Getting Creative with Chat
Posted by Zealot on 06/29/08 in Music Players
It appears that long time digital audio technology leader Creative has a product in the pipeline that would combine an MP3 players with a text messaging device, the Zen X-Fi. An interesting approach certainly, but I am a little dubious there will be a market for it as the combination seems a little bit like digital chalk and cheese. The clever fellows over at epiZENter.net have a very iPhonish leaked pic and apparently confirmation from the depths of the Creative website, where they found post-sales materials for the device.
The feature set is certainly interesting if a bit odd, including an SD card expansion slot and a built in Speaker. No words on video or storage size.
The real keys to the device appear to be:
- Wi-Fi for Chatting and Streaming: A Nine button keypad is added, replacing the traditional D-pad, designed to be used like a phone for texting and chatting in IM programs. These are contacted via the built in Wi-Fi. The wireless is also used to stream music to/from Creatives “Public Media Center” or a home server for syncing/playing.
- X-Fi: I have been using Creative’s X-Fi technology through a desktop device connected to my laptop for about a year now. It promises to improve the sometimes flat sound of digital music and it comes through, improving both the tone and the range of MP3s and giving more of a 3D depth to the sound. Creative has been promising a portable player using that tech for some time, and apparently this is it. Some audiophiles claim not to hear a difference with X-Fi but I definitely do, and it will be interesting to see how the technology plays to the much wider PM-buying audience.
So, will this new Zen be able to rival the Zune as a non-iPod music player choice? The text messaging aspect seems to be a very strange kind of fit but is certainly unique, and the built in streaming and X-Fi are certainly welcome additions to the PMP world.
No official announcement on this one from Creative yet, but keep your eyes on epiZENter.net if the device appeals to you, as I can bet they will get any release information first.
Written by Zealot · Filed Under Music Players
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I like this, how much does it cost?