Creative Zen Nano 512 MB MP3 Player (White) Review
I bought this little guy a few years ago, have dropped it, scratched it, played it 'til it turned blue. It's amazing that the battery cover hasn't broken; heck, that the whole thing hasn't. Great sound output and battery life as well. This version's suitable for bringing along your favorite tunes, and considering how simple and cheap it is, it's a smart tag-a-long purchase for when, like me, you don't want to drag around your 0 iPod (Touch, in my case). Buy it if you need a small flash player and can get it for cheap!
Creative Zen Nano 512 MB MP3 Player (White) Feature
Stores up to 250 songs on 512 MB internal flash memory
Choose from a wide range of stylish colors
Built-in microphone for voice recordings
Built-in LCD lets you control your music in more ways than just a simple shuffle
High-speed USB 2.0 connectivity
Creative Zen Nano 512 MB MP3 Player (White) Overview
Zen Nano is a skip-free MP3 player, perfect for anyone new to music downloading and wanting to show off their style. When it comes to choice, the only difficult decision you need to make is which of the electrifying colors suits your lifestyle. Will you choose pink to match your wardrobe, blue for a running companion, or black to show off on the slopes?Take shuffle to a whole new level. Not only will Zen Nano randomly shuffle through all your 500 songs, but the LCD display reveals more then one way to listen to you music. The possibilities are endless! Now you can find the songs you want to hear, listen to your new album, repeat your favorite songs, and more.Listen to hours of continuous music by simply replacing the AAA battery on your morning jog, afternoon lunch, or midnight rendezvous. Enjoy endless hours of music anytime, anywhere...Use the built-in microphone to capture ideas and save quick reminders when you're out shopping. Plus, record long lectures when you're in important meetings or presentations.Take your tunes on the road during those long commutes or spontaneous road trips. Zen connects wirelessly to your car stereo using a Belkin FM Transmitter. Never cut your musical journey short!
Creative Zen Nano 512 MB MP3 Player (White) Specifications
Ready for skip-free music enjoyment, in a package that's chic and stylish? The Creative Zen Nano 512 MB MP3 Player is just the answer. Enjoy amazing audio quality when you're listening to your MP3 and WMA music. The Nano is much more than just a music player as it functions as a voice recorder. Plus, it also comes in an amazing variety of electrifying colors that will make it stand out in the crowd. Will you choose pink to match your wardrobe, blue for a running companion, or black to show off on the slopes?
The Nano lets you take music shuffling to the next level. Like other players, the unit will randomly shuffle through all your songs, but with the built-in LCD you can control your music in more ways than just a simple shuffle. Find the songs you want to hear, listen to your new album, repeat your favorite songs, and more. Battery life is outstanding, allowing you to listen to music for up to 18 hours on a single AAA battery. The 512 MB model's flash memory can store up to 250 songs (WMA-encoding, 64 kbps). And transferring those songs to and from the device is speedy, thanks to the unit's USB 2.0 connection. And last but not least, you can use the built-in microphone to capture ideas and save quick reminders when you're out shopping. Plus, record long lectures when you're in important meetings or presentations.
What's in the Box Zen Nano player, Creative earphones, USB 2.0 cable, AAA alkaline battery, quick start booklet and installation CD.
Belkin AC Wall and USB Charger for iPod with Dock Connector (White) Review
I haven't used this charger in the dark so I can't comment whether the blue light is annoying or not. I am using this charger at work so it's been plugged in under my desk. The fact that you can only use the cable included to sync or transfer data is actually a plus for me since we're not allowed to connected personal devices to our work computers. It's much easier to plug it into my keyboard than to constantly unplug it from the strip on the floor. If someone asks me why I have my iPhone (3GS) connected to my computer I can honestly tell them it's just charging and no data can be transferred. It hasn't come apart and continues to work just fine after a few months of occasional use.
Belkin AC Wall and USB Charger for iPod with Dock Connector (White) Feature
USB/AC wall charger designed for all dock-connecting iPods; compatibility: iPod 3G, 4G, 5G, 6G; nano 1G, 2G, 3G; iPod touch; iPod mini
Connects to audio player via included iPod-to-USB cable
Ideal as backup charger for traveling or the office
Cable measures 4 feet long for easy connections
Backed by 3-year warranty
Belkin AC Wall and USB Charger for iPod with Dock Connector (White) Overview
Connect your iPod to the Power Adapter with included dock connector-to-USB cable. Plug the Power Adapter into a wall outlet to recharge your iPod.
Creative Zen X-FI 2 Blue Silicone Skin with Screen protector for Creative Zen X-FI 2 + Wristband Review
Creative Zen X-FI 2 Blue Silicone Skin with Screen protector for Creative Zen X-FI 2 + Wristband Feature
Protect and personalize your creative Zen X-FI2 with this skin-tight cover. New creative Zen Skin Cover protects your zen from the elements by preventing scratches, minor dents, dirt, dust and fingerprints from accumulating.
Durable silicone skin is tailor-fitted for the Creative Zen with openings for hold and volume switches, Dock connector and headphone jack with allows access to all Creative Zen functions.
Screen protector prevents your LCD screen from getting scratched. Film is totally clear - no haziness - no bubbles - no glare. Screen protector does not interfere with PDA stylus. Made by environment protection and recycle material.
Measures 3 X 2 1/4 in. - Cut to fit your screen - One sheet can cover many more than one screen. Screen protector is non-adhesive and removable, but will stay attached to screen. Good-fitting shape, easy stick and no remnant glue. Made by environment protection and recycle material.
Package includes SumacLife TM Wisdom*Courage Wristband
Creative Zen X-FI 2 Blue Silicone Skin with Screen protector for Creative Zen X-FI 2 + Wristband Overview
"This Package includes: . Creative Zen X-FI 2 Silicone Skin . A Screen Protector . A Wisdom*Courage Wristband"
Creative Zen Vision:M 30 GB MP3 and Video Player (White) Review
I have had my Creative Zen Vision M for 2 years and still love it. I originally bought a Sansa e player (being an anti-iPod music lover) and enjoyed the Sansa. I was traveling internationally and wanted a second player because the battery would not last through the plane ride. This "back up" quickly became my primary mp3 device.
It is large by today's standards - jogging with this is like jogging with a brick - but it is sturdy, reliable, high quality and has survived the test of time. I now catch up on TV shows and movies on the road, by using TiVo and the Zen Converter program. Easy to use, easy to set up, great music and video - it's a great little package all around. My only other "nit" is that the menu navigation can be a bit touchy.
I thought the 30 Meg size would be a limitation. I have yet to fill this puppy past the 85% mark. I use Napster and am constantly filling it / exchanging music. I also have at least 15 audio books and 20 1 hour recorded seminars. At least 10 hours of movies / videos. Still can't fill the dang thing.
I was initially concerned about battery life, especially with the funky exchange program with the iPod. With constant use (at least 10 hours a week) the battery is still going strong. I bought a power supply with international adapters, so I can recharge it from anywhere in the world. I use a set of portable speakers (my favorite is the HMDX set from Bed, Bath and Beyond) and am never bored where ever I am.
My husband now enjoys the Sansa e for his own use. At first, it was a challenge to synchronize it with Rhapsody but that settled down once I started using Media Player. I recently purchased a Sansa Clip, but that is for exercise only because I am tired of running with a brick.
Net, net - If you are thinking about buying a Vision M used, or buying another Creative product, I highly recommend it. I also highly recommend Napster and Media Player. Both have been extremely reliable for managing all of my music needs.
Creative Zen Vision:M 30 GB MP3 and Video Player (White) Feature
30 GB multimedia device holds tens of thousands of photos, up to 120 hours of videos, or 15,000 songs
2.5-inch, high definition LCD screen features a 320x240 resolution and hundreds of thousands of colors
Supports many video formats, such as AVI, DivX 4 and 53, XviD4, MPEG-1, -2, -SP, WMV9, and Motion-JPEG
Integrated FM radio and recorder, voice recorder
Measures 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.7 inches and weighs 5.7 ounces
Creative Zen Vision:M 30 GB MP3 and Video Player (White) Overview
Creative's Zen Vision: M is the ultimate player for people who want to enjoy music and movies on the go. This stylish, versatile system features an advanced 2.5-inch high-resolution color screen that can display movies! The Zen Vision: M's rechargeable battery delivers playtimes up to four hours with video and music. For live entertainment or capturing those special moments there's also a built-in FM radio and voice recorder. The Zen Vision: M supports popular music, video and photo formats. It can also be connected to the TV to share images and videos with friends and family.
