Quite a bit went down before Creative decided to really fess up about its ZEN X-Fi (at least in the US), but if you've managed to resist the urge to believe this thing was real, here's the documentation you've been yearning for. The ZEN X-Fi (8GB; $149.99) and ZEN X-Fi with Wireless (16GB; $199.99 / 32GB; $299.99) are both being made official today, and while the latter is available now from an array of reputable e-tailers, the WiFi-less iteration won't hit stores until "later this month." You can also expect a ZEN X-Fi docking speaker station to emerge sometime this summer for $49.99. For those curious to see how this critter looks in the flesh (not to mention how it performs), head on down to the links below -- oh, and there's a video of the bugger waiting after the jump.
It depends on the video. Some xvid's work fine, others have to go through a conversion - usually due to the audio codec used. The included converter app is slow as hell, but I use alltoavi which runs a 22 minute vid in about 7 minutes.
Actually the Zen can play Xvid natively quite well as long as the resolution is at or below 320 x 240, Revision3's small Xvid format plays without trouble.
You gotta be yanking my chain. You paid money for a device that supposed to play XviD files and then you need to convert them into a special XviD file to play it. That seems a bit misleading to me. M-Player can play any XviD file I've ever downloaded so why is the Creative device being so picky? Do you think Creative will update the codecs in the near future?
I'm hoping that the iPod Touch will get a third-party app like Perian to allow playing of XviD and DivX files. I've got a Turbo.264 for file conversion to my older iPod, but time is still wasted doing the conversion.
all chinese pmps play xvid, rmvb (most popular) and flv (youtube) etc (without conversion of course).
SmartQ （智器） T5-II is pretty good one (the one i'm using), the only con i reckon is not wide screen... so Onda （昂达） vx767+ / vx777 or Ramos （蓝魔） V8 are good recommendations for wide screen lovers.
btw, Creative is just making me disappointed more and more...(Creatxxx is dead...)
I so want a Touch. I had an iPhone but got rid of it, before 3G. I still love that touch interface and want a Touch. BUT, I also like the camera and speaker built into the iPhone.
I'm hoping Apple updates the Touch with a camera. Speaker would be nice. I don't see that happening though.
....seriously. Can we just stop the "it looks exactly like by beloved iPod/iPhone" comments already? It's a good form-factor. Get used to seeing it around.
Same size as the cord that comes with the standard Zen right now. At first I laughed when I saw mine, but after using it, I love it. It takes up next-to-no room when I'm on the move, and the player is light enough that it can hang from it without worrying about it coming off or damaging either usb port.
It really is a good cable. I find it a hassle to use one of the more normal length ones with my laptop. And come on, we all have dozens of the long ones anyway.
OMG, only a 2.5" screen?! Oh hell no. I have an ipod touch, and yes i have to convert videos, but the screen size alone is worth it. I do like the idea of buttons, but touch screen would help. Price is not bad at all for mem size.
It says it has wifi capabilities, does it have a browser and do you surf "normally"? Also wish it was a2dp capable. I'm really thinking about it. I also wish the screen was larger.
From my reading up on this, I believe the Wi-Fi is for transfering files from one source (PC, another X-Fi, Zune, etc) to your X-Fi Portable Media Player.
I actually like this but the screen could be bigger. Also it says it is wifi capable, does this mean it has a browser and is able to surf "normally"? Also I wish it was a2dp capable.
The diference from the X-fi 8 gb and Zen 8 gb seems to be that the x-fi has a built in speaker and also plays music in higher quality or something like it.
the wireless capabilities are for transferring files from PC to the player and also streaming your music and photos to your player on your wireless network. (info from a review site)
Looks sharp and all, but I've been looking for a replacement for my 2G iPod Nano. I considered the Zen X-Fi, but for me I don't have the technology (X-Fi capable systems) to take advantage of it or a wireless media server to take advantage of it. So, I skipped it and saved money by getting a 16GB Zen. So far, I love it except that MOST if not ALL of the music I listen to is in iTunes formats.
I just purchased the 32GB X-Fi last week. This device is fantastic. The audio quality without X-Fi blows away any iPod I ever had or listened to. The X-Fi processing, through headphones (I use Shure ec5's) does seem to bring out addditonal sublteties in the music. I do use a UPNP media server, which is great for accessing music and files beyond the 32 GB on board. I also have a 16GB media card in the device, which I use only for converted video. For me, audio quality is the primary decsion maker, and so far, the Zen X-Fi is the best I have heard yet.
“While it's not exactly punching it out with the heavyweights in multi-room audio, the Mint Studio does certainly hold its own with many similarly-priced iPod docks out there.”
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posted Jul 14th 2008 10:41AM
I bought the ZEN 8GB hoping to be able to watch XVID videos.
Guess what, you had to convert them using a special app that came with the unit. Conversion times were slow as hell.
Can someone build a PMP that plays XVID's natively without conversion??
It depends on the video. Some xvid's work fine, others have to go through a conversion - usually due to the audio codec used. The included converter app is slow as hell, but I use alltoavi which runs a 22 minute vid in about 7 minutes.
