Creative introduces the Vado HD, officially [EXCLUSIVE]

After weeks of speculations, Creative officially reveals its crown jewel for this holiday, the Creative Vado HD. The new Vado HD is the same size as the old Vado (except for the protuding lens part) though it weights 16grams more.

However, the Vado HD packs more punch with it's high definition function and its pre-included HDMI cable and silicone skin. In the accessories department, we have a new waterproof pouch and a yet-to-be announced flexible tripod stand.

Although the Vado HD is still unable to take still pictures, you can use the pre-loaded software to select 1 of the 30 frames (Vado Hd records at 30 frames per second) and capture an image.

We will be getting a review set of the Vado HD, so do check back on us for a detailed review of the new pocket video cam from Creative! The Vado HD will retail at SGD$349 in Singapore and USD$199.99 in the US. Its Europe pricing is expected to be about 149EUR.

[OFFICIAL PRODUCT PAGE]
[PRE-ORDER IN US]

[PRESS RELEASE]

[MYVADO.COM]

EXCLUSIVE: Creative introduces the ZEN Moo, does not contain melamine

Creative latest MP3 player is called the ZEN Moo. Yes, ZEN-freaking-cow-moo. This China-only (i'm praying it is) MP3 player comes in 2 versions, the ZEN Moo and the, you guess it, ZEN Moo Plus. The ZEN Moo is basically your ZEN Stone with built in speaker now in the form of a cow. The ZEN MOO Plus comes with an OLED screen, in-built speaker, FM radio, decent 20 hours play time, microphone and also comes with games (where you can feed and train your cow). For the ZEN Moo Plus, you are to navigate the player using the cow's horns and nose. Both players only come in 2GB capacity. I hear there is also a pair of "Moo speakers" which I think will also look like two cows. If you ask me what I think of the ZEN Moo, I can only say that Creative is really starting to get real creative.

Exclusive: Why Vado HD trashes Mino HD

As we get more information on the Vado HD, it seems clearer to us that the new pocket video cam from Creative is a winner (at least against its long time archrival, the Flip Mino HD). Remember the protuding lens that we mentioned in our last post? That appears to be Wide Angle Lens! This means that we now have a wider field of view, which allow us to capture more on our videos. Although the Mino HD captures videos in HD, it can't output HD to TV as it uses the low-res NTSC cable for TV-OUT. The Vado HD on the other hand has HDMI output to HDTV 1080i! If you are not yet convinced to buy the Vado HD, how about this: although the Vado HD cost cheaper than the Mino HD (this is base on the conversion of it's Singapore selling price to US dollars), it has DOUBLE (8GB) the capacity. At 8GB, you can easily record up to 2 hours of HD recordings. While the Mino HD removed its previously popular Movie Mix in-built software (to allow you to make professional-looking home videos), Creative decided to throw in its own built-in movie making software with the Vado HD. We're inching towards the official release of the Vado HD, which would be a perfect gift for your loved ones this christmas. We will have more exclusives for you, do check back on us!

High Definition Vado says "Flip who?" [EXCLUSIVE]

The pocket video camera race just got hotter. Just after a day the Flip Mino goes HD, are we seeing a high definition Vado?

According to a user named "vado" (yes, no space for imagination there) on Vimeo, all his videos were recorded on "a very lightweight camera capable of taking HD quality footages". Compared to the videos released by the Flip Mino HD, these vado videos are way more spectacular with better audio recordings! If you need more convincing, just look at the video above of the first F1 night race in Singapore.

We're sure we will be seeing more of this up-coming product from Creative. Keep coming back for the latest on everything Creative!

[MORE VADO HD VIDEO]

EXCLUSIVE: Creative picks Apt-X Audio Codec

APT (Audio Processing Technology Ltd) today announces a technology agreement with Creative, which facilitates the deployment of APT’s high-performance apt-X® audio codec technology in new products for global consumer electronics markets.

This technology will provide Creative with outstanding audio quality, ultra low latency (unnoticeable delays between an input being processed and the corresponding output), strong error resilience (ability to detect errors and continue to decode despite errors and finally correct the errors) that enhance the user experience and versatility of digital audio delivered over short-range wireless connectivity.

Potential applications of apt-X in Creative products include stereo headsets, wireless speaker products and home entertainment systems.

This is pretty much in line with the direction that Creative is heading. It recently released it's first wireless Sound Blaster X-Fi Notebook ExpressCard and X-Fi receiver and the HS-1200 wireless gaming headset. Kent Lew, Creative Regional Marketing for Asia also let slip of the company's next strategy, which is to create a "wireless audio ecosystem".

"While desktop computers will still be our core business, we're foreseeing a growth in the gaming and mobile business, that's why we're launching products that cater to these segments," Lew said.