Creative Zen Vision:M 30 GB MP3 and Video Player (White) Specifications
In its own right, the Creative Zen Vision:M is a very capable digital audio player, video player, photo viewer, FM radio, and more. Indeed, one could go on and on about how it has the right specifications to make it a constant companion for entertainment on the go. The really big news about this device, though, is that it's the first device to boast complete compatibility with Amazon Unbox, the new digital video and music download service from Amazon.com.
The Zen Vision:M has the features, ease-of-use, and power to become your constant media companion. See the Vison:M interactive demo.
Design Let's get things out in the open. The Apple iPod is the 800-pound gorilla when it comes to the digital media player business and, unavoidably, every other device is measured against it. In most respects, the Vision:M matches up pretty well, and there are few things you may even like better. Length and width dimensions are exactly the same at 4.1 and 2.4 inches respectively. When it comes to girth, though, the iPod has the Vision:M beat; the Vision:M is .7 inches thick, while the iPod measures .4 inches. The Vision:M is slightly heavier, too. These details aside, the Vision:M feels comfortable, yet sturdy, in the hand, with curved surfaces in all the right places.
Creative takes a somewhat different approach with the Vision:M's controls, answering the iPod's Click Wheel with a vertical touch pad--which allows you to scroll up and down menus and control volume--plus four buttons that offer navigation through the user interface. The contextual menu button on the bottom right is a welcome addition, allowing you to make quick settings changes and view information about media files on the fly--functions that are more cumbersome on an iPod. Creative could have made the buttons a bit more sensitive--they require a firm press that gives an overall feeling of clunkiness to an otherwise well-designed user interface. Another annoyance is the touch pad's over-sensitivity; it's easy to make selections unintentionally, sending you on a wild ride through the user interface.
The Vision:M's screen, which measures 2.5 inches diagonally, offers sharp details, vibrant color, and excellent response with little or no video ghosting during high-action sequences. The 320 x 240 resolution is to be expected from a device this size, and although it's small, you'll likely have no trouble enjoying video while you're sitting on the subway or a flight, or in the back-seat of a car. Our only nitpick was the screen's less than stellar viewing angle, especially when compared side-by-side with a video iPod. While this can be good for maintaining privacy, the narrow viewing angle also means that friends beside you will struggle to see anything other than a black screen.
Music, Videos, Photos, and More The Vision:M's music organization scheme is standard fare; you can browse playlists, artists, tracks, albums, and genres. Equalizer settings are robust, with a nice range of automatic settings, plus a custom equalizer that's easy to control. The music library's "DJ" function is a nice touch, allowing you to listen to your most popular tracks. It can also pull up the tunes you listen to least frequently--in case you've got some forgotten tunes lying around on the Vision:M's 30 GB hard drive. Sound quality is everything you'd expect from a top shelf digital audio player, and DRM'd Windows Media files played without a hitch. The device fully supports a whole range of "PlaysForSure" download and subscription services, such as Napster and Yahoo Music. Creative also ships a CD-ripping and music transfer application called MediaSource with the Vision:M.
Playback of Windows Media DRM'd video files (WMV9) was also hassle-free. Purchased videos delivered crisp colors and detail, with no frame drops. Video playback consumes a lot of power, bringing Creative's claim of four hours of video playback into serious doubt. Expect under three hours when watching videos continuously. Thankfully, if you need to come back to your video later the Vision:M's software remembers the timecode of where you left off--unless you power the device down between viewing sessions. In addition to protected and unprotected WMV files, the Vision:M can play MPEG 1/2/4, Motion-JPEG, DivX 4 and 5, and XviD formats, making it a very flexible device with respect to encoding options.
The Vision:M can also store thousands of photos, letting you browse through them or set up a slideshow. The device's TV-out option comes in handy here, as you can present slideshows on a TV or projector. Videos can be displayed this way, too. An FM radio with easy preset tuning functions and great signal reception, plus a voice recorder feature, round out the extra media features. There's also a handy tool to format a portion of the drive for use as a USB 2.0 mass storage device, letting you set aside up to 16 GB for data storage.
Connectivity and Synchronization A Creative Sync Adapter ships in the box with the Vision:M, making it a snap to connect the device to a USB 2.0-capable PC. With the connection made, Windows XP recognized the device right off the bat and Windows Media Player immediately asked us if we wanted to load the PC's music onto the Vision:M. Music management and synchronization has come a long way on the PC, and the experience of organizing and transferring music to and from the Vision:M was, barring a few curious click-through boxes, pretty seamless. The Vision:M also supports synchronization of your Outlook contacts, calendar, and tasks, in case you want to use it as a personal organizer of sorts.
Amazon Unbox Integration To be truly successful, the Vision:M has to be more than a great media device, it has to integrate with Amazon Unbox and make the process feel like second nature. Although the Vision:M was tested using a beta version of Amazon Unbox, things are looking good already. Amazon Unbox and the Vision:M go together like peas in a pod, making the process of purchasing, downloading, and enjoying content on the go a real cinch. The Amazon Unbox Video Player, which queues, downloads, organizes, and plays your purchased movies and TV shows, recognized the Vision:M right off the bat. An icon for the Vision:M appears in the devices panel of the application, and you can immediately begin transferring downloaded content to the device. Once you're all loaded up, the Vision:M offers a great way to bring Amazon Unbox entertainment along for the ride.
Pros
Crisp, vibrant color screen is great for video
Generous video format compatibility
Excellent sound quality and music management functions
Cons
Narrow screen viewing angle may be a problem for some
Finicky controls for some functions
Slightly more bulky than other competitors
What's in the Box Creative ZEN Vision:M, earphones, Sync Adapter, USB 2.0 cable, pouch, user's guide, and installation CD that includes Creative MediaSource and Creative Media Explorer software. Note: As of July 2006 Creative no longer ships the Zen M with the AC power adapter.
Giga Works HD50I Portable Speakers for ipod Review
Pound for pound, this is one of the best 2.0 Speaker Systems. The Hi-definition technology really makes a difference and the high frequency sound is super crisp (with the titanium supertweeter technology). The Low frequency is very good comparing to other 2.0 speaker systems but not good compare to any 2.1 speaker system (but that's probably not a fair comparison as since the 2.1 speaker has a dedicated subwoofer which is also huge/bulky). On price, I think this system is on the high range, but then again Bose speakers system are also pricey.
Here are some of the pros and cons.
Pros: - Very portable - The high frequency (tweeter) sound is super crisp which is a big plus - All wire are long enough so you don't have to use any extension - Very good sound overall as long as you don't turn the volume too high/to the maximum - No additional hassle from bulky subwoofer and its wires - Bass is very good compare to other 2.0 systems - Very nice design. stylish and sleek. - Looks expensive (oh wait, it is indeed expensive)
Cons: - The bass is not anywhere near any 2.1 systems with dedicated subwoofer (if loud bass is important for you). - It will be nice if it is built inside the speakers for even more portability - Sound won't fill a big room (like a big living room). to be fair, I haven't turn the volume to the maximum because I don't want to take a chance and break the speakers - Expensive for a 2.0 systems (and though I'm impressed with the sound quality, it is not as good as Bose or Klipsch speakers with comparable similar price) - No controller to adjust bass and treble (can adjust it from Ipod or Laptop though)
In conclusion, this Creative Gigaworks HD50I Speaker System will be perfect for a small to medium size room and if you want super crisp sound and a decent bass but don't want to bother with a big subwoofer. This is also perfect if you travel and want to take a high quality portable speakers for your Ipod.
last but not least, for sound (speaker) and display (TV), every person often have different preference so I would recommend you to try it yourself in local store etc (and compare it with Bose and Klipsch) if you can before buying.
