zen

We've come a long way since the 5GB iPod.

Today, you can find pocket-size video players, MP3 players with tiny flash drives offering up to 32GB capacities, even digital audio players built into sunglasses.

But one of the most advanced features you can find in today's MP3 players is wireless capability. This is generally split into two categories: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is the subject here, and the devices that incorporate it represent the cutting edge in MP3 players.

Although every device listed here integrates 802.11b/g connectivity, not all of them use this functionality in the … Read more

Donald and Jasmine finally get their hands on the new Zen X-Fi--along with another new treat from Creative--and throwdown over the faults and virtues of the player. Also, find out the top 5 ways to discover music by only lifting a single finger. Listen now: Download today's podcast

Creative Zen X-Fi reviewed

Creative Zen Mozaic reviewed

MP3 players with good bundled headphones

Music discovery for the unhip & unmotivated

Creative's Zen line of MP3 players is possibly one of the most extensive we've seen, especially if we take the company's Asia-specific devices into account. And Creative shows no signs of deviating from its plan to offer feature-packed players at impressively low price points.

Evidence of this is apparent in the Zen X-Fi, a compact multimedia machine that's the first portable device to integrate Creative's X-Fi technology. The 16GB and 32GB versions are also the first Zens to pack in Wi-Fi capability, and without skimping on the usual array of features we've come to … Read more

I'm often asked if there are any decent MP3 players out there made for needs of the elderly (i.e., large controls, easy to use, and hard to lose). Well, we finally have a contender with this giant wooden version of the Creative Zen Stone.

Hot on the heels of Creative's ambitious Zen X-Fi MP3 player, this fan-created version of the Zen Stone is fully functional and hopefully poised for eBay any day now.

(Via Make)

After much anticipation, we've finally gotten our greedy little hands on the Creative Zen X-Fi. While we put the player through its paces for the in-depth review, we thought you'd appreciate a closer look. One thing we can tell you right off the bat: the Zen X-Fi is an incredible value given all the features, but we're a bit disappointed that it's encased in plastic rather than metal. The slideshow has more gory details, but here are some highlights to get you started:

Creative Labs knows audio, and we're not just talking about sound cards. The company's line of Zen MP3 players has consistently earned good marks for sound quality, features, and value. Perhaps the favorite of all these devices has been the Zen V Plus, an adorable budget player with an ultracompact design. In fact, the Zen V Plus has been popular enough to let Creative rest on its laurels for more than two years.

But now the time has come for a refresh, and that refresh is in the form of the Zen Mozaic, a uniquely designed device with … Read more

Creative has released the details of its new Zen Mozaic MP3 player, an attractive heir to the relatively antique Zen V Plus series. It's currently available only in Singapore, the Creative Zen Mozaic is offered in three colors (silver, pink, and black) and three capacities (2GB, 4GB, and 8GB). The Mozaic's features include a 1.8-inch screen, FM tuner, voice recording, photo viewer, video playback, calendar, built-in speaker, and support for MP3, WMA, WAV, and Audible audio formats.

There's no telling when the Zen Mozaic will hit the states, but it's safe to expect prices comparable … Read more

iPod haters at Anything But iPod uncovered something new and questionable on Creative's Hong Kong site--the Zen Krystal. It's an MP3 player that looks extremely similar to the Zen Stone Plus, and sports pretty much the same feature set, the same maximum 4GB capacity, and a similar screen.

But there's one big thing the Stone Plus doesn't have: a pedometer. This puts the Krystal in the gym-goer's market just a bit more than the Stone, but seriously--is a pedometer-toting MP3 player so hotly in demand it desires a completely new product to house it? … Read more

When Jasmine and I evaluate MP3 players for CNET reviews, we always try to spend a few sentences describing any noticeable audio performance characteristics we detect during our subjective testing. We'll play around with all of the gadget's different EQ and sound enhancement options, listen back on our reference headphones, and run through a playlist of familiar music. We're only human, however, and hearing loss, ear wax, head congestion, and hangovers can skew our perceptions of audio quality from day to day. Thankfully, we have Eric Franklin.… Read more