While the idea of wireless is good, those of you who actually own wireless products would know that it could sometime be a very tedious affair to get the wireless products to communicate with each other and even if you did, the quality is sometimes laggy and mediocre. And Creative's wants to solve this problem by partnering with APT to implement Apt-X Audio Codec into its product. What does this partnership means to regular consumers like us?

The Apt-X works with Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile, VHF FM, 2.4GHz ISM, or other proprietary wireless standards. The next generation of ZEN can have built-in bluetooth (or the more stable 2.4GHz) which will then allow you to wireless-ly stream audio across the room to a pair of wireless GigaWorks, with no lag or distortion or whatsoever. Currently, there are no existing Creative products that is using Apt-X but one other pro-audio brand that have licensed Apt-X is Shure.

Before we go, I'm sure some of you still doesn't have the faintest idea of what Apt-X Audio is. Simply put, Apt-X is a near-lossless form of digital audio "predictive" compression that works in actual real-time and delivers superior audio quality. Apt-X is great for live transmission, that's why it's been widely adopted by radio & TV broadcasters, and movie post production recording studios (like George Lucas's Skywalker Sound). DTS has used apt-X in its surround sound systems for movie theaters.

We will keep you updated on the development of the Creative-Apt-x partnership, which most likely will be during January's CES 2009 ;) We will also have the link for you when the press release is up.

[APT WEBSITE]

[PRESS RELEASE]

Hear It Everywhere, today.

Today is 17 September, a day Creative promises to take the Xtreme Fidelity standard a step further with wireless freedom. Introducing the Sound Blaster X-Fi Sound Card. Not only does it makes your music sound way better with Creative Xtreme Fidelity sound technology, it also feature a wireless function which allows you to stream your music to any part of the house with the help of a wireless receiever.

The X-Fi Notebook Sound Card will retail for $89.99 in the US or $79.99 Euros or £59.99 end of September. In Singapore, the Card is sold together with the Creative Wireless Receiver for SGD$269 from October onwards. It is a ExpressCard slot, PC-only device. It features Creative's Xtreme Fidelity technology, CMSS-3D and EAX Advanced HD for realistic music and gaming experience.

Main features:

-Broadcast your music with Xtreme Fidelity anywhere around the house with your notebook

-Supports up to 4 Creative Wireless Receivers

-Each receiver can be placed 30ms/100 feet away from the notebook

- Individual ‘zones' can be created around the home to control playback independently

Package Contents:

Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Notebook

Earphones

QuickStart Booklet

Installation CD

Travel Pouch

ExpressCard/54 slot plastic adaptor

Some of you must be disappointed that it wasn't a new player that Creative was hinting at. Was the X-Fi Notebook Sound Card worthy of a teaser press event? We don't think so. But it certainly made many Creative fans excited about today. The X-Fi Notebook Sound Card isn't a very bad product, I do think it's pretty cool and awesome look. Afterall, the percentage of notebook users have been increasing rapidly and Creative is right in catering to this growing group of consumers. However, I'm not sure how many of us would spend that kind of money to purchase both the sound card and receiver. Tell us how you feel about it in the comments section!

[SOUND BLASTER X-FI NOTEBOOK PRODUCT PAGE]

[CREATIVE WIRELESS RECEIVER PRODUCT PAGE]

[PRESS RELEASE]

Is this the new ZEN Vision?

After Creative announced its intention of going flash, the fate of its HD-based ZEN Vision line of players have been left hanging. The ZEN Vision: M and W, though bulky, were highly popular players as they truly support a wide array of codecs without the need for conversion. The above diagrams are from a "portable media device" patent issued to Creative Technology this year. The design indicates a wider than 2.5" screen, a removable battery, an SD Slot and built-in speaker at the top and even a docking connector at the bottom. Could this very well be Creative's update to the ZEN Vision line? Well, considering that Creative had used every design patent issued to them so far (ZEN Vision W, ZEN Vision: M, ZEN V Plus, ZEN Stone, ZEN Touch, ZEN Sleek to name a few), we can safely say we have found our ZEN (although the design does seem alittle outdated!).

[PATENT LINK]

NBC EXCLUSIVE: ZEN Mozaic now in Blue

The Creative ZEN Mozaic now comes in blue! This seems to be just a color update to the Mozaic with no change in spec. We have no word yet on which capacity the blue Mozaic will come in but once we do, you guys will be the first to know. After toying with the Mozaic, I realised that the headphone jack is really tight! Each time I pull out my earphones, I have this awful feeling that the whole jack whould come out. I certainly hope this would not snowball into the previous ZEN Micro head jack issue. Any of you who have the Mozaic have a similar problem?

EXCLUSIVE: Creative at IFA 2008

After showing you Creative's booth at COMEX Singapore, we are bringing you an exclusive look at Creative's offering at this year's IFA. The IFA is especially important to Creative as Europe has always been Creative's strong hold and largest market. If you could recall, Creative launched the ZEN Vision W during IFA 2006 and the ZEN in 2007 also at the IFA. Although we expect no announcement of a new player during IFA 2008, we believe that Creative's current array of new players and audio solutions is sufficient to keep its booth abuzz. Pure Music, Pure Fun is this year's theme for Creative's booth.