Sidarta Tanu
Giga Works HD50I Portable Speakers for ipod Feature
Sold Individually
Giga Works HD50I Portable Speakers for ipod Overview
Creative GigaWorks HD50 speakers deliver maximum stereo impact in a micro desktop design. If you're looking for smooth, 'pro' quality music from your PC or MP3 player, you'll love these ultra-compact speakers, which save desktop space but deliver total GigaWorks quality! Inside each satellite Creative has used Creative High Definition Driver technology for amazing accuracy, plus a Titanium Super Tweeter for clear highs and BasXPort technology for strong lows to provide everything you demand from 'pro' quality speakers, except the size! There is an easy access front knob for volume / power, and a blue LED shows when the speakers are on. Upgrade by adding the X-30 Docking Station for use with an iPod.
The Lexerd TrueVue™ is created from an ultra-clear film that is exclusive to Lexerd for covering consumer electronics. Transparent and amazingly thin, the TrueVue is designed to precisely match the contours of every device, providing unbeatable scratch protection. Lexerd TrueVue utilizes the latest LCD screen protection technology that will keep gadgets looking great.
- Keep your device crystal clear with the exclusive professional grade film, only available with Lexerd - Scratch-proof - you can show off your gadget and use it without fear of scratching - The ultra-thin film is only 0.2 mm thick and will not add bulk to your device. So you can still slip it into charging docks and handbags - Lexerd' s latest technology It allows the TrueVue to create precise, custom designs that hug the curves of your electronics - TrueVue is guaranteed to preserve original color tones
Package contents: Two each of the following items: screen protector, instruction manual, lint free cloth, finger cots (to protect optical surfaces during handling)
Creative Labs 70PF165000015 Zen MicroPhoto 8 GB MP3 Player (White) Review
I purchased this Zen Microphoto about 3 years ago. It still is working flawlessly. I love that when the battery dies you can pop the back cover off and put a new one in for about .00 Its a little bit bigger then the micro sized players they sell now, but when those tinnie players batterys go dead the player becomes dumpster food. Its hard to find a player with a removeable battery today.
Creative Labs 70PF165000015 Zen MicroPhoto 8 GB MP3 Player (White) Feature
8 GB digital audio player/photo viewer with a stylish white design
Compatible with MP3, WMA, Janus, WAV, IMA ADPCM, and PlaysForSure DRM WMA
Built-in FM radio (32 presets) with record function, voice recorder, USB mass storage
Measures 2 x 3.25 x 0.7 inches (WxHxD) and weighs under 4 ounces
Creative Labs 70PF165000015 Zen MicroPhoto 8 GB MP3 Player (White) Overview
Be captivated, be spellbound. Creative ZEN MicroPhoto features a revolutionary, vivid OLED color display. Dubbed ZEN Micro Photo by some, you can browse through photos or music playlists from this award winning digital music player's brilliantly clear menus. Color your music with strikingly detailed views of digital photos on this sleek MP3 player. And keep up to 4000 songs or thousands of photos by your side and in your pocket.
Creative Labs 70PF165000015 Zen MicroPhoto 8 GB MP3 Player (White) Specifications
The micro-sized, coolly styled Zen MicroPhoto digital audio player/photo viewer enables you to watch slide shows of your favorite digital images on its stunning, high-intensity 1.5-inch OLED screen while listening to an MP3 or WMA soundtrack. This 8 GB player in white can hold up to 10,000 JPEG images or 4,000 songs. It's also nicely compact, measuring just 2 x 3.25 x 0.7 inches (WxHxD) and weighing under four ounces.
View the stunning, high-intensity 1.5-inch OLED screen from any angle.
The MicroPhoto 8 GB player holds up to 10,000 images or 4,000 songs. View larger.
See the Zen MicroPhoto in 3D.
The Zen MicroPhoto's vibrant, cutting edge OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) screen looks terrific and draws less power than conventional LCD displays. It displays 262,144 vivid colors, ensuring every picture is sharply detailed and extraordinarily clear. Using revolutionary display technology, you can now view photos from any angle. The vertical touch pad makes navigation easy, and the micro-sized player is offers a curved design to fit ergonomically in your hand. The intuitive menus in wild, bright colors makes navigating through those 4000 songs and tons of photos easy and fun.
It's compatible with MP3, WMA, Janus, WAV, IMA ADPCM digital audio files (including DRM protected Plays For Sure WMA files from online stores and subscriber services) as well as JPEG image files. Its 8 GB capacity will store up to 4,000 (266 hours) of WMA files (encoded at 64 kbps) or 2,000 (133 hours) of MP3 songs (encoded at 128 kbps).
This player also features a built-in FM radio with 32 preset stations and the ability to record directly off the radio, enabling you to capture your favorite songs and live radio interviews. The integrated microphone and voice recorder feature enables you to record short notes to yourself as well as important meetings and lectures. Choose from the Zen MicroPhoto's custom EQ or eight pre-loaded EQ settings: Acoustic, Classical, Disco, New Age, Vocal, Pop, Rock, and Jazz. Working perfectly with Microsoft Outlook, you can now organize appointments, business contacts, or even wake up to your favorite song. Additionally, the Zen MicroPhoto can be used as a USB mass storage unit, allowing you to safely store your important presentations and documents and transfer them to another PC. The included removable, rechargeable Li-ion battery provides up to 15 hours of continuous playback time, and it can be charged via a USB connection to your computer or the included USB travel charger. Take a closer look at all the Zen MicroPhoto features.
The Zen MicroPhoto uses PlaysForSure technology. Look for the PlaysForSure logo if you're shopping for a portable music or video device and you want to make sure the digital music and video you purchase will play back on it every time. Match the PlaysForSure logo on a large selection of leading devices and online music stores. If you see the logo, you'll know your digital music will play for sure. Choose from a large number of digital music and video stores, including MTV's Urge, Rhapsody, Yahoo!, MSN Music, MusicMatch, MusicNow, Napster, Wal-Mart Music Downloads, and many more.
What's in the Box 8 GB Zen MicroPhoto (white), high-fidelity earphones with dynamic bass response, removable rechargeable Li-ion battery, USB 2.0 cable, pouch, installation CD-ROM, and printed Quick Start Guide.
CREATIVE ZEN V SKIN CASE HOT PINK W / ARMBAND Review
CREATIVE ZEN V SKIN CASE HOT PINK W / ARMBAND Overview
CREATIVE ZEN V SKIN CASE HOT PINK W / ARMBAND. Creative Zen Compatible with Creative ZEN . Aftermarket CREATIVE ZEN V SKIN CASE HOT PINK W / ARMBAND meets all Creative ZEN Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Specifications.
AC Travel Wall Charger for Creative Zen Sleek, Creative Zen Sleek Photo Review
I got my zen photo in 06 and have been using the dual charge and sync plug that came with it. What an awfully designed charger! two cords that can't be disconnected and about as long as my laptop charger. This one was not easy to travel with at all. About a week ago that one's wires detached completely inside the cord and I ended up buying this charger.
It's absolutely PERFECT. The charging light acts as a night light as well so if you have counter space just plug it in in the kitchen. The cord is long enough but not ridiculous like the original zen photo dual charger.
Buy the bundle btw. It comes with this wall charger, a sync cord for your computer and a car charger for road trips.
AC Travel Wall Charger for Creative Zen Sleek, Creative Zen Sleek Photo Feature
Charge Creative Zen Sleek & Zen Sleek Photo without the use of docking station / docking cradle
Model Compatible: Creative Zen Sleek, Creative Zen Sleek Photo
Input Voltage- 100-240V (Which works worldwide)
CE and UL Certified. Current limited, with reverse circuit protection to prevent overcharge.
Creative Zen 2 GB Portable Media Player (Black) Review
I did my research and wanted an MP3 player that did the following:
- Held my 20GB of music - Allow me to playback music randomly, or randomly from a play list I've created in virtually any music software that supports syncing with the device - Had flash memory so I could work out with it - Had FM radio - Could playback video well (for trips) - Had an SD card slot for playing video from
This device meets and exceeds all my expectations! When it comes to MP3 players my experience has been an old 256MB iRiver I've used for running for years now and other people's iPods. This thing beats both of those out of the water! The only thing that makes me wary about this product was all the "white screen of death" complaints, but so far I have not seen any (maybe the newest firmware has fixed the problem?)
