ZenVisionM
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Keepin' it real fake, part LXXXVIII: Zen Vision:M goes metallic
We're not certain who out there is looking to recapture the glory of the Zen Vision:M, but just in case you peaked in 2005, this little Chinese player might look awfully familiar. Apart from the goofy metal case and miniscule 2GB storage, it's a near perfect copy of the Vision:M, although something tells us the interface won't be quite as polished. You're looking at a 1.8-inch screen, MP3, WMA, WAV and goofy SMV video support, a voice recorder, and FM radio -- basically, every Chinese "MP4" player ever. Now if only they'd KIRF the Rio Karma, we'd be in heaven.[Via PMP Today]
Creative's TravelDock Z500 for Zen Vision: M/V Plus
The first pics of Creative's upcoming TravelDock Z500 have surfaced courtesy of the COMEX Convention brochure, with the unit looking a lot less like a lunch box than some of Creative's earlier TravelDocks. This one will rock support for both the 30GB and not-yet-released 60GB Zen Vision M players, as well as the Zen Vision V Plus with the aid of an interchangeable faceplate. As you can see, it also comes equipped with a handy remote control, and will obviously work as a charger in addition to pumping out the tunes, but it looks like we'll have to wait for the official announcement to get any further deets -- most importantly, pricing and availability.
Creative Technology introduces Zen Vision:W
Speaking of Singapore, Creative Technology officially introduced the Creative Zen Vision:W this morning. Of course, last we heard from this little guy was just a week ago, when Popular Mechanics called it the "best screen we've seen on a portable media player." Creative issued a formal press release earlier today, and now we've got some of those magical numbers to throw around: 4.3-inch screen, 16:9 format, can view up to 4.5 hours of video, carry 240 hours of vids, and hold up to 15,000 songs. Also, the Zen Vision:W has a Compact Flash slot (there's an optional adapter for other types of media), for direct transfer from a digital camera -- a feature that we'd love to see on other media players as well. It'll be presented at COMEX 2006 in Singapore starting tomorrow for S$649 ($412 US). Its big brother, the 60GB version, will be priced at S$749 ($475 US), but won't be available until the end of September. Also mentioned was the rumored size-bumped Zen Vision:M (S$599, or $380 US), which is now at 60GB, available for pre-order at COMEX and for sale online and in retail stores island-wide by September 2006. For those prices, let's hope that this new widescreen format really catches on, because that original Zen Vision viewing angle was really awful. Come to think of it, maybe we won't wait on that Singapore bureau, after all.[Thanks, Kai]P.S. - Sorry about that cruddy photo, we're waiting for nice, shiny press pics.
60GB Zen Vision:M shows up in magazine ad
The leaky ship that is Creative has already done enough rumor "confirmation" this week to suit an iPod fanboy for a good couple of years, but they thought they'd do just a little more by advertising a 60GB Zen Vision:M in the September issue of Maxim magazine. The only question now is not whether or not they're releasing a 60GB player, but whether they're going to wait until these things land on shelves before they actually fess up to the production of such a device by means of an official announcement. Try us, Creative -- we're all ears.Read - epiZENter [Via Anything But iPod]Read - The full ad at Image Shack
