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Creative's 32GB Zen now only $299
Digging the 32GB of NAND, but not so hot about the $499 pricetag on Apple's latest iPod touch? Creative would like to remind you that it got there first, for less, with the Zen, and has slashed the price to $299 from the original $349 to keep that margin healthy. Sure, the 2.5-inch screen is a bit smaller, and we've given Creative a bit of a hard time over the years for an occasional failure to innovate, but reviewers seemed to love on the Zen, and it's hard to argue with this deal.[Via DailyTech]
One Shots: And now, your moment of zen
It looks like we're playing tug-of-war with games now. Most of our recent submissions have been from Lord of the Rings Online, or from EverQuest II. Both games have gorgeous water effects, but there's something to be said for watching beautiful white clouds skating by overhead that are reflected in the waters below. Today's gorgeous vista comes again from Lockwood, who has sent us a few other images thus far. We have to say, for a Monday, this is a perfect choice, because it makes us think of calm, relaxing locations far away from desks and paperwork. Do you have a location in your favorite game that you like to just go to when you want to relax? How do you get your zen on in your virtual world? Send us some pictures of your favorite vistas, along with the story on why they're important to you, to oneshots@massively.com! Yours could be here next.%Gallery-9798%
New Creative Zen V Video uncovered on support site?
Apparently, some Creative fans have begun to speculate that a new iteration of the company's Zen V might be making an appearance, due to a listing on its site for a product called the "ZEN V Video." The link won't take you anywhere substantial (in fact, all you get is an error when you try to download anything related to the entry), but it does suggest that the company has plans to introduce a more video-centric version of its popular player. Since we've seen some dubious (i.e., fake) Creative video players lately, we're not going to get too excited just yet -- but feel free to draw your own, wildly imaginative conclusions.[Via epiZENter]
Is this a full-screen, touch-sensitive Creative PMP? Update: probably not.
As is our way sometimes, we happened to stumble upon a pair of photos (read: a source sent us some pictures) claiming to be an unannounced, widescreen PMP from Creative. Kinda like a Zen or Vision W, but without the asymmetrical controls on the side. And yep, the full-screen player looks to be touch-sensitive, and may or may not sport WiFi, which has been a winning combo for several other devices that we know and love. Check out the other shot after the break.Update: Certainly does look a lot like a Cowon Q5 all photoshopped up, innit? Thanks Connor.
Creative's 32GB Zen finally on sale
It may be too late to snag one, get it delivered and wrap it with heaps of love before next Tuesday (or not), but if an IOU will do, we've found a stunning candidate for a last minute gift. Creative's long awaited 32GB Zen has finally moved beyond the pre-order stage, which means anxious to-be owners can at long last place an order and expect shipment shortly thereafter. $349.99 and it's yours, all yours.
NPD says games help reduce stress, we say Animal Crossing soothes us
NPD doesn't see fit to provide us just with monthly sales figures, apparently, as they also conduct research in their secret underground bunker. There, beakers full of bright, colorful liquid of an indiscernible nature and men and women in long white coats conduct experiments. Tirelessly disassembling current hardware on the shelves and occasionally injecting caged monkeys with unknown fluids, these vigilant smart types have come to a conclusion regarding the association between stress and video games. According to the NPD, 63% of U.S. citizens play games. 30% of these gamers say they're playing more games than they did last year. Many also cite that games are a way to alleviate stress and help them unwind. We can understand it, because there is something almost zen-like in fishing in Animal Crossing: Wild World. Actually, just about everything in that game is calming and helps us unwind, even picking weeds.
Creative finally confirms 32GB Zen
Like we needed any more confirmation, but Creative has finally put an end to any remaining incredulity on our part by posting a press release with all the sordid details of its new 32GB Zen. We're not really used to "world firsts" from Creative in the DAP space, but the doubling in capacity over competing flash-based players certainly qualifies as one -- though Sansa seems to be hot on Creative's heels. The Zen is otherwise the same as its 4GB, 8GB and 16GB siblings, including that SD card slot for expansion should 32GB prove limiting for you. The new player will be available mid-December in Singapore for S$549.00 (about $380 US), and there's no word on release dates for Europe or the States. Get ready to import!Update: Friendly tipster Justin R. pointed out that you can indeed pre-order the 32GB Zen from Creative's US store for a mere $329.[Thanks, Rene]
Yet more 32GB and 2GB Creative Zen confirmation
As if the last two reports about a 32GB Zen from Creative weren't enough for you, here's another for a lazy Saturday. This time, Crave claims to have an unspecified confirmation that a 2GB and 32GB Zen is coming, and it's coming in flash form. Would that make this the highest capacity flash PMP out there? It'd certainly be pipping Sansa to the post.[Thanks, Cody B.]
