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Lately, Personal Video Players (PVP), which allow you to watch videos on the road in a device the size of handheld, have gotten a lot of press. One of the most eagerly awaited devices in this category is Archos' AV500, the sequel to popular AV300.

What sets the AV500 apart from other PVPs is that it will also be able to function as a PDA, as it will run Linux with Trolltech's Qtopia environment on top. This is the same environment that Sharp uses on its Zaurus line of handhelds, including the new SL-6000 series.

According to Trolltech, Qtopia is designed to provide and create graphical user interfaces for Linux-based consumer electronics devices. It uses a tabbed navigation system with icons and provides a full range of personal information management (PIM) applications, such as calendar, address book, note pad and to-do.

It also features productivity, email, games, Web browser, a media player (MP3, MPEG, and others), and a variety of utilities for personalization and extension, as well as a spreadsheet and world processor that are Microsoft Office compatible. Users can synchronize with either Qtopia Desktop, a multi-platform desktop PIM suite from Trolltech, or with Microsoft Outlook. It is up to Archos to put what Qtopia features it chooses into the AV500.

As a multimedia device, the AV500 will come with a built in hard drive. There will be two versions, one with a 20GB of storage and another with an impressive 40GB. As a result, users will be able to store and play up to 160 hours of video, thousands of songs (MP3s) and photos. The unit will also be able to play and record DivX and MPEG4 video at 30 frames per minute. It is slated to synchronize with Windows Media Player and support Microsoft DRM and video format (WMA and WMV9)

The device has a very high-resolution 704x480 pixel resolution display, higher than all PDAs on the market, which are just starting hit 640x480 VGA resolutions. There should also be an expansion card slot, as the company said add-on cards, such as GSM, modem Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth will be available. They didn't say what format these cards would come in.

Lastly, the AV500 can be used as a USB 2.0 host and will come with a TV cradle, which will allow it to be used as a Digital Video Recorder, like a Tivo, with Electronic Programming Guide functionality.

The AV500 should be available by the end of the year. The cost, size and weight of the device haven't been made available yet.