Hook the 604 to your computer using the USB cord supplied with the device. Once Windows recognizes the device, open "My Computer" and double click on the icon for the 604. Click and drag the downloaded firmware version to the "Data" file in the 604 directory. Close the directory and remove the 604 from your computer.
Turn on the 604 and navigate to "System Settings," "Update Firmware" and press "OK." The 604 will prompt you to reconnect the 604 to your computer. Once connected the firmware will update.
Using the Audiocorder
In addition to the music and video playback features of the 604, you can record audio on the device. This feature can be used for several reasons, such as shopping lists or an audio journal. The files can be played back on the 604 or exported to your computer. To record on the 604, navigate to the "Audiocorder" icon on the main menu screen and press "OK." The "Audiocorder" menu has several options for customizing your audio recording, including naming the recording, choosing the format and increasing or decreasing the sample rate, which increases or decreases the sound quality.
Press the "X" button to bring up the "Recording" screen and press "OK" to start recording. The sound is picked up by the microphone located on the left side of the 604. Press "OK" to pause the recording at any time and "X" to stop recording.
Reset
You may find that the 604 freezes during use, making the device inoperable. When frozen, the buttons do not work and the screen stays locked. There are several reasons why the 604 freezes, but the most common are an error in the operating system or a build up of static electricity in the device. To reset the 604 when it freezes, press and hold the "Power" button for 15 seconds. The device will be forced to power down. Once powered on again, the 604 will work as normal.
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