I love how you can name your radio presets, I could never remember what station corresponds to what frequency. Music playback was significantly better than my work computer, I have no complaints about that at all. The UI is very beautiful, and I enjoy seeing my album art on playback. The device is fairly easy to use, but I could see how some people could miss nice features if they didn't explore all the menus. One feature I've really come to like is the DJ playback mode of "Rarely Heard" which plays songs that have the lowest play count, never expected this from a portable MP3 player.
One major goal with an MP3 player is for me to have only two places where my music exists that can be synced: my PC and the MP3 player. One annoyance is that the MP3 player organizes the folders by artist instead of album, but it really doesn't impact anything. It took me a while to figure out that there are only a subset of MP3 genre's supported by the Zen, so don't expect the "genre" field to sync unless it's one that works with the player. Also you really need to make sure that your album art is consistent on your computer if you want it to display correctly on the device after a sync (recommend MediaMonkey for album art). I couldn't get the "rating" field to sync at all, apparently Winamp and this player use different values for that field so may have success depending on what program you use (I really don't care about setting the rating for every one of my 5000+ songs).
The only complaints I've had thus far is that the battery life doesn't last as long as advertised, if I use it at work all day long I have to charge it that night if I want to use it the next day. It's definitely long enough for me to use it during the day but I have to remember to charge it if I expect to use it a lot the next day. Also it froze up on me when I was deleting the album art that comes with the device, I'm not sure if that was my fault for what software I was using or the player's fault though. I'd recommend formatting the unit from the get-go unless you like all the music/videos/pictures they put on the unit (format menu available by holding the "PLAY/PAUSE" button and turning the unit on).
In summary do you research and do the math, what MP3 player gives you the most features for the money?
Creative Zen 2 GB Portable Media Player (Black) Feature
Enjoy all your media on a device that's about the width of a credit card
Watch 64 hours of videos, enjoy up to 4,000 of your favorite songs or share hundreds of photos with your friends
2.5-inch TFT color display with 320 x 240-pixel resolution and support for up to 16.7 million colors
Clock and alarm function, volume restriction, eight equalizer settings, and a USB hard drive mode, SDHC support
Weighs 2.1 ounces and measures 3.26 x 2.16 x .44 inches (W x H x D)
Creative Zen 2 GB Portable Media Player (Black) Overview
This credit card-sized Creative Zen has a stunning 2.5-inch color screen and is perfect for music, videos, and photos. Enjoy up to 500 MP3, WMA, or AAC songs; watch up to 70 hours of videos; and share hundreds of photos with your friends. Even expand your portable music, video, or photo collection by adding additional content through the convenient SD memory slot. The player also is available in 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, and 32 GB capacities.
A razor sharp 2.5-inch display makes your photos and videos come to life. See the Zen in detail.
Small size, big features--all in the palm of your hand.
Add even more storage capacity via the SD card slot.
Credit Card-sized Player Supports 16.7 Million Colors View your album art, videos, and photos on this 2.5-inch razor sharp TFT display. Your favorite photos will burst into life with 16.7 million colors on the fresh new Zen patented user interface. The TFT display works under sunlight and allows everyone to watch your home videos and vacation slideshows from any angle.
Truly a Multimedia Player Zen is the first Creative player to support unprotected AAC format, so you can enjoy all of your favorite CD tracks that you've ripped through iTunes software. Zen also supports iTunes Plus tracks from the iTunes store, in addition to MP3 and WMA music tracks. It also is compatible with music subscription services, such as Napster To Go and Rhapsody.
Zen also supports audio books from Audible.com. Download your favorite books to keep everyone entertained on long road trips, or download daily news reports every morning and listen to the news during your morning commute.
Watch purchased or rented movies and TV shows from online services like Amazon Unbox. Share home videos. Or load your Tivo To Go recorded movies and TV shows.
Plus, share your collections of latest photos in 16.7 million colors. Instantly turn your slideshows into attention-grabbing multimedia extravaganzas by adding your favorite song to the slideshow.
Expandable Memory Need more space? Add additional storage capacity with the built-in SD slot and easily play new music, videos, or photos on your player. With SD cards to go, carry virtually unlimited amounts of your digital library anywhere you go.
FM Radio In between your tunes, use the built-in FM radio to keep yourself up to date with world events, sports scores, or traffic reports. Or tune in to the program airing on the gym's TV while running on the treadmill.
Battery Life Enjoy up to 30 hours of your songs or 5 hours of video on a single charge--over a full day of music. Or 10 episodes of Scrubs!
What's in the Box Creative Zen 2 GB player, earphones, USB 2.0 cable, installation CD, quick start guide
A slick user interface makes it a snap to enjoy your media.
Creative Zen 2 GB Portable Media Player (Black) Specifications
This credit card-sized ZEN has a stunning 2.5" TFT color screen with 16.7 million color support that is perfect for viewing album art, videos and photos. Enjoy up to 500 MP3, WMA or AAC songs, watch up to 70 hours of videos and share hundreds of photos with your friends. Even expand your portable music, video or photo collection by adding additional content through the convenient SD memory slot. With SD cards to go, carry virtually unlimited amounts of your digital library anywhere you go. ZEN is the first Creative player to support unprotected AAC format, so you can enjoy all your favorite CD tracks that you've ripped through iTunes software. ZEN also supports iTunes Plus tracks from the iTunes store, in addition to MP3 and WMA music tracks. It is also compatible with music subscription services such as Napster To Go and Rhapsody. ZEN supports audio books from Audible too! In between your tunes, use the built-in FM radio to keep yourself up to date with world events, sports scores or traffic reports. Enjoy up to 30 hours of your songs or 5 hours of video on a single charge. That's over a full day of music! Or 10 episodes of Scrubs! Photo Format - JPEG and (with transcoding - GIF, TIFF, PNG and BMP) Organizer - Syncs with and views Microsoft Outlook Contacts, Calendar & Tasks FM radio with 32 presets Voice recorder Functions as an external hard drive Approximate Unit Dimensions - 3.26 (W) x 2.16 (H) x 0.44 (D) Approximate Unit Weight - 2.1 oz
i-nique Crystal polycarbonate mp3 Splash-Box Speaker system Review
i-nique Crystal polycarbonate mp3 Splash-Box Speaker system Feature
Adjustable volume
Requires 2 x AAA batteries
Spalshproof
Compatible for players up to 105x65
Comes with tiebacks on a bed of foam to secure your player in the box
i-nique Crystal polycarbonate mp3 Splash-Box Speaker system Overview
So you want to listen to you tunes whilst at the beach, pool, batch, shower ... we have an inexpensive solution. The new Splash-box allows you to listen to your player, whilst keeping it dry from splashes. Compatible for all mp3 players up to 105x65 including (Sony walkmans, Creative Zen , Ipod Classic, nano and shuffle, Cowon iaudio, Toshiba Gigabeat, Samsung, sandisk sansa and many others) (not compatible with (Iphone / ipod Touch)
Creative Zen Stone Plus 2 GB MP3 Player (Lime Green) Review
While it would be nice to be able to browse individual tracks, I knew I wasn't getting that when I bought this. I listen mostly to books, and it works very well for that. I just put all the MP3 files for each book in a single folder. The player remembers where I stopped, so it just picks back up when I turn it on.
More remarkable though is that I dropped this in the hot tub today, and it never skipped a beat. Still going strong!!
Nice player. I have nothing to compare it with, as it is my first MP3 player, but I really like it.
Creative Zen Stone Plus 2 GB MP3 Player (Lime Green) Feature
Product Type - MP3 Player
Connectivity - USB 2.0
Memory - 2GB
Dimensions WxDxH - 2.19" x 1.39" x 0.5"
-- Clock
Creative Zen Stone Plus 2 GB MP3 Player (Lime Green) Overview
The tiny ZEN Stone Plus is designed for life on the move. Compact and sporty looking, it comes in glossy color and can store up to a thousand songs. You're sure to fall in love with its smooth curves, round blue display with clock/stopwatch, FM radio and microphone. Whether you're running between lessons, keeping fit in the gym or commuting to the office, just pop the ZEN Stone Plus in a pocket and keep it with you all the time... because it's the MP3 player you'll love.
