Creative Zen
The ZEN is an award-winning line of digital audio players and portable media players made by Creative Technology. These players evolved from the old NOMAD brand, specifically, the NOMAD Jukebox series. The rest soon became the other branch of digital audio players, which is the MuVo line. All are capable of WMA, MP3 and WAV audio playback, while the current models can play Audible files. Most varieties use notebook hard drives in sizes of 1.8 and 2.5 inches, while the Nano, V, and Neeon series use flash memory, and microdrives are used by the Micro series and the original ZEN Neeon. Until the recent release of the ZEN Wav, players with color displays have a 18-bit (262,144 colors) depth. The players have a strong foothold in Asian markets, especially in Singapore, the company's headquarters. The ZEN series has also made a regular appearance on Amazon.com's sales chart for digital audio players.[1]
All players are bundled with device drivers and MediaSource, a media player that includes file transfer abilities. They have Microsoft's PlaysForSure certification by being compatible with Windows Media Player via Media Transfer Protocol and the Janus DRM. All versions of the ZEN are compatible with Windows, while the current players exclusively support Windows XP or Vista. However, third-party software must be installed for computers running with Linux or Mac OS X.
Hardware
Most models are built with Texas Instruments's TMS320DA25x ARM architecture and digital signal processor that makes up the CPU. The peripheral circuits take care of all MP3 and WMA decoding without any accelerator chips. The touchpads, which are used to navigate in most ZENs, are managed by controllers made by Synaptics.
Current players
The ZEN was released on August 28, 2007. The credit card sized MP3 player has a 2.5-inch screen on which it is possible to view pictures and watch movies. Like most creative players the ZEN has radio and recording capabilities. It currently comes in black and in 4, 8, and 16 GB capacities. It has an estimated battery life of 25 hours of music and 5 hours of video.
The ZEN Vision:M was launched in December 2005. Like the earlier released ZEN Vision, the Vision:M shares the same interface and features in a smaller package. It supports audio playback, including audiobooks from Audible.com (as of version 1.41.01 of the firmware), video playback (DivX, AVI, Xvid, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 SP, WMV9 and MJPEG), image display in JPEG (BMP, GIF, PNG, TIFF are supported through conversion.), FM radio (recordable in the 30GB version only), and a built-in microphone. Videos and photos can be viewed on television at a resolution of 640x480 (VGA) through a cable sold separately. The 2.5-inch, TFT-LCD display has a resolution of 320x240 (QVGA). The player has an estimated battery life of 16 hours for audio, and five hours for videos (tested under continuous playback). Album art is shown during playback, and image-viewing is enhanced with pan, zoom and rotation abilities. The ZEN Vision:M is priced at US$249.99 or US$299.99, depending on the size. The 30GB model is available in white, black, green, blue and pink. Like the other players in the Vision and Micro lines, this model is known for its glowing button symbols.
The ZEN Vision:M has won a number of accolades, including the Best of Show and Best Portable Audio & Video Device awards at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show[2], as well as the Red Dot Design Award[3].
On August 31 2006, Creative announced that the player will be available in a 60GB capacity. Also, this version has a USB host adapter cable, which enables users to transfer photos from a digital camera directly to the player. It is only available in black and white, and is a little thicker than the 30GB model. However, on March 11 2007, the 60GB model was upgraded, with the same thickness as the 30GB version. The 60GB model is currently only available for purchase in Japan, although Creative foresees a North American release date by the end of 2007 or early 2008.
Appearances in media
The ZEN Vision:M has made an appearance in a Orville Redenbacher's commercial, first broadcast during the 2007 Golden Globe Awards.[4][5] The familiar blue interface and black color of the model are indicators.
The player was also featured in the television adaptation of Stephen King's "Battleground."[citation needed]
Creative's first portable media players in flash memory was released in June 2006. The scratch-resistant models have a 1.5-inch OLED display with a resolution of 128x128. They come in white and black with orange trim for the 1GB version, green trim for 2GB, and black with blue trim for the 4GB version. The ZEN V Plus plays video and has an FM tuner, while the ZEN V does not. The players support the same formats as the Vision:M, while the videos will be transcoded upon transfer. There are also built-in microphones for voice recording, as well as wires for line-in recording. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery has a life span of up to 15 hours of continuous audio playback.
