creativity

Android-based Creative Zii Egg gets official

We knew Creative was up to something when that Zii Egg FCC application flew past us earlier this month, but we had no idea it would be this awesome, or this confusing. Turns out the Zii Egg (what an unfortunate name) is a multitouch-wielding, HD video-playing, dual-camera-having (front and back) rival to the iPhone and iPod Touch, running on Google's Android OS (see all the official specs over at Zii.net).

You can grab a 32GB model now for $400, but don't expect it to be fully baked. Creative is announcing this as a "developer edition" … Read more

Fast scrapbook maker

Flip Flash Album Free offers a chance to create and customize a digital photo scrapbook. With a well-planned interface and fun results, it's easy to overlook some of the less important aspects of this program.

Flip Flash Album Free is organized to look like a scrapbook, right down to the spiral-bound middle. You must navigate through several clearly marked tabs and utilize many file trees to organize everything. While it may be overwhelming to novices, with additional support from the Help file, everybody should be able to use this program. Setting up a photo album was a very quick … Read more

Creative wirelessly streams your digital audio with Sound Blaster Wireless for iTunes

Creative released the Sound Blaster Wireless for iTunes ($150) this week , which allows music to be wirelessly streamed from a computer to the wireless adapter, using only USB dongle. According to a press release from Creative, the system works with virtually any music source, not just iTunes, on both Macs and PCs.

The Sound Blaster Wireless looks similar to Logitech's discontinued Wireless Music System for PC in that it enables you to stream audio from your PC using a simple USB transmitter. The transmitter, which appears to be about the size of a thumb drive, promises to work with … Read more

Using a non-iPod MP3 player on a Mac

Using an iPod on a Mac is so simple--it's a little scary. With iTunes already installed on every Mac, a newly-connected iPod will just automatically soak up your music collection like a sponge.

But what if you want to use a non-Apple brand of MP3 player with your Mac? iPods are great and all, but they're not for everyone. Even die-hard iPod owners sometimes want a cheap little iPod alternative to take to the gym or hand over to a destructive toddler.

If you're a Mac user whose MP3 expertise begins and ends with iTunes, you might … Read more

Google image search gets usage rights filtering

In an effort to keep people from incorrectly reusing or repurposing images found on its image search tool, Google has added new options that let users filter results by usage rights. Users can now filter photos by whether they're available for reuse, commercial reuse, reuse with modification, or commercial use with modification.

Google is including a variety of licensing methods including Creative Commons, GNU Free Documentation license, and items that are in the public domain. Its system for determining the rights on various shots is not foolproof though, and as such the company is recommending that those who are … Read more

MP3 Insider 152: X, Zii, and why?

Jasmine and Donald bring the Sony X-Series Walkman into the studio for some hands-on analysis. Creative shows signs of life with an FCC filing for a new touch screen portable media player. Apple laughs all the way to the bank.

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Get a 16GB Creative Zen Mozaic for just $110

The image above pretty much says it all. Creative Labs is celebrating Christmas in July with deep discounts on everything from headsets to sound cards to MP3 players. It seems like nearly every gadget is on sale, with varying levels of "instant savings," but the big news to me is the 16GB Zen Mozaic for just $110. That's the cheapest I've seen for an MP3 player with that much memory, and the Mozaic is certainly no slouch in the features or sound quality department. For more information on this device, check out the full review at CNET Reviews.… Read more