zen
Latest
Modder stuffs 100GB HDD in Creative Zen Vision W
Frustrated with all the limitations that come with just 60GB of hard drive space? We know, it can indeed be nerve-racking, but here to lower your blood pressure is John P., who has successfully crammed a capacious 100GB HDD into the casing of Creative's Zen Vision W. The modder began by ordering a Toshiba MK1011GAH, downloading the latest Creative firmware, and stripping back the PMP to access its innards. Afterwards, a dab of tape pulling, ribbon cable insertion, and firmware loading brought the device back to life, and without much fuss at all, a 100GB Vision W was born. We know you're salivating at the thought, so go on, hit the read link for all the replication details you need.[Via MAKE]
Breakfast Topic: WoW as meditation
There are a million ways to relax in this modern era. Yoga, taichi, zen koans, transcendental meditation, knitting, and yes, video games. It might seem odd to mention video games in the same sentence as "zen" or "meditation," but think for a moment: most forms of meditation involve focusing on one simple thing, such as the flame of a candle, or the repetition of a mantra, and excluding all other thought. Doesn't World of Warcraft call this grinding?Now, granted, there are plenty of complicated and interesting things to do in WoW that involve lots of concerted thought and could not be considered meditation. But couldn't grinding away on daily quests or farming for materials be considered a very modern way for some people to wind down, clear their mind of daily frustrations, and just be nothingness itself for a little while? I know for my part, playing WoW by myself for a while certainly isn't ecstatic communion with the divine, but it can be a great way to just put everything else away for a bit and come back to life feeling refreshed. What do you think: is grinding a form of meditation for you, or is it just something to do when you're bored out of your mind?
Find painting zen on the DS
Mercury Games is planning to release a series of Ertain's non-competitive DS games in the West as "Zen Games." The first game scheduled is something that recently popped up at the Renchi sale, in its Japanese incarnation as Kokoro wo Yasumeru Otona no Nurie DS. It'll be called Paint by DS here, and its user interface appears to have undergone a cosmetic makeover. Since it obviously has the same pictures, we assume that the minigames and puzzles are still there as well.We were pretty interested in the Japanese version (as some of you seemed to be), so we're pleased to have the chance to check this out whenever it comes out in the US. It'll be out in Europe on the 24th of August.[Via Game|Life]
Creative's TravelSound dock: the Zen Stone finds a friend
Put your accessory fears to rest Creative fans, there's a speaker dock available to swaddle your Zen Stone or new Stone Plus. Priced at just ¥3,980 (about $32), the TravelSound Zen Stone speaker is primed for all the itty-bitty, 0.2W x 2-channel thimble thumpin' action you can handle. Better yet, it'll annoy the audiophile in your family for up to 21-hours off battery. Available Amos 'n Andy or Martin 'n Lewis. Think about it.
Creative's Zen Wav caught on video
We know, no one was expecting the minuscule integrated speakers within Creative's Zen Wav to be anything more than a mild joke, but just in case you wanted to hear this thing with your own two ears before plunking down the cash to pick one up (or point and laugh), TechEBlog's got you covered. In this brief hands-on look, Creative's Zen Wav is videotaped in a cradle pumping out a sample jam that admittedly highlights treble, but at least it's at least somewhat listenable. Of course, judging the audio quality based on a handheld camcorder is a far cry from scientific evaluation, but click on through anyway for a quick listen and look at the Wav in action.
Creative's Zen Wav tossed onto the DAP pile
If DAP choice is your thing then Creative's certainly got the bases covered. Now you can officially add the Zen Wav to the Zen Stone, Vision W, Vision, Vision:M, Neeon 2, Neeon, V Plus, V, MicroPhoto, Nano Plus, and Touch to the list of Creative Zen devices. Oh, and we haven't even mentioned the 6 other MuVo DAPs from their portable audio/video portfolio -- that's 19 now, in case you're counting. The all aluminum, all the time Zen Wav features a 1.5-inch, 65k color TFT LCD, mic with line-in dubbing, FM tuner, and a pair of itty bitty speakers which should support the built-in alarm clock well enough. Otherwise, they'll likely prove them selves to be just loud enough to annoy. And despite the name, it plays back MP3, WMA, and transcoded AVI in addition to WAV files. While the WAV does appear on the Creative Singapore website, it was launched without a press release and just that janky pic you see to the right. We'll take that as a measure of its potential to dominate the MP3 player market. 2GB of flash will cost you about $121 in Singapore-only for now. [Via GererationMP3]
Creative's next DAP: the Zen Stone?
Honestly, not a whole lot of Zennin' has been going on since we witnessed Creative's mammoth display at CES, but according to Eipzenenter, the next one is just a stone's throw away. The presumably small, flash-based DAP should be dubbed the Zen Stone, and while it hasn't been confirmed, we can probably expect a roundish motif. Unsurprisingly, Creative will likely be giving us a plethora of colors to choose from, including black, red, pink, white, dark blue, and lime, and you won't have to look far to find the corresponding armband, skin, or keychain attachment. Word on the street is that this one will demand a mere $50 for the 1GB rendition, and while curiosity may be keeping you up at night, the official release date should happen sometime next month.