The ZEN V Plus won the CNET Editor's Choice award during that month.
On September 29, 2006, Creative announced that the blue-and-black ZEN V Plus had been upgraded to 8GB. Four days later, the company joined forces with the National Breast Cancer Foundation to release a pink version of the 2GB model, now available in most areas.[6] In Japan, the 8GB version is now available in a red-and-black color. [7]
On August 2, 2007, Creative announced that new a series of ZEN V Plus players with a capacity of 16GB, which makes them the official highest capacity flash memory players as of August 14, 2007. This model is currently available in Singapore and can be purchased online in the States.
A variant of the ZEN Vision, this portable media player has a 4.3-inch, widescreen (16:9) TFT-LCD display. The player comes in black and is available in 30GB and 60GB. Like the ZEN Vision:M, a built-in microphone and an FM tuner are included, as well as the same media formats, a similar graphical interface and abilities to sync organizer data from Microsoft Outlook. It also includes a CompactFlash reader for extra capacity and the direct upload of images.
ZEN Stone
The ZEN Stone, released in May 2007, is a small and screenless player, and has features similar to the Apple iPod shuffle. Made of glossy plastic, the Stone is available in varieties of black, white, blue, pink, green, and red and usually sells for half the price of the Shuffle. It supports MP3, WMA, Audible files, and MSC compatibility.
ZEN Stone Plus
Although it is slightly larger than the ZEN Stone, the ZEN Stone Plus is identical in design. The differences include a monochromic OLED screen, a built-in FM tuner, a stopwatch - the first ZEN player to have it - and a built-in microphone. The ZEN Stone Plus plays approximately 9.5 hours of continuous audio playback, and comes with the same colors as the ZEN Stone in a 2GB capacity.
ZEN Wav
The ZEN Wav is a flash player available in 2 and 4 GB with a built-in speaker, plays songs in MP3, WMA, Audible, and WAV formats. It is the first player in the ZEN line to have the following features: a 16-bit color screen, unlike other ZEN players, which are 18-bit; a battery life of 30 hours (20 with the speakers), which is the longest for any ZEN player; the ability to read e-books; and the ability to show 3 different time zones "at a glance". Some of those features may be included in future players. On August 8, [[2007], the ZEN Wav was reported to be available in the U.S. market.[5]
Domestic players
These players were released in Singapore and several other countries. Since their release, none of the players are available in the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom.
ZEN Neeon 2
The successor to the Neeon has a 1.5-inch CSTN-LCD display in a resolution of 128x128. The 1GB and 2GB models are available in a black, silver, blue, pink or orange backplate, accompanied with a piano black front, while the 4GB model comes only in black and silver. The Neeon 2 supports MP3, WMA, and WAV, display JPEG images and plays AVI videos which are transcoded upon transfer. Also, the player has an FM tuner, built-in microphone, and line-in recording in WMA. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery plays up to 20 hours of continuous audio playback and up to 8 hours of video playback, the highest for any Creative digital audio player. Like its predecessor, decal stickers called "Stik-Ons" are sold separately to customize the look of the Neeon 2's frontplate. However, these Stik-Ons are different ones for the ZEN Neeon due to the difference in screen sizes.
Due to limitations on the device, modifying the equalizer or turning on the Bass Boost feature may cause clipping in the music to occur.
Discontinued players
NOMAD Jukebox Zen Series
These models were then released under the NOMAD line, and have an anodized aluminium case. The 2.5-inch Fujitsu hard drives range from a 20GB (NOMAD Jukebox Zen), 30GB (Zen NX, Zen Xtra), 40GB and 60GB (Xtra). Unlike the earlier NOMAD Jukebox players, which looked like CD players, these ones have the appearance of a cassette player.