The Creative Zen Vision: M could play ANYTHING you threw at it without conversion...
well ok not ANYTHING...but damn near 95% of anything i put on it didn't need conversion
I also hate how that's advertised, most reviews seem to ignor that with the new ZEN and ZEN X-Fi
go with any Archos or Cowon product. Archos does charge for some higher end licensed codecs, but not wmv, divx, or xvid
Actually the Zen can play Xvid natively quite well as long as the resolution is at or below 320 x 240, Revision3's small Xvid format plays without trouble.
You gotta be yanking my chain. You paid money for a device that supposed to play XviD files and then you need to convert them into a special XviD file to play it. That seems a bit misleading to me. M-Player can play any XviD file I've ever downloaded so why is the Creative device being so picky? Do you think Creative will update the codecs in the near future?
I'm hoping that the iPod Touch will get a third-party app like Perian to allow playing of XviD and DivX files. I've got a Turbo.264 for file conversion to my older iPod, but time is still wasted doing the conversion.
@Steffen
did you just break character there? weird...
all chinese pmps play xvid, rmvb (most popular) and flv (youtube) etc (without conversion of course).
SmartQ （智器） T5-II is pretty good one (the one i'm using), the only con i reckon is not wide screen... so Onda （昂达） vx767+ / vx777 or Ramos （蓝魔） V8 are good recommendations for wide screen lovers.
btw, Creative is just making me disappointed more and more...(Creatxxx is dead...)
Video isn't working for me. But it does look like a good alt. to the iPod touch which I'm about to order right now.
I so want a Touch. I had an iPhone but got rid of it, before 3G. I still love that touch interface and want a Touch. BUT, I also like the camera and speaker built into the iPhone.
I'm hoping Apple updates the Touch with a camera. Speaker would be nice. I don't see that happening though.
I get a message saying this video is no longer available.
Hmm, black front, chrome rim, silver back, black side buttons... I wonder what that looks like!
The last gen _________________!
The last gen Creative Zen!
Wow, what a surprise!
Oh please, not more of this "it looks so much like such and such" crap.
....seriously. Can we just stop the "it looks exactly like by beloved iPod/iPhone" comments already? It's a good form-factor. Get used to seeing it around.
Let's critique apple for a moment; Just like Porsche their fundamental design and aesthetics hasn't change at all in the last 9 years.
I am loving this thing more all the time!
You can already buy one direct from creative for $199.
http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=213&subcategory=214&product=17811&WT.srch=1
What ever resulted from that Daniel_K incident anyway?
The video isn't working for me either.
I want to know what the IM feature is like and it if has a browser.
You know I have to think that buying an old Dell X51V used for $75 and a really big CF and SD cards are a much better deal.
iPod Touch will be the new addition to my handheld gaming devices.
Zen X-Fi will be my new mp3 player. Farewell Zen 16gb, you served me well!
How is the 8GB non-Wifi version any better than the current 8GB Zen? It even looks a little fatter.
That's one short usb cord...
Same size as the cord that comes with the standard Zen right now. At first I laughed when I saw mine, but after using it, I love it. It takes up next-to-no room when I'm on the move, and the player is light enough that it can hang from it without worrying about it coming off or damaging either usb port.
It really is a good cable. I find it a hassle to use one of the more normal length ones with my laptop. And come on, we all have dozens of the long ones anyway.
OMG, only a 2.5" screen?! Oh hell no. I have an ipod touch, and yes i have to convert videos, but the screen size alone is worth it. I do like the idea of buttons, but touch screen would help. Price is not bad at all for mem size.
Now whether to consider sending back my newish Zen for one of these...
As long as the price tag isn't substancially higher I don't mind... Even if it is ten times uglier and the screen is ridicously small for WiFi use =|
anyone wanna explain to me what the X-Fi means? is it just better sound quality or what
wiki it, jeez!
It says it has wifi capabilities, does it have a browser and do you surf "normally"? Also wish it was a2dp capable. I'm really thinking about it. I also wish the screen was larger.
From my reading up on this, I believe the Wi-Fi is for transfering files from one source (PC, another X-Fi, Zune, etc) to your X-Fi Portable Media Player.
I actually like this but the screen could be bigger. Also it says it is wifi capable, does this mean it has a browser and is able to surf "normally"? Also I wish it was a2dp capable.
The diference from the X-fi 8 gb and Zen 8 gb seems to be that the x-fi has a built in speaker and also plays music in higher quality or something like it.
the wireless capabilities are for transferring files from PC to the player and also streaming your music and photos to your player on your wireless network. (info from a review site)
is the built in speaker loud ?
Looks sharp and all, but I've been looking for a replacement for my 2G iPod Nano. I considered the Zen X-Fi, but for me I don't have the technology (X-Fi capable systems) to take advantage of it or a wireless media server to take advantage of it. So, I skipped it and saved money by getting a 16GB Zen. So far, I love it except that MOST if not ALL of the music I listen to is in iTunes formats.
I just purchased the 32GB X-Fi last week. This device is fantastic. The audio quality without X-Fi blows away any iPod I ever had or listened to. The X-Fi processing, through headphones (I use Shure ec5's) does seem to bring out addditonal sublteties in the music. I do use a UPNP media server, which is great for accessing music and files beyond the 32 GB on board. I also have a 16GB media card in the device, which I use only for converted video. For me, audio quality is the primary decsion maker, and so far, the Zen X-Fi is the best I have heard yet.