Video: Creative Zii EGG gets firmware updated to 92.02, still looks pretty janky
By Laura June 
posted September 16th 2009 5:27PM
posted September 16th 2009 5:27PM
Creative's just rolled out a firmware update -- version 92.02, if you're counting -- for developers of the Zii EGG. The updates include adding support for media playback on the SD card, a 3D close line effect for when you're browsing in landscape view, plus a stretching effect for browsing lists. The sample shots taken with its camera look pretty decent, and in the video which is after the break, you can catch a look at both the close line and stretching effect -- the latter of which we think has some potential to be useful, even if it's all still looking a bit rough around the edges for now. Like we said, the video is after the break -- hit the read link for test shots.
I feel that this is looking rather promising, as far as I'm concerned, more variety is a plus. I've enjoyed Creative's products in the past and believe I can enjoy this one in the future as well.
lol the best way to get your comment up top and in front is to reply the first person. =P
i like android so far, so i can see something like this in the future for this thing. I just dont like plasma all that much.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRPr4K_mpkM&feature=channel_page
Guys, lets just face it. The Zune HD sucks, Apple's touchscreen players suck, and they will always continue to suck simply because they are nothing but a locked-down display device for the many music/video offerings they sell.
I'm not saying that the Zii Egg is going to be incredible, but it's definitely going in the direction that companies smaller than Microsoft/Apple should be going: focusing on the quality, stability, robustness, connectivity and codec compatibility of the end user device.
We need devices that offer:
- Open source OS with the ability to side load apps to even allow your choice of web browsers.
- Impressive codec support with the GPU muscle to playback stuff like 720p MKV and the like
- the latest in wifi, bluetooth, and USB standards
- an impressive camera with flash
and so on...
to Samsung, Creative, Cowon, etc if you want to steal Apple's marketshare, you need to focus solely on the device and let Apple/Amazon/Zune/BestBuy worry about selling them content.
@neo
... agreed 100%. I've loved my Creative Zen Vision:M for a couple of years now -- I haven't found anything better than the 60g version, even in Creative's own lineup. But Creative's interface for music, "zencasts", and other content was pretty dismal. I just used WMP11 to rip/buy/transfer. Manufacturers need to focus on keeping the devices as open as possible - and as compatible as possible with existing content management software. I get the razor-to-razorblades theory ... but I'm not sure anybody can topple iTune's existing catalog anytime soon.
i'm so excited. i just can't hide it. i know! i know!
Are you about to lose control?
LOOOSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEE CONTROL.
The term is clothes-line... as in the thing people used to use to hang clothes on... not a close-line
amen
lol close line. I was like wtf?
MCP says.. end of line.
Just when you thought people couldn't get more illiterate.
Oh wait, there's a way to go yet.
Come on creative, don't screw it up... that clothesline thing looks more like a technical showcase of a just graduated graphics programer than something rather useful... You have the potential, explode it please!
I own a Zii Egg, and if there are pics/video folders, browsing through them with the clothesline interface is much more interesting than just sliding the pics, as it adds depth to represent the directory structure
Or just copy Zune HD - it already exploded. Ignoring other's experience should be a deadly sin.
ello!!!!
I zont mean to zound bad, but iz this zupposed to be ze new ipod touch? It zure looks like. ze webzite name says it all. admit it you fools. Zune HD lookz awesome i muzt admit!
Zunnne!
Luzrs...
elmo!!!!
while this looks kinda cool, it looks completely dated even by the few seconds his personal Zune HD is on the screen. I know its an early build but I think the competition has already taken it to the next level while the Zii EGG is trying to compete with a somewhat dated UI.
Who cares, the plan is to run android. I don't think anyone who is interested in this device even cares about whatever UI Creative is trying to cook up.
what an absurd name- but it's better than "zune hd"- that just sounds weird.
I admit, I know almost nothing about the Zii.
What I do know, however, is that I struggled with Creative's SoundBlaster AWE16, 32, Live!, and Audigy for many years as a gamer--and that struggle culminated with Vista driver issues that were never resolved and a PCI bus latency issue that boiled down to Creative making a card out of spec; which ultimately would cause a computer to lock.
I was so pleased when Microsoft announced software-rendered sound in Windows Vista--I even gave Creative another shot, and the drivers blew it.
I am absolutely done with Creative. Never again.