NOMAD Jukebox Zen
Introduced in 2002, the first Zen player used USB 1.1 or FireWire for file transfers, while a later release has connectivity to USB 2.0. Up to 14 hours of continuous audio playback is achieved by the rechargeable battery, and a wired remote, sold separately, gives the player an FM tuner and microphone.
NOMAD Jukebox Zen NX
Released in 2003, the Zen NX, as it was later called, is an upgrade to the old NOMAD Jukebox Zen, with a removable battery and a slightly smaller size. Included with the player was MediaSource, the music management software that would be used with subsequent Zen players.
NOMAD Jukebox Zen Xtra
The NOMAD Jukebox Zen Xtra, or the Zen Xtra (renamed by Creative for commercial reasons) has a Texas Instruments TMX320 DSP and a 8 MB SDRAM. The player was presumably named Xtra, thanks to the larger screen. The package includes the player, a leather case with belt-clip, a lithium ion battery, a USB cable, and a pair of standard earbuds. Complaints against the Xtra have included failures of the firmware, headphone jack, and the hard drive. The Xtra can have problems with keeping track of very large numbers of music files.[8] The equalizer is somewhat broken in at least one firmware version.[9]
The Xtra is notable for being the first DAP to support Real Networks's Helix DRM, but through a tailored firmware. The SanDisk Sansa e200R would later be the only other player to have this feature.
Zen Touch
The Zen Touch was released in the summer of 2004. The model incorporated radical changes in design, functionality and technology.
The Zen Touch has a smaller form factor and larger backlit blue display in a curved industrial design. In addition, the device uses a touch-sensitive vertical strip on the front of the unit for easier file navigation. These changes were enabled by the use of Hitachi's smaller 1.8-inch hard drives. The Touch is available in capacities of 20GB and 40GB. Unlike the previous two generations, the Zen Touch does not have a removable battery, and plays audio for approximately 24 hours.
The Zen Touch has a brief uncredited appearance in Pepsi's new commercial which aired during Super Bowl XL [10].
ZEN Micro
The ZEN Micro was released in November 2004 and is a microdrive player available in 10 colors. It is also the first ZEN release that sports the new branding, including capitals for all letters in Zen.
The ZEN Micro is much smaller than the Touch and shares a similar interface and controls (including the touchpad, without the 'OK' button. Making a selection would be done by tapping the touchpad). The Micro has a removable battery rated to last for up to 12 hours of continuous playback. In addition, the player has an LED-backlit LCD, a glowing case, and offers hard disk capacities of 4, 5 and 6 GB.
The Micro also features a built-in FM tuner/recorder, voice recorder and microphone, partitioning for data storage (i.e. acting as a removable hard drive for PCs), and the ability to synchronize contacts, tasks and calendars with Microsoft Outlook. Accessories for the ZEN Micro include matching color speakers, wireless headsets and a wired remote control.
The first 35,000 units shipped worldwide were packaged as a Limited Edition package that came with an additional rechargeable battery. Asian models of the Limited Edition included the extra battery and a wired remote control.
At CES 2005, it was announced that the ZEN Micro line would be expanded to include 4 and 6 GB models.
The ZEN Micro optionally supports the Microsoft Media Transfer Protocol and the PlaysForSure certification with updated firmware.
ZEN
The ZEN was released in May 2005, and is slightly larger than the ZEN Micro, with a 20GB hard drive capacity. However, the ZEN has a magnesium casing on the back and the battery is not removable. Initially this model was available only in the Asia-Pacific region but it is now available in the United States through Cambridge SoundWorks, a Creative subsidiary.
ZEN Neeon
The ZEN Neeon is a new addition that is targeted at those that feel that the ZEN Micro is too gaudy. It is a throwback to the old Zen Xtra, but in a much smaller size. The 5GB model has an SNR of 98 dB and a battery life of 16 hours (19 hours with new firmware version). The front has a piano black finish, and the back is anodized aluminium that comes in ten colours. and the LCD screen has a 7 colour backlight.