First Look: GigaWorks T3

The above are pictures of the yet-to-be-released GigaWorks T3. The 2.1 speaker system is a new addition to the high-end GigaWorks family. It features Creative's latest SLAM (Symmertrically Loaded Acoustic Module) technology that enables the subwoofer to deliver a "thunderous output". Its eco-friendly Low Standby Power technology (which is patent pending) will allow it to consume a negligible amount of power in standby mode. There will also be an update to the Inspire family with the new Inspire T3200 (2.1) and Inspire T6200 (5.1) - which we do not have pictures of. The GigaWorks T3 will retail for EUR$199 (or USD$293 or SGD$414).

[GigaWorks T3 PRESS RELEASE]

These might seem like the GigaWorks T20 and T40 that we are already so familiar with but it's not. Instead it's a face-lifted version called the GigaWorks T20II and T40II. They are more rounded at the back, is darker in color and has a better finish. The LED light has also been removed from the front and placed at the back. The GigaWorks T20 series II will retail at EUR$99 (or USD$146 or SGD$206) while the T40 series II will go for EUR$129.99 (or USD$191 or SGD$270). Both will be available from September onwards.

(Video by www.youtube.com/findyourzen)

Once again, we are the first to bring you the exclusive on Creative @ the IFA. I don't think you can see these pictures anywhere else on theweb! We will have more information for you as the IFA is on-going. Remeber to check us out daily!

Behind the music of ZEN X-Fi

I'm sure many of you have seen the latest ZEN X-Fi advertisements but have you ever wondered what went into making them? I had the privilege of asking Wayne Khin, the composer of the two pieces of music some of these questions. Wayne -a sound designer and composer - was an ex-employee of Creative Technology who now owes his own company called Homestudio.

1. What was the campaign brief for the ZEN X-Fi?

Just like most X-Fi integrated products, beginning of the music has to be simple and at certain point in the video, the music has to be full, just to show the contrast (with and without X-Fi). And it has to be an original composition.

2. How long did you take to come up with the music?

I am normally given a week or two to get the first idea of music done.

3. What is the message that the music is trying to communicate to the audience?

Similar answer to your question 1. No ad agency involved, so things are much simple.

4. You mentioned that you composed the "Taiko" track for theater ad. So far, I have only seen the ad in Creative stores. Will we see it in cinemas soon?

That's what I was told.

5. What other works have you done for Creative?

A couple of them, including WebCam, the early ZEN series. You may find some of them at http://www.homestudio.com.sg/

6. Lastly, do you own a ZEN X-Fi? If so, what do you think of it?

I do not own one, however I always had one while working on the music for the product so that I could test out the music on the product itself.

Exclusive first look @ the EP-430

Creative has a pretty good track record with its mid-range in-ear earphones like the EP-630 and the more recent EP-830. Today we have for you the yet-to-be released EP-430, Creative's latest in-ear earphones that is available in 6 different colors. Launched as a new accessory for the new ZEN Mozaic, the EP-430 looks pretty darn good and the colored ear buds gives you the freedom to choose a color that matches your player. No words on pricing yet but do stay tune as we bring you the latest news on Creative.

UPDATE: The EP-430 retails at SGD$29(!) at the COMEX SHOW 2008.

World Exclusive: First look at the ZEN Mozaic

I'm not even done with the ZEN X-Fi review and Creative just released another media player. Not that I mind really, the ZEN Mozaic is said to be the player replacing the aging ZEN V series.



Capacity: 2Gb, 4Gb & 8GB
Built-in Speaker
1.8" TFT Display
Plays Music, Photo and Video
FM Radio
Voice Recorder


The ZEN Mozaic available in Black, Silver and Pink (which thankfully isn't available yet). It comes with installation CD, USB cable and earphones (which looks like the EP-480).


The surface of the ZEN Mozaic has a brush-metal-look but a rubberish-feel and is very scratch resistant. I would say it's made of the same material as the Creative Vado.


Like all new Creative players, the ZEN Mozaic also come in-built with a powerful speaker.


The mic for your voice recording is located at the top of the player.


It's 1.8" 64k TFT screen is larger than the ZEN V Plus 1.5" OLED screen. It also features the patented ZEN User interface.


The ZEN Mozaic is orientated with a 9 tactile buttons. The buttons are responsive and sturdy. They are styled exactly like its name implied - Mozaic-ly.




The ZEN Mozaic Vs the ZEN X-Fi.


The ZEN Mozaic is thin, light and fits comfortably in the hand.

We are the first to bring you a first look at Creative latest player. A walk through video of the ZEN Mozaic will be up soon. Look out for it!