Creative rolls out X-Fi 2 SDK, developers now free to craft games and apps

We're going way out on a limb here and guessing that Creative's X-Fi 2 doesn't exactly have an insane amount of the PMP market share, but for those obsessed with its boyish good looks and world-beating user interface, we've got some thrilling news to share. The company has just made public its ADK (Application Development Kit), a Lua-based system where devs are able to "code their own interesting applications and customize the ZEN X-Fi 2." You're also able to "create and debug games and applications right from one's Windows PC," so any Mac loyalists in the house will have to fire up Boot Camp (or similar) in order to dive in. Hit the source to get your download on, and be sure to drop us a line when your riveting new title is ready for public consumption.

[Thanks, Gavin]

[RockNStuff Posted Feb 10th 2010 8:36PM]

Hey everyone and their mom has an SDK. Great time to be a developer, eh'?

[Evan Posted Feb 10th 2010 8:38PM]

@RockNStuff
Untill everyone and their mom pirates your hard work.

[RockNStuff Posted Feb 10th 2010 8:43PM]

@Evan haha, touche

[nelagster Posted Feb 10th 2010 8:41PM]

STOP YELLING AT ME!!!

[andrewh12 Posted Feb 10th 2010 8:44PM]

Oh, yeah, this is going to be huge. I mean everyone has been waiting for this one, right? (sarcasm)

I understand why they would want to try to build their own ecosystem, but do they really think they can compete with Android, iPhone OS, WinMo, Palm etc?!

Even Samsung's "Bada" is a waste of effort, they can't possibly hope to reach critical mass in competition with Android & Co. Why waste your resources like this [Creative]! It doesn't make sense financially.

[spade Posted Feb 10th 2010 8:56PM]

@(Unverified) This might be more of an experiment for creative, or maybe just to get people started developing for them. Once zii labs actually has a final consumer product they probably want to be ready, if they indeed brand it as their own instead of selling it off to other companies.

[DaHarder Posted Feb 10th 2010 9:11PM]

Question:

Will developing apps for the Creative ZEN X-Fi 2 do anything to make it's lethargic resistive LCD any more responsive?

If not... then what's the point of providing apps for a device with an (almost) unusable input method?

[einhanderkiller Posted Feb 10th 2010 9:24PM]

I thought X-Fi were Creative's soundcards.

[goke Posted Feb 10th 2010 9:37PM]

when will creative create a new mp3 player

[bulleys Posted Feb 10th 2010 9:39PM]

@goke

They have one, the zii, they just choose not to release it.

[goke Posted Feb 10th 2010 9:42PM]

@bulleys
I still have my 30gb zen vision m ....and would love to upgrade to a 64gb ssd creative mp3

[bulleys Posted Feb 10th 2010 9:51PM]

@goke
My wife still has hers too, zero problems in four years, they haven't matched that device since.

[DaHarder Posted Feb 10th 2010 9:57PM]

@goke

They have several new(ish) players... the ZEN X-Fi 2 being their latest.

Unfortunately (for them) no one in America really cares.

[goke Posted Feb 11th 2010 1:36AM]

@DaHarder
i also had mine for 4 years....and i'm aware of their new mp3 players...i'm looking for something with wifi+xvid/h.264 support+at least 64gb

[NYNY Posted Feb 10th 2010 11:03PM]

Sell a consumer version of the Zii Egg and I'll start to care about Creative again.

[Chaosdivine Posted Feb 11th 2010 12:55AM]

@NYNY (sorry NYNY, this is not aimed at you...but more at Creative)

No, just release ONE bug free product that delivers on the hype you created in your ads and support your customers after you've stolen their money...then we'll talk. Unfortunately for you myself and thousands of others in your forums, we hate you now...you've lied to us repeatedly and we're pissed. We want to see you rot in hell and go bankrupt for the world will be a better place without you in it. Stay far far away from Creative junk...I know I'll get flamed into oblivion for being this straight up but I don't care...read their forums...There are not too many happy Creative owners. This SDK is a world of hurt just waiting to happen.

[nowayman Posted Feb 11th 2010 12:22AM]

Junk.

[pika2000 Posted Feb 11th 2010 2:35AM]

Creative is pulling at straws. The dedicated sound card market is practically gone. Their MP3 player marketshare is going nowhere. Logitech is taking their speaker and webcam marketshare. I'm guessing Creative is still afloat simply because of their Zen UI patent. Really, I can't think of anything they make that are giving them consistent income nowadays.

[willowtwf Posted Feb 11th 2010 9:39AM]

creative is slowly dying. give the world a 64GB zii egg with android on it (scrap your also ran attempt at an app store, etc.) and maybe some market share will come back to you.

or, you know, do nothing and watch your company slowly fade away.