The Creative ZEN Neeon was criticized highly at the time of release for having a slow interface, more specifically slow start-up, menus and song switch. As well, the first released models came with a virus that could infect your computer.[11] This affected the popularity of the product and though the hardware and style of the ZEN Neeon was very good, the software seemed to let the product down. The firmware update released latter provided a much quicker start-up time and interface. If released with the player, it might have been more popular on the market.
Like its Micro brother, this unit also has an FM tuner and a microphone, but also has a line record in function. This model does not use Creative specialized USB drivers; it is a standard USB mass storage device.
In November 2005, the microdrive player was updated to 6GB and a new flash range was launched in 512MB, 1GB and 2GB capacities. The device is now equipped with a dual-tone OLED screen. The device is also accompanied by a new marketing campaign, Put a Face to Your Music, with emphasis on a whole new range of customizable "Stik-Ons", which are decal stickers that can be placed and removed from the face of the unit.
ZEN Sleek
The ZEN Sleek is an upgrade of the ZEN with a 20GB hard drive capacity, FM radio, built-in microphone, and sports an aluminium casing. Like its predecessors, it can synchronize with Microsoft Outlook's calendar, address book, and memo functions. The player's battery life lasts up to 20 hours.
ZEN MicroPhoto
The ZEN MicroPhoto shares the same features of the ZEN Micro except Audible.com support (reinstated in firmware versions 1.31.01 and above), and adds an upgraded 262,144-color (18 bpp) OLED screen for displaying photos. To fix the lack of bass with the ZEN Micro, Creative also implemented a Bass Boost feature, now available in subsequent players. The 8GB player is available in the same colours of the Micro and is advertised to store "thousands of JPEGs" or "4,000 songs". Due to its larger battery, the player can play up to 15 hours of continuous playback, 3 hours longer than its predecessor.[12] Unlike the Micro, it does not have any problems with the headphone jack. The MicroPhoto is the first of many subsequent players with expanded customization, with the ability to use a picture as a custom wallpaper, with color themes to change the tones of it, and six color schemes.
First introduced at CES 2005, the ZEN MicroPhoto won the CNET Editor's Choice award in November 2005 and the coveted G4TV Best of CES award in the Audio To Go category.[13]
ZEN Sleek Photo
The ZEN Sleek Photo is the color-screen equivalent of the Sleek, with the extra ability to view JPEG photos on an OLED screen. it comes equipped with a touch vertical scroll wheel and a 20 gigabyte hard disk drive
ZEN Nano/Nano Plus
The ZEN Nano is a rebranded MuVo N200 and unlike other ZENs, the music is transferred and stored in the player like on a USB memory stick, without requiring any specific software. It lasts up to 18 hours on an AAA battery. Like the Micro and the MicroPhoto, the Nano is available in ten colors: black, pink, red, orange, green, light blue, blue, purple, gray, and white.
The ZEN Nano Plus is a Nano with an FM tuner with 30 custom presets, plus voice, radio, and line-in recording. All recorded audio will be encoded in WAV, except for line-in, which encodes to MP3.
ZEN Portable Media Center
Creative introduced the Portable Media Center in 2004. It is based on Microsoft's Portable Media Center specification, runs Windows Mobile and supports Windows Media Video, WMA and MP3, and can display JPEG images; other video formats are supported through converting the source file to WMV in provided software. This device was the first to exclusively support Microsoft's Media Transfer Protocol. The player uses a 1.8-inch 20GB or 40GB hard drive from Hitachi. This device has been replaced by the ZEN Vision and the ZEN Vision
ZEN Vision
The ZEN Vision was released on November 2005. Since its launch, it is the winner of several awards, including Best of Digital Life 2005 and the Red Dot Design award. Unlike its predecessor, the ZEN Vision does not have Microsoft's Portable Media Center specification but supports Microsoft's Media Transfer Protocol. It supports audio (WMA-DRM, WMA, MP3, WAV), video (WMV, Motion JPEG, MPEG 1/2/4, DivX 4/5, xvid) and picture (JPEG) playback. The ZEN Vision uses a 30 GB hard drive and can partition a part of its hard drive to work as a removable disk (up to 16GB) for any operating system. There are some features of the ZEN Vision which require compatibility with certain operating systems, e.g require users to have access to Microsoft Windows XP (SP1 or higher).