Creative's 32GB (and 2GB) Zen, again
Ok, maybe the last evidence of a 32GB Zen was a false alarm (or was it?) but how do you explain this Creative? That's a screen shot taken just a few seconds ago of your live US site. Got something to announce do ya? Hit those read links to see for yourself -- right, links, it shows up more than once.Update: A €99 2GB version too? So says Creative's site in Ireland. Picture after the break.[Via epiZENter, thanks Cody and Stu W.]Read -- features pageRead -- spec page
32GB Zen accidentally leaked?
It's inevitable that we'll see a 32GB Zen sooner or later, but we're not quite ready to call this little nugget on Creative's website anything but a typo -- especially since the available capacities listed a couple other places on the page don't make any mention of a 32GB unit. Still, food for thought if you're one of those who's always waiting for the perfect device.[Via EpiZENter, thanks Ramon]Update: False alarm, looks like the site admins may have pulled one too many late nighters. Maybe Creative and SanDisk should go on a hot date and talk about their faux 32GB ambitions. Thanks, Cody.
Creative sells 25 million MP3 players
It's been a long and winding road, but Creative announced today that it's sold 25 million MP3 players since it first shipped the parallel port-only Nomad in 1999. While that's not quite as many players as a certain fruit company, it's still a pretty astonishing number, and it speaks to the giant shift that's taken place in how we all consume media here in the future. Although the competition has gotten stiffer lately, Creative's various Zen and MuVo players seem like they're still in the fight -- here's to another 25 million.
And now, your Moment of Second Life Zen
Every now and then I get sent a link to something so crazy that it validates my existence. It allows me to think 'Well, I may be having a tough time, but at least I'm not this guy!' This ... rant, for lack of a better term, called 'Second Life of Thermodynamics', is one of those links. If you have to read something this short three times to try to understand it, and by the third time through still have a hard time deciphering what's being said, you must call it either madness or genius.I think the author is against Second Life. I believe that comes across. Why he seems to hate it is another question completely. It's got something to do with creativity, but again, what? Something these types of pieces all have in common is the reliance on name-calling and labels: new-famed, globalized, techno-libertarian environment! Nazi-like slave-labor concentration camps! Traitorous British Cayman Islands hedge funds! I defy you, dear readers, to make sense of this, and summarize it for me in the comments. Actually, you'd better not -- I like you guys with your collective sanity intact.(Via larouchepub.com)
Creative's 4GB, 16GB Zen players see price drops
Shortly after hitting Amazon (and getting really official), Creative has seemingly dropped the price of its 4GB and 16GB Zens -- in America, at least. Of course, you can make of all this what you will, but the facts are that the 4GB iteration has sunk from $149 to $129.99 on both Amazon and the firm's own webstore, while the 16GB version has dropped from $299 to $249.99. Interestingly, the 8GB version remains stuck (at least momentarily) at $199.99. So, if you've been eying a Zen for yourself but couldn't quite cough up the required dough, here's your chance to save some green.[Thanks, John A.]Read - Amazon's Zen listingsRead - Creative's webstore
Is this Creative's full-screen Zen Vision?
