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Unlike most other touch-screen players, the X-Fi2 operates in landscape mode.
(Credit: Creative)Updated: September 2, 2009 at 11:32 a.m. PDT.
For those Creative faithful who were a bit disappointed that the Zii Egg wasn't launched as a fully baked-and-branded media player for the masses, the company is about to make it up to you. This morning, Creative unveiled the Zen X-Fi2, a second-generation device that adds a touch screen and TV-out capability to the already solid X-Fi foundation. The new player features a 3-inch, touch-sensitive, TFT LCD capable of displaying up to 262,000 colors, and by the looks of it, this new Zen carries over the excellent icon-based menu found on other players in the line.
At 4 inches long by 2.2 inches wide by 0.4 inch deep, the Zen X-Fi2 is quite a bit longer than the previous-generation model and more inline with the size of the iPod Touch, though it's still smaller overall. It also appears to offer some sort of home button, but we're happy to see that Creative elected to orient this player in landscape mode, making it standout from the touch-screen masses. In addition to the updated navigational method, the Zen X-Fi2 features direct TV-out capability, though you will need to purchase a cable accessory to take advantage of it.
Credit: Creative
Other than that, the features largely carry over from the Zen X-Fi. ... Read more
The Creative Zii Egg is officially announced, and Jasmine is very confused about the whole thing. Donald's muted attempts to offer clarity are unsuccessful. Also, the MP3 Insiders have caught wind of the potential new S-Series Walkman and are none-too-taken with the Disney design leanings. Plus, a dead-simple (and ugly) new MP3 player from Archos draws scorn, and Donald and Jasmine respond to criticism about talking about Apple too much...and then proceed to dedicate the last third of the show to iPhone apps and the potential for cameras on the iPod.
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The Creative Zii EGG in all its Android-loving glory.
(Credit: Zii.com)We knew Creative was up to something when that Zii Egg FCC application flew past us earlier this month, but we had no idea it would be this awesome, or this confusing. Turns out the Zii Egg (what an unfortunate name) is a multitouch-wielding, HD video-playing, dual-camera-having (front and back) rival to the iPhone and iPod Touch, running on Google's Android OS (see all the official specs over at Zii.net).
You can grab a 32GB model now for $400, but don't expect it to be fully baked. Creative is announcing this as a "developer edition" in the hopes that the Android community will pick up the platform and run with it. I guess it takes a village to beat an iPhone.
Adding to the confusion is the fact that we may never actually see the Zii Egg released to consumers as an official Creative product. The company is looking to sell rebranded Zii Eggs directly to other manufacturers as an OEM product.
For a company that's been trickling out half-hearted products all year, it seems odd that Creative would make something with such unprecedented appeal, only to lob it to open-source developers and slap someone else's name on it. Then again, maybe it's smart enough to know it has made a product that's potential is beyond Creative's capabilities to execute. If this thing ultimately becomes a phone (all the ingredients are there) Creative is likely just being cautious about entering the mobile phone market as a newcomer.
(Via DAP Review)
Using an iPod on a Mac is so simple--it's a little scary. With iTunes already installed on every Mac, a newly-connected iPod will just automatically soak up your music collection like a sponge.
But what if you want to use a non-Apple brand of MP3 player with your Mac? iPods are great and all, but they're not for everyone. Even die-hard iPod owners sometimes want a cheap little iPod alternative to take to the gym or hand over to a destructive toddler.
If you're a Mac user whose MP3 expertise begins and ends with iTunes, you might feel a little out of your element when it comes to syncing a non-iPod MP3 player with your Mac. To help you out, I've put together a handy video with some tips and tricks for getting most MP3 players to work on a Mac (sorry Zunesters, still no hope for you).
Jasmine and Donald bring the Sony X-Series Walkman into the studio for some hands-on analysis. Creative shows signs of life with an FCC filing for a new touch screen portable media player. Apple laughs all the way to the bank.
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Click the pic to be taken to Creative's Web site.
The image above pretty much says it all. Creative Labs is celebrating Christmas in July with deep discounts on everything from headsets to sound cards to MP3 players. It seems like nearly every gadget is on sale, with varying levels of "instant savings," but the big news to me is the 16GB Zen Mozaic for just $110. That's the cheapest I've seen for an MP3 player with that much memory, and the Mozaic is certainly no slouch in the features or sound quality department. For more information on this device, check out the full review at CNET Reviews.
Meet the backs of the Creative Zii and the developer-edition Zii Egg.
(Credit: FCC)A filing with the FCC offers some evidence that Creative has a new touch-screen portable media player in the works. Named after the system-on-a-chip processor Creative showed off during CES 2009, the Zii (and the developer-only Zii EGG) include music and video playback capabilities, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, and an HD camera on the back.
Little else about the player is revealed in the FCC filing, but it's pretty easy to connect the dots and see that Creative is playing catchup with Apple's iPod Touch. Creative is no stranger to playing second fiddle to Apple, but the company has no precedent when it comes to working with developers to create mobile applications (as the developer-edition Zii EGG model suggests).
Some speculate that the Zii will run on Google's Android OS, taking advantage of an established developer community. If so, Android seems to be iPod-killer OS of choice these days, as Sony has also announced plans to use Android in future versions of their Walkman line.
(Via EpiZENter)
After months of not even a peep from Creative Labs' stateside operation, I was starting to worry that one of my favorite MP3 player manufacturers had given up the ghost in the good ol' U.S. of A. Then today, an astute reader lured me over to the company's Web site with the following two screenshots:
(Credit:
Creative Labs)
(Credit:
Creative Labs)
So what's the deal, Creative? What dost thou have up thine sleeve? My curiosity has officially been piqued. I can only assume that a device being touted as an acoustic masterpiece that "you will want to wear" is some kind of ultraportable MP3 player. The image brings to mind a lipstick tube made to dangle around your neck. I'm guessing this little device will have no screen, a nonstandard user interface operated by twisting, and will be visually supported by a ring-like LED. Or perhaps it isn't an MP3 player at all. The item shown in the ad could just as easily be part of a set of headphones...who can tell for sure? The suspense is killing me!
(Thanks, Scott!)
Update, May 19: It looks as if the folks that commented below are dead on. The Creative teaser from yesterday was for the Aurvana Air earphones, as indicated by the e-mail screen grab below. You can pick up a pair for about $200. Stay tuned for a review in the coming weeks.
(Credit:
CNET Networks/Corinne Schulze)
In the world of MP3 players, not unlike the world of fashion, one day you're in; the next, you're out. If you're a passing feature fad, that is. While certain functions have gained and retained traction--playlist support, album art display, photo-viewing capability--many have fallen by the wayside. (Remember the micro hard drive?)
One such feature is integrated line-in recording, which allows you to record directly to the MP3 player from another audio source, such as your sound card or home stereo setup. Line-in has enjoyed brief surges in popularity since the inception of the MP3 player but is currently somewhat difficult to come across.
We're attempting to make it a bit easier by rounding up a few of our favorite devices that offer the extra. Some of the players even have a silence-detection feature that will automatically split tracks as you record.
Donald and Jasmine finally get their hands on the new Zen X-Fi--along with another new treat from Creative--and throwdown over the faults and virtues of the player. Also, find out the top 5 ways to discover music by only lifting a single finger.
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Episode 109 |
Donald Bell is an electronic musician, a veteran record store employee, and a fearless hardware hacker. He's also CNET's Senior Editor for MP3 and digital audio.
Jasmine France is CNET's resident digital audio doyenne, writing and editing product reviews, crave blogs, and feature stories on all things MP3. And if you need advice on headphones, she's your girl.