Similar bad experience with Creative regarding a DVD-RAM drive I bought from them way back when (so were before DVD-R and DVD-RW). They gave me the ultimate run-around with drivers when it came to Windows 2000. First they promised Windows 2000 compatibility as a future add-on on their website. So I buy it and then the "future" turns to "never" and basically wouldn't honor god damn thing. I ended up having to BUY a 3rd party's software for $80 just to get the thing working in Windows 2000.
Oh and I've had problems with their soundcards as well.
Just a piss poorly run and managed company and I'm never buying anything from them again.
I'll even go so far as to say I've had numerous problems with their Mp3 players. I had the Zen (something; it was the one with the joystick and the four buttons surrounding it) and some cheaper, drag and drop to transfer files player. Neither one lasted a year. One would stop playing in the middle of a song because it lost power, the Zen's screen just stopped working after a few months.
Of course they were out of warranty by then. I think it has something like a 3 month warranty. Seriously, three months?
At that point, I vowed to never again buy a Creative player. I'll go back to a tape player before I buy another Creative player.
@bigjaydogg3
I guess you're not very careful about your stuff, because my Creative ZEN is more than one year old and still works very well. Anyway, the extended 3 years warranty at FutureShop was 5$ extra (peanuts), so I'm safe until then.
This needs a lot of work before it will get anywhere in mass market, however it does have a lot of potential.
Gah, this joke is getting so tired.
damn comment system!
yo Creative Zii EGG i'm happy for you and all and imma let you finish, but the Zune HD is one of the greatest PMPs of all time!!!
+1. Now go on Leno and apologize and almost cry.
Y'know, even after having seen probably three dozen of these, they aren't getting old yet.
I love it.
I like the sounds off this website... hmmmnn.
Yeesh... I realize that it's still in development but it's really looking like the hardware on that thing just can't keep up. I keep noticing big delays for actions and frequent freezing of the UI, especially during the clothesline bit. Speaking of which I hope they don't put that in the final product. I realize it's supposed to look cool but it just looks gimmicky and dumb.
Personally I find ze Zii Egg to be a ratzer run of ze mill device. Ze Zaid device zeems to be sluggish and, zudging by the tone of the prezenter, it lacks exzitement.
Im just zaying
I don't know if you realize this but that makes it almost impossible to read. I still have no idea what the first half of your second sentence says.
Zont mock my German Accent my friend. Or ill let ze tegra processor's loose. Die little zuman! Die!
You could have just said you like the Zune at the beginning of your statement and saved us having to read all of that.
Stop using the word janky.
Those of us who 'actually own' the Zii EGG fully understand that this is a Development Platform, and that firmware/features are still in their early stages.
What matters here is that the hardware is extremely capable, with stunning video playback, and top-tier audio reproduction, which all bodes very well for future 'consumer' version of this platform.
I completely agree. This thing will kick butt when released officially. I am thinking about buying the developers "EGG" just to have it early.
Let me get this straight: they had an SD Card on a media player. but it wasn't until firmware 92 that the sd card could be used for media playback?
Was it just an SD card container that played media? I guess they are saying that the SD Card bearing devices aren't out yet.
I think any media player that doesn't allow you to swap cards like this is hopelessly obsolete. Even the iPods. But that's just me.
Actually they managed to make a seamless integration of the SD card with the internal memory. This way you'll be able to browse both memory module at the same time (think of it like a sort of RAID 0) as if it was a single disk.
O.K. Now, next time make sense.
Be careful, your ignorance is showing...
Some of us have no concerns over whether this platform will be "big', which I deduce to mean 'popular', and are far more enthusiastic as to the potential of the Zii platform/processor, reveling in the fact that we are active participants in its development of something innovative and forward-thinking.
The only 'PAWNING' going here is Apple PAWNING your ability to think for yourself.
Keep Eating That Rotten Fruit... Just Be Wary of Choking On It.
Wow... what a winner. His mp3 player is much more common than mine, and therefore, the company he uses is DOMINANT and he has demonstrated his superior masculinity because he is somehow affiliated with a DOMINANT company.
Either that or he's proven that he's so passive aggressive and beta that he needs to hide behind his stupid little music player.
I wonder what Android runs like on that thing? A shame about the jerkiness, hopefully these sorts of issues will be addressed before a commercial release (if it happens). Still not sure what Creative are trying to market this as... a consumer device or developer platform? Because it has elements of both.
It is still in development, and they made a developer version (Egg) available prior the consumer version to help the developers to be more familiar with the environment and maybe have some third-party applications ready prior the official release.
I'm just glad to see someone else use the word 'Janky'.
Zune HD's interface is smoother than Kate Moss's legs...