SoundCard
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Creative reveals Fatal1ty-approved Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium
Considering that you've already spent way too much on that totally over-hyped Killer NIC, why not humor yourself further by snagging a sound card with Johnathan Wendel's prints on it. Proving once again that everyone does indeed have a price, famed gamer Fatal1ty has placed his highly respected seal of approval on a new duo of sound cards from Creative. The PCI Express Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series and PCI Express Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion Series devices boast the X-Fi enhancements you've come to expect, vivid new designs, unmistakable packaging and the assurance that the latter is the "official sound card of the CGS." As for pricing, the Pro edition is available to pre-order for $149.99, while the CGS model adds in an internal I/O drive and demands $199.99. Hit the read link for more detailed specifications and way too much gloating.[Via CustomPC]
Creative offers up USB-enabled Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1
Creative is stretching that X-Fi family once more, this time with its external Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1. The USB-powered device is apparently geared towards laptops (well, ones without ExpressCard slots) itching for surround sound, and aside from the unicorn-like 24-bit Crystalizer and CMSS-3D technologies, you'll find RCA outputs, an optical digital audio output, headphone out / microphone in jacks and all those X-Fi enhancements you're sure to end up overlooking. It's available now for the halfway respectable price of $59.99.[Via CNET]
Creative halts unauthorized distribution of homegrown Vista drivers
Chances are that if you do your duties on Vista and rely on one of Creative's sound cards to get your dance on, you may have become frustrated by the firm's inability to offer up a driver package that lived up to those loosed for Windows XP. 'Course, if that rings a bell, you're probably not too concerned -- you know, thanks to those unofficial (but totally functional) drivers brought to you by Daniel_K. Unfortunately for users suddenly excited to gain some extra utility from their device, Creative has hopped on the offensive and is forbidding said compiler from distributing the firm's technology / IP (not to mention collecting donations), and it's also scouring the 'net to remove other links to the software. Granted, we fully understand Creative's desire to disallow the distribution of untested, potentially harmful third-party drivers, but until they release the drivers customers expect they should be a little more cautious about shutting down third party patches.[Via Slashdot, thanks to everyone who sent this in]Update: It seems Creative has decided to allow Daniel_K to continue with one particular endeavor at least, noting that "as long as no intellectual property of Creative is distributed, [it] will have no problem with it." Thanks, Aaron!
Creative's Sound Blaster X-Fi gets ExpressCard makeover
Creative's long-standing X-Fi lineup is set to take on yet another member, as the company unveils a truly mobile form that will utilize your oh-so-lonely ExpressCard slot. Sure, you could've been enjoying the X-Fi niceties on your lappie for some time now via the external USB module, but the forthcoming iteration tidies up the breakout-box mess by cramming the bulk of the magic right inside your laptop's casing. The Xtreme Audio Notebook card touts an optical out / headphone jack, optical in / microphone port (seen after the jump), and a connector to sync up the presumably included external module, which will likely add even more connectivity options for use in park. Sadly, there's no word yet on when this device will hit store shelves, nor how much it'll cost you when it finally does, but if you've managed to hold off on buying one of the less glamorous external options in hopes of this one becoming a reality, you're probably sold regardless.[Via DailyTech]
Asus's Xonar D2X and D2 sound cards support the analog hole
Looks like Creative isn't the only Asian component manufacturer trying to get away selling the analog hole: Asus is set to horn in on the X-Fi's territory by pimping its new Xonar D2X and D2 sound boards, which feature a secondary audio processor for Analogue Loopback Transformation -- basically it takes your high quality DRM audio output and redirects that to DRM tracks. Oh, did we mention the 118dB / 115dB playback and recording SNR, and Dolby Digital, Dolby Live, DTS Connect, and DTS 5.1 support? Yeah, we're kind of excited, too.