Creative Zen Stone Plus 2 GB MP3 Player (Lime Green) Specifications
Amazon.com Product Description The ZEN Stone Plus is a tiny 2GB MP3 player available in six fun colors. It may fit in your pocket, but it's packed with features: built-in FM radio with 32 presets, stopwatch, countdown timer, clock, and even a voice recorder. All this and 500 of your favorite songs for you to take anywhere.
Fill this tiny, action-packed 2GB MP3 Player with up to 500 of your favorite songs and take it with you everywhere.
View 360 demo
Six hot colors!
Ultra-Portable MP3 Player The ZEN Stone Plus weights less than an ounce, which means you can truly take it anywhere, in any pocket. It features 2 GB of flash memory, so you can put up to 500 of your favorite songs on the device. The Stone Plus supports MP3, WMA and Audible file formats, and its rechargeable Li-ion Polymer battery will give you up to 9.5 hours of playback. In a hurry? A 15-minute quick charge will give you 2 hours.
Songs Your Way Pull out your CD collection and rip your albums. You can download Creative Media Lite to rip CDs, manage folders, transfer files and access other essential functions.
The Stone Plus is compatible with most online music stores. Log onto the Internet and browse different music services for the songs you don't have. Download your favorite songs without paying for the whole album.
Built-In FM Radio When in the mood for something different, simply use the built-in FM radio. Set up to 32 station presets so you can catch up on the latest sports results or listen to your favorite talk show.
Keep Track of Time The built-in stopwatch, countdown timer and clock give you everything you need for your workout.
Voice Recorder Capture that thought when it hits you, or record lectures or meetings with the built-in microphone and voice recorder.
Protect Your Investment Every Zen MP3 player includes a 1-year parts / 90-day labor warranty and 60 days of complimentary telephone support. By purchasing a Creative Care Protection Plan within the first 90 days of ownership, you can protect your investment by extending the hardware coverage and telephone support of your product to 2 years from your original purchase date.
What's in the Box? ZEN Stone Plus, Earphones, USB 2.0 cable, Quick Start guide.
(5 in 1 New Creative Zen Kit, Many color available) Smooth Silicone Skin for Creative Zen Small Wonder Creative Labs New Creative Zen 4 Gb 8 Gb 16 Gb with Armaband and Removable Beltclip + Car Charger for Creative Zen 4g Zen 8g Zen 16g + Travel Charger for New Creative Zen 16g Mp3 Player + Retractable Data Cable for Creative Zen 8g 4g 16g Mp3 Player (Special Edition Black) Review
I bought this last summer for my player and I have loved it. I chose the green case, which turned out to be glow-in-the-dark. While the case doesn't keep dirt out of it completely, after a year of use, hardly any has made it beneath its surface to my Zen. Paired with a screen protector, this is perfect for your Zen's protection and charging needs. I can't say I've bothered with the arm band, but all of the other components have been great. I especially love the retractable cord. I also use Rhapsody and haven't experienced any problems due to the cord. The belt clip has also been rather handy. I use it with my player whenever I clean.
(5 in 1 New Creative Zen Kit, Many color available) Smooth Silicone Skin for Creative Zen Small Wonder Creative Labs New Creative Zen 4 Gb 8 Gb 16 Gb with Armaband and Removable Beltclip + Car Charger for Creative Zen 4g Zen 8g Zen 16g + Travel Charger for New Creative Zen 16g Mp3 Player + Retractable Data Cable for Creative Zen 8g 4g 16g Mp3 Player (Special Edition Black) Feature
Protect and personalize your creative Zen with this skin-tight cover. New creative Zen Skin Cover protects your zen from the elements by preventing scratches, minor dents, dirt, dust and fingerprints from accummulating. Durable silicone skin is tailor-fitted for the Creative Zen with openings for hold and volume switches, Dock connector and headphone jack with allows access to all Creative Zen functions. Comes with an optional armband for wearing on your wrist, arm or bicep. Also comes with removable beltclip. Compatible with New Creative Zen.
Package includes car charger for your new creative zen. Rapid car charger cigarette lighter adapter plugs into car or truck's 12V cigarette lighter socket. Enhanced internal circuitry to manage charging status and prevent over- and under-charging. Integrated electrical fuse to prevent damage to MP3 player.
Package also includes travel charger for creative zen. For the professional executive on the go, this charger is a must! The travel charger is lightweight and easy to carry while traveling. Simply plug one end into the wall, the other into the phone or desktop charger, and it will recharge and condition your battery.
Package also includes retractable data cable for creative zen. Retractable USB 2.0 data sync cable suitable for Creative Zen V and Zen V Plus media players. Compact and light-weight design. Allows high-speed music and data transfer between your Zen V and your computer or laptop. Plugs directly into the creative Zen. USB 2.0 and 1.1 compliant. Cable measures approx. 2.5 ft. long when fully extended
The Lexerd TrueVue™ is created from an ultra-clear film that is exclusive to Lexerd for covering consumer electronics. Transparent and amazingly thin, the TrueVue is designed to precisely match the contours of every device, providing unbeatable scratch protection. Lexerd TrueVue utilizes the latest LCD screen protection technology that will keep gadgets looking great.
- Keep your device crystal clear with the exclusive professional grade film, only available with Lexerd - Scratch-proof - you can show off your gadget and use it without fear of scratching - The ultra-thin film is only 0.2 mm thick and will not add bulk to your device. So you can still slip it into charging docks and handbags - Lexerd' s latest technology It allows the TrueVue to create precise, custom designs that hug the curves of your electronics - TrueVue is guaranteed to preserve original color tones
Package contents: Two each of the following items: screen protector, instruction manual, lint free cloth, finger cots (to protect optical surfaces during handling)
Creative Lab Zen V and V Plus Home Travel Wall Charger Review
I plug in my V+, it charges. That's that. I've seen a European version of the Creative charger, it's sleek. But this one works, and it costs, what, ? No complaints here.
Creative Lab Zen V and V Plus Home Travel Wall Charger Feature
Keep your Creative Zen V and Zen V Plus charged at your home, office or when you're traveling
Compatible with Creative Zen V and Zen V Plus 1gb, 2gb, 4gb, 6gb and 8gb
Charger specifications are the same as the home/travel charger that came with your Zen V Plus
Enhanced internal circuitry to manage charging status and prevent over- and under-charging
Integrated electrical fuse to prevent damage to Zen V Plus or battery
Creative Zen Vision / Zen Vision:M / Zen Vision W / Zen Sleek Car Charger Review
Creative Zen Vision / Zen Vision:M / Zen Vision W / Zen Sleek Car Charger Feature
Car Charger w/dock connector
Design for Zen Series: Zen Vision, Zen Vision M, Zen Vision W, Zen Sleek
Creative Zen Vision / Zen Vision:M / Zen Vision W / Zen Sleek Car Charger Overview
Zen Car Charger powers your player through your car's cigarette lighter. Enjoy continuous playback of your music library during those long commutes, spontaneous road trips and have your player fully charged when you reach your destination. Support all Zen Vision model.
Griffin PowerBlock for iPod and iPhone 1G (Black) Review
There is a reason why Griffin continues to be one of the "brands" people trust for iPod and iPhone accessories. It's not only their designs, but they usually always put out a quality product that delivers. This charger is no different.
While we all know the iPhone includes a charger, but who wants to have to use the sync cable for that all the time? I personally like having my sync cable near my computer, and prefer having a completely separate cable for charging. Just makes life a little more organized for me.
The charger features a shiny, plastic design, a flip out prong design, and, of of course, includes it own sync cable. The charger also features an LED light to indicate when charging is complete (it will change from red to green).
Wonderful product, probably not the greatest price, but well worth it considering the Griffin name.
Griffin PowerBlock for iPod and iPhone 1G (Black) Feature
Power almost any iPod (or iPhone) from almost any wall outlet
Compact size makes it ideal for traveling
Use as a spare charge/sync cable for your iPod or iPhone
Works well with international adapters and in multi-outlet configurations
Griffin PowerBlock for iPod and iPhone 1G (Black) Overview
A new slimmer design makes this charger even more functional than before. Plug into virtually any wall outlet for on-the-spot charging of your iPod. The PowerBlock features standard, Type A USB connectors and flat-blade non-polarized wall prongs.
