Creative makes the X-Fi official, drops it with Red Cliff special edition

So here we have it: The Creative Zen X-Fi. Officially announced by Creative in Singapore, the X-Fi is what we expected: a Wi-Fi-capable player with Yahoo and MSN instant-messaging clients, 2.5-inch LCD, onboard speaker, SD/SDHC expansion, FM radio, voice recorder, and 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB flavors for the taking. In surprise territory we have a bundled pair of nice EP-830 earbuds and Creative's X-Fi Crystalizer technology. If that weren't enough, Creative spiced up the X-Fi's launch with limited-edition Red Cliff editions (pictured above). Along with the player's launch, Creative announced several accessories, including the TravelSound Zen X-Fi Docking Speaker System, Armband, Silicone case, and leather case. Still no word when we'll get our hands on the X-Fi here, but Singapore prices come in at S$229 ($145US), S$329 ($209US), and S$399 ($254US) for the various models.

[Thanks, yutaka]

[Kip HT @ Jul 9th 2008 10:46PM]

Excellent! The "Red Cliff" inclusion was the deal maker for me. Without it, I would have bought something else.

[Nero @ Jul 9th 2008 10:53PM]

Typing on that thing seems like a nightmare!

[Seth @ Jul 10th 2008 11:22AM]

Yeah it does - I cant say I like the design whatsoever - and what is with the screen size and aspect ratio???

However, expandable memory and Crystalizer are outstanding features.

I like the Crystalizer alot - I know purists knock it, but I just like the way my speakers sound with every type of music when its on.

[Bob @ Jul 9th 2008 10:53PM]

Dude, this is one hardcore DVD player

[Decoy @ Jul 9th 2008 11:01PM]

Don't forget Creative's lovely software. Cough.

[tojfs7931 @ Jul 9th 2008 11:12PM]

Is that supposed to be sarcastic? I hope so.

[Al @ Jul 9th 2008 11:11PM]

what your not happy with windows explorer so you have to downgrade?

[HalfJoey @ Jul 9th 2008 11:02PM]

When is Archos going to announce there 606?

[len @ Jul 9th 2008 11:16PM]

Sweet!!! I've been waiting for this. Count me in!

[ddub @ Jul 9th 2008 11:36PM]

LOL! I looked at this guy's comment history. His first post is a full sentence and subsequent comment gets shorter and shorter until this one. His next comment with be "eh".

[JQuilty @ Jul 9th 2008 11:39PM]

$254 for 32GB of Flash, X-Fi, and an SDHC slot? I was torn between this, a Zune 80, and a Cowon A3, but I think I'm sold.

[jason @ Jul 10th 2008 12:24AM]

isnt this like 2x as big as the Zune 80gb? i mean i bought my zune 8gb for the sole reason of sticking it in my pocket comfortably, i dont think i could ever get anything bigger.

[cyo @ Jul 10th 2008 1:29AM]

Huh? How is the this 2x the size of a Zune80 ?

[Rogue_Genius @ Jul 9th 2008 11:45PM]

Tom Jones?

It's not Unusual...TO BE A DOUCHE, on any post!

[Phil @ Jul 9th 2008 11:50PM]

If it has stereo condensers and 24 bit recording instead of the "voice recorder" which just sounds nasty, I'd consider it. I bought an x-fi a couple of years ago. The crystallizer is interesting but not suitable for all types of music. Its the kind of thing you tweak to suit the particular song, so on a portable device, it makes sense. I agree with previous comments about Creative's horrible software. It made my pc quite sluggish, even with non critical features disabled. I hate to think what kind of software has been bundled with this thing. Such a pity because the hardware is really nice.

I recorded both these albums through the x-fi and was really happy with the results.
http://amiestreet.com/atikakadisha

[MeatPop @ Jul 10th 2008 12:03AM]

Demonoid is now accepting new users!

[maff @ Jul 10th 2008 11:33AM]

epic win! just got myself 1!

[stickmanfc73_ @ Jul 10th 2008 12:03AM]

this things sounds hot but really, is it that difficulty to make a media player with a slide out thumb keypad?

