IM features, Creative technology, WiFi, and lots of other characteristics packed in a 69g device

Jul 10, 2008 10:32 GMT  ·  By

The already announced launch of the new Zen X-Fi PMP from Creative is finally getting official. The new PMP will come in two versions, one WiFi and the other non WiFi, featuring 16 and 32GB for the former, while only 8GB for the latter. Still, it seems that the Zen X-Fi will only be available for the APAC region at this time.

The screen size of the new Creative is only 2.5 inches, mainly because the WiFi model has some expanded features supposed to allow users to connect to either MSN or Yahoo Messenger by means of the mobile phone-like keypad set on the side of the display. Yet, the screen size modifications may affect those potential Zen X-Fi customers wishing to use its instant messaging features on a regular basis.

Even so, the screen features a 320x240 pixels resolution and is capable of displaying 16.7 million colors. We can still hope that the future will bring us some high-quality PMP which will offer a widescreen display.

The main characteristics that Zen X-Fi packs up are Creative's X-Fi Crystalizer technology, used for quality enhancements for the compressed audio files, and Creative's X-Fi Expand option, which is meant to provide a "natural feel" to the sound. Other X-Fi features like EAX or CMSS-3D seem to have been left aside.

The device will come with a built in speaker, an SD memory card slot (which is expected to be better than the SD implementation on the original Zen), a built in FM radio with 32 presets, a built in equalizer, alarm functions, USB 2.0 interface and the new Centrale audio ripping and syncing application. The battery is supposed to last for 36h of music playback and 5h of video rendering. Creative's Zen X-Fi weighs only 69g and measures 83x55x12.8mm (DxWxH).

Included in the shipping package, there is a pair of noise-insulating EP-830 premium in-ear headphones. Creative also released an entire series of accessories for the device, including a speaker dock and various protective cases.

32GB Zen X-Fi is already available, while the other two models are expected to come later this month. The price tag for the 32GB version with WiFi is set at about $293.