Griffin PowerBlock for iPod and iPhone 1G (Black) Specifications
Lexerd - Creative Labs Zen Vision W TrueVue Anti-glare MP3 Screen Protector Review
Lexerd - Creative Labs Zen Vision W TrueVue Anti-glare MP3 Screen Protector Feature
Ultra Thin
Anti-glare
Guarantee To Preserve Original Color Tones
Heat, Water Resistance, Against Scratches and Shields Damage
Not Interfere with Touch screen Technology
Lexerd - Creative Labs Zen Vision W TrueVue Anti-glare MP3 Screen Protector Overview
The Lexerd TrueVue™ is created from an ultra-clear film that is exclusive to Lexerd for covering consumer electronics. Transparent and amazingly thin, the TrueVue is designed to precisely match the contours of every device, providing unbeatable scratch protection. Lexerd TrueVue utilizes the latest LCD screen protection technology that will keep gadgets looking great.
- Keep your device Anti-glare with the exclusive professional grade film, only available with Lexerd - Scratch-proof - you can show off your gadget and use it without fear of scratching - The ultra-thin film is only 0.2 mm thick and will not add bulk to your device. So you can still slip it into charging docks and handbags - Lexerd' s latest technology It allows the TrueVue to create precise, custom designs that hug the curves of your electronics - TrueVue is guaranteed to preserve original color tones
Package contents: One each of the following items: screen protector, instruction manual, lint free cloth, finger cots (to protect optical surfaces during handling)
Creative Zen Vision 30 GB Multimedia Player Black Review
Pros:
A lot of features such as Video Playback, MP3, Organizer, Alarm Clock, Voice Recorder, FM Tuner. Using their software is basically like opening up explorer in Windows. Resolution and sound quality are nice. Having buttons instead of a touch pad allows for more precise control. Removable battery pack is nice. There is an additional extended battery pack available for purchase. Has a speaker so you can blast ghetto music in a fancy restaurant if you'd like. Can take a CompactFlash card to transfer data. Many other fun features.
Cons:
OMG is it HUGE!!! I honestly wasn't expecting it to be THAT big. I thought "hm... maybe a little bit bigger than the Zen Vision M...?" This thing is almost the exact same size as my Nintendo DS! I just can't get over how HUGE it is. It's a bit of a turn off for those who might want to use it to exercise and walk around with. Think super old school Walkman but significantly heavier! When the delivery guy dropped it off, I was shocked that the box was so HUGE!! I thought they had sent me the wrong item! And then I opened it...!!! I was almost repulsed by how prehistoric it looked!
More cons... The thing LAGS. It definitely doesn't operate nearly as fast as the iPod when switching menus. I guess that's because of all the things it offers. It does get to be a little bit tedious and frustrating.
Even more cons... Lack of accessories. I guess I probably won't need a toughskin or protector for this thing, because if I drop it, it'll damage whatever it lands on, purely by its size.
Overall, as far as the functions of this player are concerned, I'm happy with it. However, I'm still trying to get over the ridiculous size of the thing. Do I dare bring it out in public? What would my friends say? Would people stare?! I highly suspect that they will laugh.
Oh well... I guess I was really only going to use it to play music in the car. I must remember to hide it in the glove box before I let any passengers in the car.
Creative Zen Vision 30 GB Multimedia Player Black Feature
30 GB multimedia center holds tens of thousands of photos, up to 120 hours of videos, and 15,000 songs
Stunning visuals with the 3.7-inch SharpPix high resolution 262,144 color screen with transflective technology
Plug&View CompactFlash card slot lets you quickly transfer and view photos from your digital cameras in crisp thumbnail galleries
Built-in FM radio and Recorder
Supports MPEG-1/2/4-SP, Windows Media Video (WMV) 9, Motion-JPEG, DivX 4 and 53, Xvid-SP3 video formats, and MP3, WMA and WMA with DRM autio formats
Creative Zen Vision 30 GB Multimedia Player Black Overview
Zen Vision's 30GB multimedia center is bound to impress anyone who wants to carry all their digital entertainment files - tens of thousands of photos, up to 120 hours of videos, and 15,000 songs - everywhere. Zen Vision is not only lightweight and slim, beneath its classy magnesium casing are features that will fulfill all your digital entertainment needs.
Creative ZEN Stone Plus Skin 3 in 1 Pack (Black, Blue, Pink) Review
I couldn't have asked for better service. I got exactly what I wanted in about 3 days of ordering. I didn't have any problems with pieces being broken and it came quickly, which was nice. The skins look great and work really well so far...no tearing, breakage, etc. Very happy with my purchase.
Creative ZEN Stone Plus Skin 3 in 1 Pack (Black, Blue, Pink) Feature
3 fun colors
Choose the color that flaunts your style
Removable Clip
Attach your ZEN to your pocket, shirt or bag
Anti-slip grip
Creative ZEN Stone Plus Skin 3 in 1 Pack (Black, Blue, Pink) Overview
It fits your player like a second skin. Designed to keep your player safe from any ugly scratches or unforeseen knocks.
Creative ZEN Stone Plus Skin 3 in 1 Pack (Black, Blue, Pink) Specifications
Now that you have your easily portable Zen Stone Plus MP3 player, use the skin with clip pack to dress up the Zen Stone Plus to suit your tastes. Offering robust versatility, the skin pack comes with three skins, and each skin features a different color: black, blue, and pink. Each skin is compatible with the included removable clip, an ideal feature for attaching the player to your pants, shirt, or bag. The clip can be removed for simplified storage in a pocket. The skin is made of durable silicon that offers the player stylish protection in an anti-slip design.
Rapid Car Charger with Ic Chip for Creative Zen Vision V, V Plus, Micro, Micro Photo, Muvo Slim, Xmod, Stone, Neeon 2, Neeon 512mb, Neeon 1gb, Neeon 2gb, Neeon 5gb, Neeon 6gb Review
I've tried several aftermarket chargers and none of them worked on my Zen. I thought I'd "roll the dice" on this charger and go ahead and buy it. To my surprise, it's not only high quality, but it really worked! I'm so happy. When I first got my Zen mp3 player (Creative Zen V Plus 4 GB Portable Media Player (Black/Blue))I became frustrated quickly when I noticed that accessories for the thing were nowhere to be found except online at the Creative website. "Sure, sucker - we've got a car charger for ya. That'll be .99 plus .97 ground shipping!" Almost 40 bucks for a cheapass charger? If I'm gonna pay THAT kinda money, I should have just gotten an iPod player for the ridiculously convenient access to a myriad of accessories, but I didn't want to adhere to a monopoly. Well, I won't be buying Creative again in the future, but I would certainly buy this product's brand!
Rapid Car Charger with Ic Chip for Creative Zen Vision V, V Plus, Micro, Micro Photo, Muvo Slim, Xmod, Stone, Neeon 2, Neeon 512mb, Neeon 1gb, Neeon 2gb, Neeon 5gb, Neeon 6gb Feature
Brand new non-OEM. Vehicle Lighter Adaptor. (12~24v DC)
Short circuit protection. LED charging indication.
Plug never heats or overcharges the battery.
Intelligent IC chip inside recognizes a full battery and automatically switch to a saver.
Rapid Car Charger with Ic Chip for Creative Zen Vision V, V Plus, Micro, Micro Photo, Muvo Slim, Xmod, Stone, Neeon 2, Neeon 512mb, Neeon 1gb, Neeon 2gb, Neeon 5gb, Neeon 6gb Overview
Compatibility with Creative Zen Vision V, V Plus, Micro, Micro Photo, MuVo Slim, Xmod, Stone, Neeon 2, Neeon 512MB, Neeon 1GB, Neeon 2GB, Neeon 5GB, Neeon 6GB
Creative Zen X-Fi 8 GB Video MP3 Player with Built-In Speaker (Black/Silver) Review
I've owned some of the best there is: Zune HD 16 GB Video MP3 Player (Black), Apple iPod touch 8 GB (3rd Generation) NEWEST MODEL, and now this one. I can safely say that one is really not "better" than the other - it's all a matter of what you intend to do with the device. When you boil it down to its core, you need to find out exactly what you want - and then get that device, even if it's not necessarily the most 'popular' of them all.