Sit down, we're going to take you for a bit of ride which might just end with Creative launching the next generation Zen Vision model sporting HD video and GPS navigation. Some forum jockeys on Epizenter.net have put 2-and-2 together over at the 3DLABS Semiconductor site. See, 3DLABS -- a former subsidiary of Creative -- has a DMS-02 media processor with DMScaler technology which can playback 720p, H.264-formatted video on the small screen without transcoding or upscale it for output to your 1080p television. It also features high-end 3D navigation which looks pretty damn responsive even when slicing through fully textured maps overlaid with satellite images. What has Zen Vision fans now in a tizzy -- uh hmm, nearly 4 months after the video and pictures were released -- is that 3DLABS is demoing their wares on a touchscreen device sporting a Zen Vision video cable. As speculative as all this is, devout Creative fanboys who may have recently lost their way should be stoked by the prospects of a full-screen device they can call their own. [Via Epizenter, thanks Dan]
Creative's 16GB Zen gets reviewed
Creative's Zen -- which comes with 16GB of built-in storage as well as an SD slot for expansion -- may not be a real iPod challenger in the eyes of Apple fanboys and those sold out to the click wheel interface, but for those with vast DivX collections and no real allegiance to another brand name, this new PMP looks to be a winner. In a recent review, the player's support for a variety of formats, decent design, and impressive amount of flash storage were all hailed as major pluses, but the 2.5-inch display isn't exactly large enough for (comfortable) extended movie viewing. Overall, Creative's 16GB Zen managed to garner quite a bit of praise from the folks at Popular Mechanics, but they pretty much mirrored our own sentiments by concluding that "you'd be an absolute idiot to buy the Zen before Apple's September 5th announcement."
Creative Zen shows up again, this time officially
There it is again, the Creative Zen. Yeah, not Zen something, just Zen. Yep, it's the same device with a 2.5-inch flash player with up to 16GB memory and an SD slot (as well as sick codec support, including MP3, WMA, PlaysForSure, AAC, Audible, WMV, DivX, Xvid, etc.), 5 hours of movie playback, FM radio, and PIM features. You saw it all earlier today, but now it's official, so move on with yourself.[Thanks, Steve]
Slim new Creative ZEN shows up on Amazon
While Creative still seems to be holding out until IFA to get official with its latest ZEN PMP, Amazon appears to be under no such restrictions, with it already accepting pre-orders for the slim new player. Looking a fair bit more enticing than many of Creative's recent players, this one is available in 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB varieties, and boasts a 2.5-inch display, along with a built-in FM tuner and voice recorder, and a standard SD slot for expansion. As far as format support goes, you'll be able to load the device up with your choice of MP3, WMA (w/ DRM), AAC, or Audible audio, along with WMV, DivX, Xvid, MJPEG, or TiVo to Go video files. If that's enough to sway you into the Creative camp, you can look for the 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB players to set you back $149, $199, and $299, respectively, with them each apparently set to ship sometime next month. Click on through for a few more pics.[Via epiZENter.net]
Creative's Zen Wav gets reviewed
Although hearing this thing on video is probably the only review you need, where's the harm in taking a more in-depth look at the rest of the Zen Wav? Apparently sharing our sentiments, the folks over at AnythingButiPod were able to snag a unit to test, and while it did point out that there's really nothing outstanding here beyond the integrated speakers and MSC support, we're sure there's a niche who'd find that enough to warrant a purchase. As you'd probably expect, design and construction were ho hum, controls were basic and lacking a dedicated volume button(s), the FM tuner was deemed "solid," and the rest of the amenities (photo viewing, sound quality, video playback, etc.) seemed satisfactory enough. Overall, Creative's Zen Wav looks alright if you're particularly interested in the unique features it offers, but if you're not mesmerized by built-in drivers or the MSC connection, you'll likely be served better by something else.
Zen Wav washes up on US shores
We don't know how many of you were patiently waiting for the Zen Wav to hit our fair shores, but it looks like the tiny black DAP has finally made it out of Asia. Other than the tinny built-in speakers, there's not a lot you haven't seen from Creative before: 4GB of flash, 1.5-inch screen, line-in, smug sense of non-conformity, and an FM tuner. All yours at Wal-Mart for $99. [Via EpiZENter]
16GB Creative ZEN V Plus hits North America
Right on cue, Creative's beefed-up 16GB ZEN V Plus has made its way from Singapore to our shores, offering twice the capacity of the company's previous top-end model. Otherwise, the player appears to be identical to others in the line (apart from a new black and white color scheme), boasting a 1.5-inch OLED display, a built-in FM radio, and support for MP3, WMA, WAV and Audible audio formats, along with uncompressed AVI video. It's also somewhat less expensive than the straight currency conversion from Creative's Singapore site suggested, with it now officially setting you back $250.[Thanks, Roofus]