Jack Thompson responds to Rocca as we Zen on Take Two
After the break we have a video of Jack Thompson responding to IGDA Director Jason Della Rocca's quote about him being a "massacre chaser." Particularly choice moments are when Thompson calls Della Rocca an "idiot" and "jackass" on national television. The anchor concludes the piece, "Clearly on a campaign, we appreciate your sharing, attorney Jack Thompson."Something worth thinking about as this Thompson "jacklash" continues, we sorta passed over a major event this week: Thompson can't mess with Take Two anymore. This was part of a settlement reached between Take Two and Thompson following a string of lawsuits going back to the Bully case. GamePolitics has the terms of the settlement in a handy PDF download. The big question is if Thompson can't go after Take Two's GTA IV or Manhunt 2, the VT Massacre angle isn't quite going his way, then what is there left to go after? Any violent game Thompson could decide to take on would probably pale in comparison to the carnage in either GTA IV or Manhunt, which he legally can't attack anymore.So, take a deep cleansing breath and ponder: Without the ability to go after Take Two anymore -- what can Thompson do?
Creative releases Xdock, i600, and i500 iPod docks
Creative continues to cater to the iPod crowd with three new lines of docking accessories for Apple's players, including two with speakers, and one for pairing with home theaters or televisions. The X-Fi Sound System i600 is a copy of Creative's Z600 for Zen Vision:M, and the Playdock i500 and TravelSound i are modifications of the Zen's Z500 and TravelSound Zen V, all three going the built-in speaker route. Finally, the Xdock Wireless, which we first saw at CES, connects wirelessly to X-Fi remote receivers. From there it's wired to powered speakers or a home theater through line out, digital audio, S-video, or composite. Now let's hope Creative will put some of that iPod accessory income to good use building the next Zen Vision player.
Will iTunes truly support interoperability?
Earlier this week, Apple and EMI broke some serious ground in the digital music industry by announcing DRM-free music across the entirety of EMI's catalog, beginning with the iTunes Store. In the conference call, Steve Jobs cited interoperability as a key reason for the move; songs downloaded from the iTunes Store can only be played on iTunes, the iPod and other Apple products, and the record labels EMI decided to do something about this handicap. Everyone, from consumers to the EU, have been asking for the abolishment of DRM, and reactions to Steve Jobs' Thoughts on Music essay (which more or less agreed with us) ran the gamut, from Cory Doctorow's shoot-from-the-hip-and-not-from-the-head call-out to general intrigue and interest in what could actually happen to an industry when one of its front-runners calls for change. Regardless of what was said, EMI has taken the first step into a world of selling legitimate digital music sans-DRM through the iTunes Store. The big question, however, is how truly interoperable iTunes will allow these new downloads will be.iTunes Store songs are in the AAC file format, not MP3. While this arguably standard/non-standard file type is considered by some to be proprietary to Apple and/or the iTunes Store, this is entirely not the case. Plenty of other software and DAPs (Digital Audio Players) support the AAC format, even including, as John Gruber points out, Microsoft's own iPod competitor, the Zune. If these non-Apple products don't support AAC, they easily could with a software plugin or firmware upgrade.More important, however, is the fact that the iTunes Store is still the world's most popular legitimate digital download store, and that popularity could skyrocket even farther once they unleash these much, much higher quality downloads (higher than any digital store I know of) in a legitimate, affordable and DRM-free download. The newfound interoperability that Apple is boasting for its present and soon-to-be customers could meet a roadblock, however, if the company doesn't build compatibility for non-iPod devices into the iTunes software itself. While customers can buy DRM-free AAC files through the iTS, iTunes is still the gateway for easily moving those files from one's computer to a DAP, and the claims of interoperability and unparalleled experience could crumble quickly as consumers plug in their Creative Zens, Microsoft Zunes and [insert non-iPod here], only to find out that iTunes scoffs at their non-Apple-branded device.Will Apple support other DAPs in iTunes? Could we see a 'sync with TiVo' option in the preferences of a forthcoming iTunes 7.5? Time will only tell, but Apple and EMI just opened the doors on the issues of DRM and interoperability - we'll just have to see whether consumers who own something other than an iPod are actually invited to the party.
Creative cuts the chub from Vision M and Vision W players
In the consumer electronics' quest to push thin 'till it snaps, Creative just announced new slimmer versions of their 60GB Zen Vision W and M players. We'll have to wait for the ritualistic splaying to see if these are sporting the newest 60GB slimsters from Samsung, Seagate, or perhaps Toshiba. Regardless, Creative managed to peel back enough pudge to bring the 60GB fatties in line with the 30GB models. In other words, the 4.3-inch Vision W drops from 26.4-mm to 22-mm while the Vision M with 2.5-inch display drops from 22.1-mm to 19-mm. Slim is nice and all, but where are the 80GB and 100GB models Creative? [Via Impress]
Sync your Creative Zen with your Zune Pass tracks lately?