I'd been using my Blackberry Storm as a media player. For the record I only needed such a device to funnel audio out to my car as my current car does not have iPod or other inputs, nor does it have USB or flash inputs. That only leaves me with Line In - opens up the possibilities, limits the coolness. I don't watch videos on the go except on my netbook, so I don't need a small video player. I don't use it as a picture device; the Storm can handle that. Same for a voice recorder. I only need it for music. The problem with the iPod Touch is that it's essentially a toy: a device that you can play with all day and lets you do whatever you want without having to carry multiple devices; yet it doesn't really do any one thing all that well. The Zune HD is a music and video player, and it excels in music management, but it suffers from (A) a price that's a bit iffy for the size, and (B) proprietary connectors and software that are turnoffs for someone on the move like myself, not to mention (C) issues with Wi-Fi that I've spoken to in my other review.
Enter the Creative Zen X-Fi. On Black Friday I decided to buy a media player, and it was going to be one of the aforementioned three. I settled on the X-Fi because it seemed to offer everything I needed: A way to get a bunch of music portable and accessible with a reasonable price point, in an attractive form factor. It's already more than proven it's up to the task, being able to continuously play music on a 10 hour drive and still have more than 3/4ths power remaining. The audio quality is comparable to what I would get playing the music from an MP3 CD, which is about what I expected to get. It also has a built-in speaker, and others have commented that the speaker quality sucks. I don't agree. If X-Fi is on, the speaker sounds quite robust to be so small (which makes you wonder why they can't use the same technology in cell phone speakers). It's not going to rock a party, but it's more than sufficient to have sitting by your desk to play some music without earphones. I did have some issues which I will speak to, but for now I'm satisfied with the device on the whole. I find it to be worth the price I paid.
=- What the Zen X-Fi Does RIGHT -=
- Small form factor, easy to carry, easy to obscure - Attractive design - Most attractive packaging I've ever seen - Uses standard mini USB to communicate, sync and charge - Support for connecting to media servers wirelessly - Mass Storage and software sync support - you can drag and drop files or use WMP, WMC, TVersity, etc. to sync your files - Native support in Windows 7; it will show up in Devices and Printers as a Zen X-Fi, no external driver needed, with full connectivity - Audio quality is quite superior to the iPod Touch in my opinion. Zune HD is higher on the scale, but does not have the external speaker - Lots of memory AND an SD card slot to go even higher
=- What the Zen X-Fi Does WRONG -=
- The included earbuds look fantastic but sound horrific. I mean, they sound worse than the built-in speaker. That's sad. - No apparent support for shuffle play within a genre. For example, if I select a genre, it won't allow me to play songs in random order, only alphabetically. - No backlight. The front interface seems to scream for it, yet it is not here. - Button placement is rather haphazard. Play/Pause is on the bottom right - no problems there, but then navigation buttons are an odd array of 9 metal buttons with no markings to tell you what they do or how to use them. When you navigate you're using the center crosshair buttons, and if you're in the dark, you have to "feel" it out. Very annoying. Also, when trying to type something in, you have to use these same navigation buttons, and instead of a cellphone-like manner, they're...I can't describe it. Trust me that it's uncomfortable. - Navigation buttons are a tad bit hard to press. I don't know why they didn't make them clear acrylic like the other four music buttons. - Album art won't show up unless you sync with software (i.e. you can't drag and drop). This is a bit troubling, since the artist/song information doesn't change either way. That the device is not smart enough to go get it at the time you drag and drop it, seems like a very small thing that was overlooked. For the record, I drag and drop because it's faster than sync, plus I'm not then held hostage to that software if I need to make changes to my musical makeup. - Videos require sync (you can use Windows 7, doesn't have to be Creative's software, but still), even though their native formats (WMV, MP4, MPG) are supported by the device. Why can't I just drag and drop them?? The sync takes 5 times as long to complete! I mean I love that it's got so many formats it supports and all, but it really should support drag and drop all the way around. Seriously. I don't even use the feature and this is the primary reason why - too much hassle. - No included wall charger. At all. You have to charge on a computer or buy a charger. I *think* a mini USB charger like the one for the BlackBerry Pearl might work, but I've never tried it.
So...do I recommend it? At its current price it is definitely a solid product...but it does have issues. For someone who only needs to be able to play music it's light years ahead of the competition. IF you're the kind of person who is a 24-hour device head, get the iPod Touch. If you're the kind of person who wants to sync his media with his computer and his 360, get the Zune HD. The Creative Zen X-Fi is a 5 star music player, a 4 star device, and that's what this review is trying to tell you.
Creative Zen X-Fi 8 GB Video MP3 Player with Built-In Speaker (Black/Silver) Feature
A firmware bug could result in the player locking when playing the FM radio; to fix the problem, upgrade the latest firmware (1.04.08) posted on support.creative.com
Capacity: 8 GB (2,000 songs or 30 hours of video); up to 30 hours of continuous audio playback or 5 hours of continuous video playback on one charge
2.5-inch TFT LCD with 320 x 240 pixel resolution: 16.7 million colors
Supports MP3, WMA, AAC5, WAV (ADPCM), Audible 2,3,4 audio formats; MJPEG, WMV, MPEG-4 video (including DivX and XviD); and JPEG photo formats
1-year limited hardware / 90 days service warranty
Creative Zen X-Fi 8 GB Video MP3 Player with Built-In Speaker (Black/Silver) Overview
Experience your MP3 music as the artist originally intended with the Creative Zen X-Fi--the first player to restore the quality of compressed music with award-winning X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity Audio technology. Indulge in rich, crystal-clear audio when you listen to your music, as the detail thats lost during file compression is now beautifully restored and played through premium-quality, noise-isolatling EP-830 earphones.
Creative Zen X-Fi 8 GB Video MP3 Player with Built-In Speaker (Black/Silver) Specifications
Experience your MP3 music as the artist originally intended with the Creative Zen X-Fi--the first player to restore the quality of compressed music with award-winning X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity Audio technology. Indulge in rich, crystal-clear audio when you listen to your music, as the detail that's lost during file compression is now beautifully restored and played through premium-quality, noise-isolatling EP-830 earphones.
Creative Zen X-Fi, built with X-Fi technology--the sound of perfection.
A pocket-sized player that weighs a mere 2.4 ounces, the Zen X-Fi sports attractive curves with a graceful finish.
The included EP-830 earphones provide optimum comfort with excellent noise isolation.
A control/feature schematic.
Immerse yourself in the brilliant 2.5-inch TFT screen with 16.7 million colors as you watch your movies and view your pictures.
Sleek Beauty A pocket-sized player that weighs a mere 2.4 ounces, the Zen X-Fi sports attractive curves with a graceful finish. Immerse yourself in the brilliant 2.5-inch TFT screen with 16.7 million colors as you watch your movies and view your pictures. Build with X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity Audio technology, the player lets you experience the very essence of music perfection as you listen to audio in crystal clear clarity. Hear your music the way it was always meant to be heard. Plus, the included EP-830 earphones provide optimum comfort with excellent noise-isolation capability. Or, be the life of the party as you share your music out loud with the powerful built-in speaker.
More Content, Endless Enjoyment Listen to your music in multiple supported formats, such as MP3, WMA, and (non-protected) AAC (m4a) from iTunes Plus. Download Creative Centrale to rip, transfer, and manage your media content easily. Enjoy the ultimate collection of free video and audio podcast channels on www.zencast.com. Manage all of your favorite subscriptions with Zencast Organizer, and experience the best of the free-to-share formats available. Tired of your own music? Switch to the FM radio. The 32 station presets let you switch stations with ease. Increase the size of your portable media library with an SD or SDHC card. Transfer your files easily to enjoy more videos, music, and photos in your player.
Packed with Features Record your important meetings or personal audio memos with the integrated voice recorder. Set audio effects to enhance your overall music listening experience. Choose from eight EQ presets or customize your own EQ and enhance it all with bass boost and smart volume controls. Start the day on the right note with your very own alarm tone. You can even set the alarm for any day of the week.