[Shinigami @ Jul 10th 2008 9:13AM]

Would make it thick. The current player is thin.

Yeah, I'm sold too xD I'm currently thinking how to get my hands on 32gb version before August.

[Akshat @ Jul 10th 2008 12:07AM]

Hey Engadget, I don't know what currency conversion tool you are using, but it's pretty off the mark.

Here is it from XE -

S$229 - US$ 168.4
S329 = US$ 242
S399 = US$ 293

[Leejin @ Jul 10th 2008 12:09AM]

Wow....$254 for 32GB..that's amazing...

Anyone know of a better deal/player??

I'm in the market for a PMP that I can use for photography/travel..

Thanks.

[Phil @ Jul 10th 2008 12:44AM]

Have you checked out the ipod camera connector? It's very convenient and easy to use but only works with the older ipods. It saves carrying a laptop and turns your music player into a really nice high capacity hard drive for your camera.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301052

[Leejin @ Jul 10th 2008 1:31AM]

Yeah, I saw that a few years back and it seemed to work pretty well.

I'm just looking for something a little sleeker.

The Zen Vision W seems about perfect. I was just seeing if there's any alternatives out there.

Thanks for the suggestion and the link.

Any more ideas out there, I;d love to hear some...

Thanks,

[james @ Jul 10th 2008 3:00AM]

the zen vision W. i own one. it has a CF slot and you can use any old adapter for other cards or buy one from creative. only supports jpeg though. BUT if you take video, look at the video support, its great

[len @ Jul 10th 2008 12:09AM]

http://sg.creative.com/products/product_CreativeStore.asp?category=213&subcategory=214&product=17811&listby=

[Akshat @ Jul 10th 2008 12:11AM]

Hey Engadget,

I don't know what currency conversion tool you are using, but it's pretty off the mark.

Hate to disappoint the Americans here, but here it is from XE -

S$229 = US$168
S$329 = US$242
S$399 = US$293

[len @ Jul 10th 2008 12:15AM]

Oh, no it has a clock. Blame it on the influence of Apple. Still has FM, unlike any iPod.

[Sarig @ Jul 10th 2008 6:27AM]

My nearly 5 year old Zen Xtra has a clock. It's not really something new on creative players.

[Dr. Evil @ Jul 10th 2008 3:02PM]

wooosh

[caleb @ Jul 10th 2008 12:30AM]

I would be for this if Creative hadn't upset me with a warranty return I tried to make on 2 Zen Nano's that I purchased. They were crap, actually I purchased three, the first was faulty and returned to the store immediately. the others failed not long after.

I've purchased 6 different creative players. And I've encouraged a lot of other's to do the same. But after my experience with the Nanos and their customer service department I'm out.

[Scott @ Jul 10th 2008 12:33AM]

Its a very interesting MP3 Player, but I feel for everything it does right, it takes a wrong turn as well.

I love the high quality buds and X-Fi chip, but the numpad-like interface is confusing...

I love the added Wifi, but only using it for streaming music and Yahoo/Msn? (Although I hate AIM, all my friends use it, and although the screen is probably too small, maybe they could have fit mobile web browsing on it)

[Phil @ Jul 10th 2008 12:51AM]

I'm assuming the keypad does input like a mobile phone. Very time consuming compared to what most people are accustomed to from using instant messenger on a computer keyboard.
Hey, they should have added 3G and it could be the new X-Fiphone!

- yea, go ahead and dig me down, I deserve it -

[Dr. Evil @ Jul 10th 2008 3:03PM]

your wish is my command.

[Ryan @ Jul 10th 2008 3:28AM]

i wan a X-Fi without Wi-Fi, who will use this for MSN?

[kickenchicken @ Jul 10th 2008 4:15AM]

Ok.
so..
are some people kidding?
One of the most popular things this year and the previous year.
TEXTING. Do you honeslty think this is going to crash? No
it would pretty much be something the younger crowd would like (me)
or people that text. i mean who doesn't text? everyone texts now.
and if your a texter, you know that once you start texting, you get bettter and better, untill you can text pretty fast. like no joke, REALLY FAST.
just watch a teenager that texts a lot (most teens) and
watch our pretty little fingers go.
it gets easy, trust me.

