Creative Strips ZEN, Calls it ZEN MX
Similar to the LX version of the Mozaic sold at such fine electronics retailers as the Marts of Wall, Creative has found a way to sell a new player without the hassle of having to design a new one! The good news doesn’t stop there. They also didn’t worry about a new name for it, and will simply add the letters MX (apparently for Mostly Xpired) to the newer ZEN model.
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Creative Vado HD Firmware Update; Windows 7 Gaming Headset Beta Driver
Creative’s released a new firmware for the Vado HD for the first time since early January. In it are some interesting updates, though no new features. The update is supposed to rectify jerky video while transitioning from darkness to light. Additionally, the update addresses issues in battery display while connected to USB. Download directly from Creative here, or for archived purposes, on my Windows Live Skydrive here.
Also updated this week by our friends in Singapore is the Creative Headset drivers. These aren’t the simple green/pink plugs, but rather the USB connected variety. This update only includes a beta version of the Windows 7 drivers for the aforementioned headset. As with all betas, it is unsupported by Creative. Download directly from Creative here, or on my Windows Live Skydrive here.
Keep reading for the official scoop.
BREAKING: Apple to Buy Creative for $1.6 Billion
In a stunning turn of events, it is time to say goodbye to Creative Technology. The company, founded in 1981, has been purchased by Cupertino-based Apple Inc. Creative had been Apple’s foremost rival in the digital audio market, and beat them to the market with their NOMAD player. Creative also was the dominant force in third party sound cards, with the X-Fi line being recognized as the top of the line in sound cards. Apple acting CEO Timothy Cook announced that the entirety of Creative will be disbanded, and will be merged into existing Apple development markets. For more information, you can visit an excellent source for everything that is ever going to happen with Apple and Creative at Apple’s PR site here. As I learn more of this tragic event, I’ll post here.
As if… it’s too easy to do on a day like this!
Steal a Vado HD for $129 at Creative US!
The superb Vado HD, which I just extensively reviewed here, is on sale for $129 at Creative US. Simply click on the image below, add it to the cart, and then enter code VADOHDFRIENDS for the $100 coupon. This deal DOES include free shipping.
Buy it now at Creative by clicking here or the image below!
Source [SlickDeals]
Review: Creative Vado HD
Creative’s been long known for its superb audio products, ranging from the still relevant SoundBlaster PC sound cards to the venerable and powerful ZEN line of digital media devices. The first evidence of life in the visual department over at Creative came with the introduction of the Zen Vision:M. Anyone who has spent time with the best device to come out of Creative’s facilities knows that the video quality was absolutely superb. The widescreen Vision:W, which I still use daily, was also amazing. Now, however, Creative adds to the mix a rather different device: one that comes in soley to capture life- this version in stunning high definition. Before you begin this review, let me preface it by saying this: I have not played with, tested, or otherwise touched a Flip camera, a Kodak Zi6, or any other competitor in this sector, so don’t ask. There are plenty of other, wealthier people who have done so- you can use the tubes and Google to find them. But I suspect that very few other people who are in the market for this type of device have very little background with a competitor’s product, and thus will be with me as a ‘virgin buyer’ of pocket video cams. All videos embedded currently have the YouTube HD embed hack enabled, so all videos should playback in HD by default. For full size videos, click through the videos to their YouTube page.
Continue reading for the ten page review.
Creative Console Updated; SoundBlaster Audigy Windows 7 Drivers
Vista and XP users, a massive update has been released for your X-Fi sound card software, Creative Console. You can download it directly from Creative at the Support page for your respective sound card model, or archived here.
For the SoundBlaster Audigy and Live! audio card series, there is a beta release of Windows 7 drivers. As with all beta software, none of this is official and is to be used at your own risk. They’re also at the Support page, and archived on SkyDrive.
Continue reading for the entire lowdown on the Console update.
Fooled Ya! Creative Re-Opening Outlet Store
Despite being closed and empty for a while, the Mariana Square (Singapore) Creative outlet store will soon return to the mall. Creative closed it because of climbing rent, but according to Nothing But Creative, the mall substantially reduced the rate at which Creative was leasing the space, prompting the return to the mall. Nothing But Creative says that the store should re-open in the next few weeks. Creative’s retail outlets only exist in Singapore, but the rest of the world can access the great savings (a $38 ZEN on Creative US!) on their regional Creative page.
Goodbye to the ZEN UI?
Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead: Creative Singapore is hiring. Despite the global economic crisis and companies cutting jobs right and left, Creative Singapore is hiring some very high end jobs, perhaps ramping up for the launch of their new player. They are hiring in an area that got my attention, though: a new Senior Designer.
The senior designer(s) that they are hiring will be in charge of “creating exciting User Interface (UI) designs for Personal Digital Entertainment devices”. The way they worded it, specifically the whole “creating” part, makes it seem (more…)
Cambridge SoundWorks’ MovieWorks HD, Not Powered By Zii
That spiffy new MovieWorks HD that Cambridge Soundworks (a subsidiary of Creative) just launched has a UI that was rumored to be the Zii’s, leading many to believe that this is the first Zii-powered device. I just recieved an email from a Cambridge SoundWorks rep and, unfortunately, it is not.
“No, it is not powered by this processor [the Zii]. Though, that’s a great idea and we wish it was.”
Disappointing, but I’m sure Creative has something coming that’s powered by the almighty Zii.
In other Creative news, epiZENter has given a very thorough look the Vado HD and came away fairly impressed- start reading it here. Nothing But Creative has also uncovered a new iPod accessory (yuck)- the TravelSound i85.
HD Demo of Android on ZMS-05
As promised, Creative unleashed their demo of the ZMS-05 running Android in high definition at the Mobile World Conference today. Currently, the video is not available in HD itself on YouTube, but sometimes it takes a while for YouTube to show that its available in HD. It does look very impressive, with no noticeable lag running the OS, and the output video to the HD monitor was not laggy at all and looked very good. It’s hard to get a good idea of what exactly it does look like, as the video was shot in standard definition. ZiiLabs says that a development platform for the Android OS will be launched in the summer of this year. Now if I could get my phone to move faster than a snail…
