ZEN X-Fi: more details with a touch of meh
By Thomas Ricker 
posted June 30th 2008 3:12AM
posted June 30th 2008 3:12AM
In case you missed it over the weekend, that's Creative's new ZEN X-Fi player with WiFi, instant messaging client, and built-in media streaming. Or so says EpiZENter. Why limit the device to just these capabilities? We're not sure, though we don't have all the details yet. Besides the built-in speaker, SD slot, FM tuner and voice recorder features we're now hearing that the player pictured will include "premium quality headphones" in the box and a battery rated for 36 hours of audio and 5 hours of video -- although it's unclear if that's with WiFi on or off (likely off). It'll also support MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, and Audible audio as well as WMV, MPEG4-SP, DivX 4/5, Xvid, and MJPEG video formats. Otherwise, it's presumed to be sporting a 2.5-inch display like its existing Zens in 8, 16, and 32GB capacities whenever it might feel fit to pop for retail. Ok Creative, you've got our attention again; not so much for this device as to the mystery of what the "ZEN X-Fi series" might have to offer. Go ahead, impress us... this might be your last chance.
when will creative realize that being competitive means have the same codecs as the cool kids.
We can all fit a lot more 160kbps Oggs onto the nand and sd than we can their beefy 192kbps sonic brother of an mp3.
Holy shet that thing is fat... and it has waaaay too many buttons.
Maybe if it was thinner, the screen was bigger and that was a touch strip...
All I have to say really, it looks like a fat Zen with WiFi shoved in, and it really shows...
this thing will fail, let me tell you why. every function described on the asian site is a function that the ipod touch either does or will do better after free apps install. this thing has no browser, and the messaging is t9 at best instead of a full keyboard. creative absolutely will not ever ever ever ever update their firmware to include any good or fun or new features no matter how much people scream for them. just check their forums. in a few months, the ipod touch will be available for just 199, and there will be no reason to consider it.
i really used to love their stuff, but there ignorance of their customers and stubborn refusal to perform any kind of innovative updates is what is killing them.
This produce appears to be very interesting. I have done quite a lot of research lately and have looked and MANY mp3 players (including some Ipods).
My son has an IPOD and I had to install ITUNES on my system to put my Rhapsody music on it for him. The ITUNE software is INDEED a resource hog (while running). It uses a very LOOSELY packed database that leaves a lot of garbage in various temp directories AND the fact that I have to use IT to port toons to the IPOD is one of the leading reasons I do NOT want an IPOD!!
The fact that I use my own software that I developed via C++ and VB may contribute to the fact that I consider ITUNES to be a BEAST. But the fact that I manage my own music and create my own playlists on the fly using MY OWN cryteria means that I will be able to move both MP3 files AND M3U files to an SD and play them directly in this play.
I was thinking of getting the 16G Creative ZEN until I seen the link for this. So I will wait to for it to come out.
OK, so my nickle's worth of thought turned into a quarter (sorry about that) but seeing the slams against this product that has not even seen the light of day demanded my response.
Lance