So, its not really a bad thing, it was a pretty good idea, and I'm sorry, but those that are confused by the looks and navigation.
your stupid.

look at the damn images.
the keys that are used for navigation.
are labled.
and, its using the Creative interface, it can't get any easier..maybe.
theres lines connecting them. so it looks like a directional pad.
the extras are used for texting features. (IM)

[Phil @ Jul 10th 2008 6:31AM]

Yea, I was kidding. I even dug myself down.
I've been making trippy sounds with with Creative's EMU chips ever since the open source kx drivers appeared. I won't spam you with the link again, but if you happen to check it out, listen to the sounds in the videos and you'll hear the eax processor in its full glory.

[Sarig @ Jul 10th 2008 8:49AM]

Having seen a demo of the thing on creative's website, I now really do think it's a horrible design for text-input.

It's in landscape mode, like the photo in the article, so using both tumbs is right out. But it gets worse.

You get a standard phone-keyboard ON SCREEN and use the navigational keys to move on that, and then tap another key however many times it takes you to cycle through to the right character.

Now I can type like the devil on a normal cellphone, but I don't even want to try writing on something designed like that, it's like it's specifically designed to be inefficient.

[Shinigami @ Jul 10th 2008 9:24AM]

Sarig
You're right. Its absolutely useless. But I hope they'll get the idea when this thing hits the market and people DEMAND a normal phone-like keyboard, so they'll release a normal KB in a firmware update. At least I hope so...

[Rene @ Jul 10th 2008 5:00AM]

This is a very nice player,

I am not such much into texting myself but I guess it might be appealing to some.

I like media card slot and the fact they included (relatively) good headphones.

Usually with any ipod you are getting the shittiest earphones available. But EP830 are decent - it is a remake of EP630 earphones which are very good and practically identical with Sennheiser CX300 according to those who have owned both.

Overall seems like a well thought-out product with carefully selected accessories bundle.

[Phil @ Jul 10th 2008 6:16AM]

To be honest, I'd love one but cant justify a fourth pmp.

[Eddie Woodley @ Jul 10th 2008 6:48AM]

Creative X-Fi microsite:
http://www.creative.com/products/mp3/zenxfi/

[Schfelzerberg @ Jul 10th 2008 7:07AM]

If this actually has sound as good as their X-Fi sound cards, I'm sold. The Zen Vision had good sound quality. If I'm buying an mp3 player that costs a few hundred, I might as well pair it with good earphones. Makes for a good listening experience.

[Brad @ Jul 10th 2008 8:38AM]

is this replacing the creative zen, if not at least making it cheaper, if so, I've been waiting to get one of those for a while now...

either that or a zune. but i like the idea of flash drive and it seems like the perfect size/price combo for me

[Conor Maher @ Jul 10th 2008 12:59PM]

I hope they bring back decent xvid / divx support....

The ZEN has xvid / divx support but only for 320*240 files so everything has to be re-encoded, who the hell has 320*240 media :/

The ZEN Vision M supported xvid / divx at a max res of 640*480 and could scale any size below that to the screen...

My ZEN is a disappointment after having a Vision M for so long seen as I use it for video a lot

[Rene @ Jul 10th 2008 1:18PM]

@Eddie
thanks for the link http://www.creative.com/products/mp3/zenxfi/
did you see a competition in there?
A few ZENs up for grabs, I booked mine already ;)

[LOWEZ @ Jul 10th 2008 2:07PM]

Im thinking about buying Creative Zen X-Fi (32GB; Wi-Fi)

will this player have an audio video out so i can play thru my tv?

[Kris @ Jul 12th 2008 11:18AM]

Just boght it today in Singapore.

[Modex @ Jul 18th 2008 12:07PM]

sorry to say but touch screen is the way to go with pmp's these days