Creative's 16GB / 32GB ZEN X-Fi PMPs now on sale in America

It's one thing to say "available now." It's another thing to give consumers a "Buy Now" button. For those of you anxious to plunk down a few bills and some spare change to bring home one of Creative's new WiFi-equipped ZEN X-Fi units, today's your lucky day. The 16GB edition is shipping now from Amazon for $199.99, while the 32GB sibling demands $279.99. Order away... or not, totally up to you.

[Thanks, Mickey J.]

Read - 16GB ZEN X-Fi
Read - 32GB ZEN X-Fi

[Joey @ Jul 16th 2008 7:57AM]

What is this crap? just get an iPhone/iPod touch that comes with better software!

[Oinquer @ Jul 16th 2008 9:12AM]

omg! shutup with Apple!....
UFf now im better...

[collegekid13 @ Jul 16th 2008 7:27AM]

can you stop giving steve job blowjobs every five seconds. seriously. not everything needs to be back refered to i this or i that.

go get your iPhone, iMac, iPod Touch, and then see how good they are in iRaq.

[koala72 @ Jul 16th 2008 7:42AM]

um no?
Not every post needs a Apple reference.

[Paul Dullford @ Jul 16th 2008 7:54AM]

No, the iPhone and iPod touch do *not* have better software. A better interface, perhaps. And, yes, they handle third-party apps. However, if we think about just the stock capability for a moment, the iPhone and iPod touch will not have better software until they support WMA, which is a pretty darned good audio format for something from Microsoft. Also note the lack of FM radio, memory expandability (which the X-Fi line has, with SD card slot), out-of-the-box wireless media communication with your computer, voice recording, and built-in IM. Plus, you pay $70 a month for an iPhone. And note that the X-Fi seems to have some sort of technology that improves audio quality to crystal-clear.
I agree, iPhone OS is superior to X-Fi OS in certain aspects such as interface, web browsing, customisability etc. However, looking at the media capabilities, X-Fi OS is comparable and even somewhat superior.

[tekdroid @ Jul 16th 2008 7:59AM]

Joey @ Jul 16th 2008 7:22AM
"What is this crap?"
----------------
http://www.creative.com/products/mp3/zenxfi/
An audio and video player anufactured by Creative, a company perhaps best known for its SoundBlaster series of sound cards and complete lack of modern audio codec support.
http://flac.sourceforge.net


"just get an iPhone/iPod touch that comes with better software!"
--------------
Congratulations. You are the first to mention iPhone. I will treat myself to the finest music management on earth: iTunes.

Thank you for your cunning insight!

[Kizorblade @ Jul 16th 2008 8:11AM]

As an Apple fanboy myself to the original poster:

Fuck off.

[zomg0t @ Jul 16th 2008 7:16AM]

What has become of this comment system!?!?
Even my post is worthless... :'(

[Homeboy @ Jul 16th 2008 7:19AM]

Very well priced for the capacity, especially the 32GB, hopefully 64GB will make it into DAP in the next 5-8 months. My only objection to the device is the small screen, 2.5 inches is very small these days which is why the device is going to flop. It's a shame Creative didn't make further use of the WiFi by installing cool apps like an RSS reader.

[Sarig @ Jul 16th 2008 8:17AM]

Will it flop just like Creative's previous players with that size or smaller screens?

If so, I'm sure Creative wouldn't mind it flopping, since that's a good kind of flop.

Not everyone wants a huge device in their pockets just so it can have a gigantic screen on it.

[CarrotAndStick @ Jul 16th 2008 7:22AM]

It has WiFi.



Can it do streaming radio like ShoutCast, Reciva etc?

If not, why not?

[Shoumik @ Jul 16th 2008 7:34AM]

looks pretty fly

[A.C.E.R. @ Jul 16th 2008 7:40AM]

for a white guy

[oluv @ Jul 16th 2008 7:54AM]

i would like to know what it can do with wifi?

what are the possibliites? i would also like to listen to some shoutcast streams, is there a way?

it took more than a year to get this feature on the iphone with apps like tuner or allradio, but both apps are still a bit buggy, one without any ability to control volume, the other one sucking the battery within one hour...

maybe creative did a better job?!