Like past models, the ZEN Vision comes with a FM tuner, a voice and FM recorder, and a calendar and organizer that can be synced with Microsoft Outlook.
The ZEN Vision has a 3.7-inch, trans-reflective TFT-LCD display that has a resolution of 640x480 (VGA) pixels. It has a video output (PAL or NTSC) port and a CompactFlash slot which can be used to transfer the contents to the player. An adapter for other memory card types is also available as an accessory. The ZEN Vision also supports an optional infrared remote.
Marketing campaign
In November 2004, Creative Labs announced a $100 million marketing campaign to promote their digital audio products, including the ZEN range of MP3 players. In particular, the company was heavily publicizing the Zen Touch and ZEN Micro. These two products had been featured in an increasing number of television commercials, print ads, and urban billboards.
Many celebrities were seen with the ZEN Micro, including Paris Hilton, pop group Maroon 5 and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler.
Lawsuits with Apple
Creative was awarded a U.S. patent on a music management system consisting of several pages (commonly seen on audio players, including the popular Apple iPod) on 30 August 2005, after applying for it on Jan 5 2001. Apple filed for a similar patent on 20 Oct 2002 but was rejected [6]. Along with the launch of the ZEN Vision:M, Creative announced that it will "aggressively pursue" respect of its intellectual property, addressing "all manufacturers that use the same navigation system." So far, Creative has only addressed Apple's infringement of its "ZEN Patent". Creative announced on May 15, 2006 that it has filed two lawsuits against Apple. Since then, Apple and Creative have reached a settlement, with Apple paying $100 million, and Creative joining the "Made for iPod" accessory program.[14]
Alternative software
Since most Creative players do not mount as a drive letter, or allow direct "drag & drop" file transfers in Windows Explorer, file transfers between the player and the computer must be done through a software interface. The current players are supplied with MediaSource, which runs on Windows XP and newer versions only.
Third-party alternatives have been developed to enable legacy OS compatibility as well as compatibility with other operating systems.
- Proprietary software:
- Legacy OS Driver, a Creative driver that gives compatibility to PlaysForSure-certified ZENs for Windows 98 SE, Me, and 2000.
- Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) Porting Kit, a Microsoft driver that provides functionality for MTP-based devices, like the ZEN players, for the same operating systems listed above.
- MediaMonkey, a media player that syncs with ZEN players. While it is freeware, the Gold version has the ability to automatically convert media formats.
See also
- Digital audio player
- Portable media player
- Creative MuVo
- Creative NOMAD
- Creative Technology
- Comparison of portable media players
References
- ^ Amazon.com: MP3 Players Sales Chart
- ^ CNET - ZEN Vision:M gives the iPod a run for its money
- ^ red dot award: product design 2006 - ZEN Vision:M Portable Media Player
- ^ [1], Orville Redenbacher's About Us, accessed January 28, 2007.
- ^ [2], YouTube - Orville Redenbacher in the year 2007 - Comments, accessed January 28, 2007.
- ^ [3], Creative supports the National Breast Cancer Foundation in conjunction with launch of pink ZEN V Plus 2GB, accessed January 28, 2007.
- ^ [4], jp.Creative.com - ZEN V Plus, accessed March 12, 2007.
- ^ Track limit to be fixed in new firmware, Nomadness.net forum, accessed November 7, 2006.
- ^ XTRA Custom EQ comparison (old FW vs. recent), Nomadness.net forum, accessed November 7, 2006.
- ^ http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4449065816181299003
- ^ Virus-infected Creative ZEN MP3 Players foundCNet News.com - September 1, 2005
- ^ http://aphnetworks.com/reviews/creative_zen_microphoto
- ^ 2005 CES Award Winners
- ^ AppleInsider - "Apple's settlement seen as the right move"