What's in the Box Creative Zen X-Fi 8 GB, installation CD, quick start guide, EP-830 noise-isolating earbuds, USB 2.0 cable
Creative Zen Sleek Photo 20 GB Multimedia Player (Aluminum/White) Review
I first purchased this product on eBay for roughly seven months ago and, in that time, it has become one of my best friends. As a big music lover, I was getting tired of constantly changing CDs in my car to listen to music, so I decided to purchase an MP3 player for usage with my cassette adapter.
Of course, the most obvious choice would have been an iPod, but I really hate the way it works (especially how Apple forces you to use iTunes). I looked at Microsoft Zune too, but it was a bit too expensive for my taste. Then I stumbled upon the Creative Zen Sleek Photo: A 20GB MP3 player at an amazingly low price. I did not even expect to get more than 4-8GB, so this was a great deal to me.
Well, it has been close to a year now, and I am ready to give my review. I can summarized everything in this sentence: Amazing MP3 player, but not without its flaws.
Lets discuss the positives about this player first. To begin, as it is created by one of the top sound companies in the PC industry (Creative), you would think that audio quality is a big thing with this player, and it does not disappoint. Aside from good general quality, the Zen Sleek comes with an audio equalizer, and quality options like bass boost and smart volume.
The screen itself is large and easy to see with readable text. Albums are sorted by Artists, Album, and so on (or alternatively, you can choose all music). Now most people choose an iPod because it is very small, but to be honest, I find that highly uncomfortable. The iPod doesn't fit well in my hand whereas the Zen Sleek does and it feels much better to me. I also like the fact that the Zen Sleek has hard buttons (i.e. a Play/Stop, Fast Forward, Fast Rewind, etc) as opposed to making a single, awkward control similar to the iPod. Of course, the Zen Sleek does have a smooth slider that is used to control volume, but while its awkward at first, you get used to it, and it really is more useful than hard volume buttons.
Concerning all the extra details, the Zen Sleek definitely does itself well. It has an exceedingly long battery life and I find that I am able to leave it without charging for weeks, yet still turn it on with good battery life. Furthermore, it comes with an FM tuner for those who likes radio, and the Zen Sleek players the two most common MP3 formats (MP3 and WMA); if you have songs in other formats, the Creative software will convert it for you. Lastly, the software for it (Zen Media Explorer) is light weight, and very easy to use. You can use Windows Media Player, but I really do recommend the Zen Media Player.
Now then, what about the flaws? To be truthful, I can really only think of three flaws with the player, and only the first two are major. The first and the biggest flaw is that the company, Creative, does not offer the Zen Sleek software on its website. Since I purchased this player used, it did not come with the CD software, so I needed it. Because Creative failed to offer it (despite offering the software for some of their other players), I ended up having to search for days online in order to get it. This was tremendously exhausting and it counts as a major point against Creative for failing to include the software (which isn't even all that large at 300MB). Fortunately, some other enterprising souls have realized this problem, and are now hosting the Creative software themselves on their website, so there's no longer any need to search a long time to find it.
Secondly, the Creative Zen Sleek Photo offers lots of way to sort music, but what annoys me is that it doesn't offer the most obvious sorting method of all: by filename. Instead, almost all of the sorting is done through the entries in the IDv2/IDv3 tags. Now, most people who have MP3 files largely just bother with the filenames and ignore the IDv2/IDv3 tags, so the fact that Creative did not allow sorting by this method is a huge oversight on their part. I had to download software which allowed me to batch change multiple IDv2/IDv3 tags at once (because I couldn't do it myself since there were hundreds of files) so that the files sorted the way I wanted it to in the Zen Sleek.
Lastly, the other flaw I want to talk about is really minor. It is that the reset hole (located under the player) was made too tiny. Most other electronics makes the reset button easy to use or, in some cases, makes it so that a common household item, such as a paperclip, can reach it. The Zen Sleek has a reset hole so tiny, however, that the only thing that can reach it is a needle pin. Honestly, was that really needed? The few times that I needed to reset the player, I was not able to do so easily. The first time; I had to ask someone to loan me a needle pin they had. The second time; I simply allowed it to run out of battery (which is not easy considering its long battery life), then I turned it on through recharge after it shut off itself.
Other than these flaws I mentioned, the Zen Sleek Photo really is an awesome player, though. Overall, I would give it these ratings: 1) Sound Quality - 5/5; Great sound quality 2) Functionality - 5/5; Great options to improve sound, many extra features 3) Design - 4/5; Player fits well in hand, resetting could be easier 4) Ease of Use - 3/5; Software/Player is very easy to use, but software should be available on website, sorting by filename should also be available 5) Overall - 4/5; A great MP3 player to own
Creative Zen Sleek Photo 20 GB Multimedia Player (Aluminum/White) Feature
20 GB audio/photo jukebox capable of playing image slideshows with music
Compatible with MP3, WMA, and secure WMA-DRM PlaysForSure music files
FM tuner with recording capability and voice recorder; syncs with Outlook for transfers
1.7-inch OLED screen with 262,144 colors; up to 19 hours playback per battery charge
Measures 2.3 by 3.9 by 0.63 inches (W x H x D); 1-year parts warranty (90 days labor)
Creative Zen Sleek Photo 20 GB Multimedia Player (Aluminum/White) Overview
The elegant way to enjoy share music and photos! Creative's Zen Sleek Photo with bright color OLED display is the stylish way to share images and enjoy audio. Its slender profile, in aluminum and white, is easy to hold and the advanced touchpad control places all functions a fingertip away. Much more than just an MP3 player, it can store and display thousands of photos as well as up to 10, 000 songs and gives playtimes up to 19 hours. The advanced color OLED screen displays photos with extra brightness and a wide angle of vision. With built-in FM radio and microphone as well, the Zen Sleek Photo is the personal fun center for people who like to share!
Creative Zen Sleek Photo 20 GB Multimedia Player (Aluminum/White) Specifications
Amazon.com Product Description Living up to its name, the svelte and elegantly designed Creative Zen Sleek Photo Multimedia Player can carry thousands of MP3 and WMA music files as well as your favorite snapshots. It is compatible with secure PlaysForSure WMA files downloaded from online music stores and subscription services (like MTV's Urge, Napster, and Rhapsody).
View the stunning, high-intensity 1.7-inch OLED screen from any angle.
The Sleek Photo 20 GB player holds up to 10,000 WMA or 5,000 MP3 songs. View larger.
This 20 GB digital audio player will store up to 10,000 WMA (encoded at 64 Kbps) or 5,000 MP3 (128 KBps) CD-quality songs. The internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers up to 19 hours of continuous play. The cutting edge, 1.7-inch OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) screen looks terrific from every angle and it draws less power than conventional LCD displays. It displays 262,144 vivid colors, ensuring every picture is sharply detailed and extraordinarily clear. In addition to standard slideshows, you can also set up custom slideshows complete with music.
Tune in to the built-in FM radio (which features 32 station presets) and listen live or record programming for listening when you're ready. Use the built-in microphone to record your voice--dictate memos, record meetings, hours of notes, lectures and reminders. Sync with Microsoft Outlook to transfer your calendar, contacts and task list so you'll never forget important anniversaries and appointments. You can also use the Zen Sleek Photo as an external hard drive for saving and transferring your most important files.
The equalization feature offers nine acoustic environments, such as "rock" and "jazz," enabling you to customize your listening environment. Other features include a 5-band graphic equalizer, easy-to-use touch pad control buttons, and upgradeable firmware. It connects to PCs via a USB 2.0 connection (cable included)--which features download speeds of up to one second per song--and it's compatible with Windows XP SP1/SP2 systems with Windows Media Player 10 software.
The Zen Sleek Photo Multimedia Player uses PlaysForSure technology. Look for the PlaysForSure logo if you're shopping for a portable music or video device and you want to make sure the digital music and video you purchase will play back on it every time. Match the PlaysForSure logo on a large selection of leading devices and online music stores. If you see the logo, you'll know your digital music will play for sure. Choose from a large number of digital music and video stores, including MTV's Urge, Rhapsody, Yahoo!, MSN Music, MusicMatch, MusicNow, Napster, Wal-Mart Music Downloads, and many more.
What's in the Box Zen Sleek Photo digital audio player, earphones, power adapter, USB cable, pouch, CD-ROM with software and user guide, and printed Quick Start guide.