[Aoedogg @ Jul 16th 2008 8:14AM]

I'm not a fanboy,

but,

Steve Jobs is a cock.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jul 16th 2008 9:12AM]

Steve Jobs is a male human, not a rooster. Though he does have the tendency to crow and strut around a bit when he markets a successful product.

[Phonixfire @ Jul 16th 2008 8:18AM]

Does anyone know if this is drag and drop or if you have to use WMP to sync it? (looked up the 'System Requirements' on the Zen X-Fi's page, and it comes up with "Windows Media Player 10 or above").

I would assume that you can drag + drop, seeing as it takes SD cards and you can't really sync those, but still.

[disciple83 @ Jul 16th 2008 9:11AM]

I've had a few creative devices in my day, and they've all been drag and drop players, including the ZVM. The next gen Zen payer was drag and drop using it's media browser, and I would expect the X-Fi to be the same way. If not, it can still be synced up through WMP11, so it isn't like you're still tied to it's own proprietary stuff.

[Aaron @ Jul 16th 2008 10:09AM]

None of the Creative players are UMS. I have the last Zen, and it requires drivers to work in Windows.

So, it supports drag and drop but only AFTER you've installed drivers. Which sort of defeats the whole purpose. :)

[HeYo @ Jul 16th 2008 8:18AM]

How many times do they need to repeat Xi-Fi.

Just another come and go product from Creative.

[Conor Maher @ Jul 16th 2008 11:03AM]

Looks cool, Gonna sell my Zen to my friend and get one of these..

Really hoping for good Xvid / DivX support and the ability to stream video as well as audio over Wifi

[Darrel @ Jul 16th 2008 9:05AM]

I'll stick with my Zen Vision:W 's 4.3" beautiful screen w/30gb. I use my Tilt for speedy net access whenever, and my Zen for Family Guy in the car to entertain the wife, music to entertain me, or FREE movies on a hotel TV when out on travel. A shiny new Zen would be nice.... but not for a smaller screen+wifi, and not when mine's in mint condition. Can I get an Amn Brtha? (that other article today cracks me up, sorry)

[xValentine @ Jul 16th 2008 9:05AM]

Any Actual photos or reviews yet ?

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jul 16th 2008 9:09AM]

$279 is a good price for a 32 GB player. I do agree that I'd like a larger screen, but I spent over a year looking at TV shows on my 5G iPod 30 GB. I got used to it, but it's more pleasurable to watch show on my PSP. I'm sure I'd like it even better on a iPod Touch size screen. I'm sure the Zen X-Fi would be more than adequate. I don't mind loading shows using drag and drop as I do with the PSP. It's a fairly simple process.

[holycow @ Jul 16th 2008 11:01AM]

Why not add FLV capabilities and have a YouTube option as well ?

[klitorisaurus @ Jul 16th 2008 3:13PM]

Screw the player, are those wireless earbuds!?!
Real? Fake? Wires photoshopped off?
I want answers damnit!

[gad get @ Jul 16th 2008 6:56PM]

Not wireless, sorry. It's an illusion!

[joe blow @ Jul 16th 2008 3:57PM]

No browser? No streaming internet radio? No RSS reader? Just what is the wifi doing anyway?

[bob @ Jul 16th 2008 9:02PM]

Does anyone know if the speed of the UI improved from the Zen? because the Zen didn't please me in this regard.

[finnith @ Jul 16th 2008 11:54PM]

I had the Creative ZEN 4gb and it really disappointed me, hopefully this doesn't do the same

[Dr. Evil @ Jul 17th 2008 10:18PM]

BTW the 16 is $185 with free shipping right now at Newegg.

32 is the same price ($279)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=zen+x-fi&x=0&y=0

[brooklyn boogie @ Jul 24th 2008 11:19AM]

the wifi, from what i've read, allows you to add music wirelessly from your computer & allows you to use chat programs.

i had a creative pmp. i liked the form factor and capacity. it died. a premature and unexpected death.

i got another creative pmp. i liked the form factor and capacity. and the fm radio. it died. a premature and unexpected death

i'm not getting another creative pmp. Ever.

bullocks