Creative hosting event on 17th, new X-Fi products expected

That's an honest to goodness media invite from Creative. The kind sent to tease us into attending product launches. So it's natural to expect something new from Creative when this thing kicks off on September 17th. Will we finally see the launch of Creative's long-rumored, and sorely-needed evolution to the Zen Vision or just more gear of notable sound quality but questionable build and interface design? We shall see.

[Thanks, Brandon L.]

[Homeboy @ Sep 12th 2008 6:04AM]

One thing I love about Creative's latest PMP/DAPs is that they support Divix/Xvid but sadly that's there the benefits end. I have yet to see any innovation from Creative, the WiFi in the X-Fi is about as useless as the one in my Zune 80. So I hope that what ever they have planned on presenting will be good enough to sway me over because I need an >€300 entertainment device with Divx support to compliment my Zune.

[zomg0t @ Sep 12th 2008 6:12AM]

I'm sure you can find a >€300 device that meets your needs... I'd prefer one for less though.

[Homeboy @ Sep 12th 2008 6:30AM]

Oh my bad. I meant to write one for less than €300. I've glanced at the updated iTouch but value Divx support since that's the format that all my videos are in.

[tomaskn @ Sep 12th 2008 6:34AM]

u know you can stream TV and music directly to your x-fi player from your computer right? i think thats a very cool feature

[eggothewaffle @ Sep 12th 2008 6:09AM]

...Now that's a pretty glaring typo.

*I kid, eye keed*

[Limp Man @ Sep 12th 2008 6:25AM]

Who care.......?
Creative sucks.
their customer support sucks.

[Kizorblade @ Sep 12th 2008 6:40AM]

Who know......?

[SaldoT @ Sep 12th 2008 7:13AM]

Could it be.... after all these years.. working Linux drivers for the X-FI?
Or is it perhaps.. after all these years.. fully functional, non bloated, drivers and utilities for XP/Vista?

I think the is saying something like "Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me 10 times, shame on Creative".

[r3loaded @ Sep 12th 2008 7:30AM]

Or just drivers, full stop? :P

[Chris @ Sep 12th 2008 7:19AM]

The worst pun I've ever seen. I hope the fired whoever pitched that.

[oneofmany @ Sep 12th 2008 7:24AM]

This add makes no sense at all. For what it's worth it could mean that they are reintroducing the X-Fi and that there are absolutely no new products. I doubt that's the case. If fact I expect them to introduce a bunch of pci-e cards that are going to replace pretty much the entire line up. I also expect them to show a refreshed versions of their iPod accessories and some of the other personal music player stuff. One thing that you are NOT likely to see is a completely new product as there is no market place for one. The spotlight will also stay on the new X-fi players which Creative believes to offer considerably better sound. The fact is that the sound is slightly better than the competition and there isn't full support for codecs such as Xvid. Oh and I won't even touch the far less than perfect design of the new lineup.

Oh yeah and there will be lots of speakers on display but ever since Creative killed the SoundWorks line those are of no interest to me.

[iEye @ Sep 12th 2008 7:51AM]

Heard?

Can you hear me now?

[Rene @ Sep 12th 2008 11:18AM]

I didn't get the drift at first but now think
it is meant to be read:
"Are You Here Yet?"
With "here" spelled "hear" on purpose

[bamboo @ Sep 12th 2008 8:45AM]

PLEASE let it be some good drivers for x-fi sound cards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rene @ Sep 12th 2008 11:17AM]

My X-Fi drivers work fine both in Vista and XP - dual-booting.
The latest X-Fi drivers and even the previous version are good.

[brad77 @ Sep 12th 2008 12:28PM]

Don't hold your breath.

[WilfordBrimley @ Sep 12th 2008 9:04AM]

Heard everywhere except in my PC. I yanked out the Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS about a week before the DanielK fiasco, when I discovered that Windows Vista service pack 1 refused to install until Creative updated their driver which they hadn't even touched in over a year. It's time we send a clear signal to peripheral manufacturers that when a new OS is released, pushing new hardware rather than developing bug-free drivers for older hardware negates the brand loyalty they think would lead us to buy their new hardware.

[CosterMonger @ Sep 12th 2008 11:20AM]

"send a clear signal to peripheral manufacturers that when a new OS is released, pushing new hardware rather than developing bug-free drivers for older hardware negates the brand loyalty they think would lead us to buy their new hardware."

that only implies to windows, right?

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=948343

Creative really has to get their act together, they are sucking the hind tit.

[granny down east @ Sep 12th 2008 3:25PM]

Right. I am sitting here with some very expensive legacy hardware and no Vista drivers.
Creative, you can kiss my brass.

[eiki @ Sep 12th 2008 9:11AM]

where's the bit about Sep 17?

[hfm @ Sep 12th 2008 11:20AM]

It's a re-introduction, call it the X-Fi Mojave .. the drivers aren't broken, you're just using the card incorrectly...

[Rene @ Sep 12th 2008 11:22AM]

They might have mistyped this on purpose when you think of it: hear - here
I wonder if that event in one week time brings is the zen internet tablet
http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2008/09/new-creative-zen-media-player-or-zen-interenet-tablet.php

[Hellaphunt @ Sep 12th 2008 11:53AM]

CREATIVE

I am Hard Everywhere.




Are You Hard Yet?

[Dorville @ Sep 13th 2008 9:48PM]

I heard everything.... I heard Squeal of death in my X-fi CARD!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH !LOL

[brad77 @ Sep 12th 2008 12:34PM]

As a customer for over 15 years, I have to say "who cares?" I'm done with that company.

My next sound card will not be from Creative. My near-top of the line Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro still doesn't work right.

I feel sorry for all of those current gen X-Fi users out there. If past history holds true, they are about to be left in a cold, dark place.

[Jan @ Sep 12th 2008 12:55PM]

A friend at a local computer shop tells me its going to be a new ExpressCard 34 X-Fi soundcard. Apparently, Creative was showing the tech at a distributor show when my friend saw it a few weeks back. He said the picture looks like the part of the card with headphone out and mic-in ports that is about an inch out from the edge of the laptop.

The cool thing is that it has a built-in wireless transmitter so you can send audio files to transmitters around your home from the laptop. That sounds really cool (no pun intended)!

With the number of laptops being sold it only makes sense to update their one and only ExpressCard offering and give it more functionality.

I imagine its a condensed form of their Xmod wireless system in an ExpressCard format.
http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=209&subcategory=668&product=16186

[Alex @ Sep 13th 2008 9:50AM]

They spelled "here" wrong.

:P

[shaddix @ Sep 16th 2008 2:59PM]

I am hoping that its an expresscard thing. I want the price on the old one to drop!!