Even before the Zune came out we heard that while the software wouldn't sync to other players (and the player to other software), the DRM the Marketplace used was basically compatible with PlaysForSure. Although we haven't seen anyone try and document the process, Zune Pass user AIZEE showed off a couple of screencaps successfully loading DRMed tracks onto his Creative Zen with Creative Media Explorer. We didn't verify the process and thus can't guarantee Zune Pass tracks will work on the portable of your choosing, but again, we're not too shocked that somebody could get their Zune music to authorize on another device. Somebody call us when someone gets the Zune itself to sync with Napster or Rhapsody, ok?
Creative CES booth tour
Since last year, Creative won a court battle with Apple, became a Made for iPod partner, and has spread a whole lot of Zen ( ... portable media players) all over the world. Lets see what caught our eye at their booth this year. Creative CES booth tour
Creative X-Fi Sound System Z600 rolls in this week for $400
Alright Zen fanboys, your Singaporean mothership has just come out with a new dock for that Zen Vision: M, dubbed the Creative X-Fi Sound System Z600. Like it says in the name, this dock has that new X-Fi stuff that Creative touts as being able to restore compressed audio to CD quality. Of course there's also the usual inclusions, like a remote, an 8-inch woofer and a pair of tweeters to round out the setup as well; the gear can be yours when it drops in the US on November 24 for $400. Creative also announced a couple other sound docks, the PlayDock Z500 and the TravelSound Zen V -- but if you're an astute reader of Engadget, you already knew about those well before the official announcement.[Via Far East Gizmos]
AIL-B120 and AIL-B130, new color-changing LED "balloons"
Well, it's no WiFi Lamp, Ambient Orb, and certainly no Nabaztag, but Japanese lightmaker ELPA's new AIL-B120 and AIL-B130 "balloons" (we assume they mean balls) apparently will change color depending on the ambient sounds around them. Apparently these 20 centimeter and 30 centimeter diameter balls can produce a "Zen atmosphere," whatever that is. Don't worry about the price or availability -- just zone, erm, zen out, man.[Via Akihabara News]
Zune stacks up in size: iPods, Zen, Sansa
And here we have the brown Zune stacked agains the Zen Vision:M, iPods 5G and nano, and the Sansa E200 series. Just because it's taller than the rest doesn't mean it's larger than the rest though; we actually found the Zune to be deceptively small, and still quite pocketable. But hey, that's just us, we're the peeps prepped and ready to rock a Universal in tight jeans.P.S. -In case you're wondering, the screens only "lit" on the Zune because it's a non-functional retail display unit.[Thanks, Steven]
Integrated Mobile Electronics launches universal iMe Dock for your car
If you're genuinely frustrated with fuzzy (and "dangerous") FM transmitter results, and aren't exactly keen on wiring up a separate connection for each DAP you own, Integrated Mobile Electronics has your solution. In a presumed attempt to alleviate the frustration of priopritary DAP-to-automobile liaisons (and grab the entire market's attention), the startup has unveiled the iMe in-car docking station. The device, like most other hardwired options, will require a good bit of DIY handiwork (and Excedrin Migraine pills), but will apparently channel audio to your sound system and even video to your LCD-equipped whip. The package will reportedly support the Apple iPod / nano, Microsoft Zune (including the unannounced "80GB" version), Creative Zen Vision:M, SanDisk Sansa, and iRiver Clix right out-of-the-box, and even touts the ability to charge your device while docked. While it's being marketed as an end-all solution to your in-car docking station needs, these all-in-one contraptions should certainly be approached with caution -- and while there's no info on pricing or availability, you can see its potential for yourself at the SEMA expo this month.
Creative Zen V Plus 8GB announced
And in this corner, in the blue and black trunks, weighing in at 8GB, Creative's Slammin' Singaporean in Stereo -- the all-new Zen V Plus! That's right folks, Creative announced today its expected 8GB bump to the Zen V Plus, which is due out next month for S$430, the local equivalent of what we might call 270 greenbacks. It's sure to go head-to-head with the slick 8GB iPod Nano and that sassy SanDisk Sansa e280 in an upcoming prizefight. While this new color scheme (pictured) is only available in a limited edition direct from Creative's online store, the press release notes that the new player normally comes in "glossy black with a new colour accent of red" -- actually, we find the snaps on their site to be more of a subdued ochre, but hey, we're just stupid Americans.[Thanks, Vizion and Pablo]
Creative Zen Vision W debuts in US
As expected, Creative went and released the Zen Vision W here in the US. We know that this hit Singapore late last month at COMEX, and CNET managed to review one already -- but what we didn't know is that the Zen Vision will play content from Amazon's new Unbox service. Aside from whatever you might spend at Amazon, the 30GB model will set you back $300, the 60GB an additional Benjamin, and both are available from the usual suspects of online retailers, including Creative's online store. The only problem is that as of this writing, the Zen Vision is nowhere to be found on its site and so far as we can tell that's not for lack of stock.
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.
