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Creative Zen Vision:M 30 GB MP3 and Video Player (Black)
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| Price: |
13 new or used available from $135.95
Average customer review:
Product Description
The Zen Vision: M 30GB Multimedia Center makes it easy to carry all your digital files around - and navigate them more simply. You'll be able to enjoy thousands of photo and audio files -- or even video files, thanks to the great-looking 2.5" LCD screen. Its 320x240 resolution and 262,144 color display will makes photos look almost as good as the real thing, even in bright sunlight. The TV-out jack lets you store complete movies or TV shows and connect them to a TV for easy sharing with your friends. The Zen Vision will even turn your slideshows into attention-grabbing multimedia; share your collections of baby photos by adding a backdrop of your favorite music to the slideshow, directly from the player. The bigger, backlit Vertical Scroll navigation tool is smoother and helps to improve selection accuracy. It's the one-stop device for all your digital entertainment needs. The built-in Personal Organizer lets you transfer your calendar, contacts and task list from Microsoft Outlook -- you'll never forget all your important anniversaries and appointments Repeat, resume, and random play Audio Playback Format - MP3 WMA and WAV / Photo Format - JPEG (GIF, TIFF, PNG and BMP) / Video Playback Format - MPEG1/2/4-SP, WMV9, Motion-JPEG, compatible DivX 4,5 and XviD Programmable sleep and wake timers Customizable main menu Also functions as an external hard drive for data and file transfer 8 EQ settings (Acoustic, classical, disco, jazz, new age, pop, rock and vocal) Rechargeable Li-ion battery plays up to 14 hours of continuous audio playback and up to 4 hours of continuous video playback Size - WxHxD - 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.7 / Weight - 5.7 oz PC requirements - Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 or 2
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #3474 in Consumer Electronics
- Color: Black
- Brand: Creative Labs
- Model: ZVM30ENGBK
- Dimensions: 4.10" h x .70" w x 2.40" l, .36 pounds
Features
- 30 GB multimedia device holds tens of thousands of photos, up to 120 hours of videos, or 15,000 songs
- 2.5-inch, high definition LCD screen features a 320x240 resolution and hundreds of thousands of colors
- Supports many video formats, such as AVI, DivX 4 and 53, XviD4, MPEG-1, -2, -SP, WMV9, and Motion-JPEG
- Integrated FM radio and recorder, voice recorder
- Measures 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.7 inches and weighs 5.7 ounces
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
In its own right, the Creative Zen Vision:M is a very capable digital audio player, video player, photo viewer, FM radio, and more. Indeed, one could go on and on about how it has the right specifications to make it a constant companion for entertainment on the go. The really big news about this device, though, is that it's the first device to boast complete compatibility with Amazon Unbox, the new digital video and music download service from Amazon.com.
| The Zen Vision:M has the features, ease-of-use, and power to become your constant media companion. See the Vison:M interactive demo. |
Let's get things out in the open. The Apple iPod is the 800-pound gorilla when it comes to the digital media player business and, unavoidably, every other device is measured against it. In most respects, the Vision:M matches up pretty well, and there are few things you may even like better. Length and width dimensions are exactly the same at 4.1 and 2.4 inches respectively. When it comes to girth, though, the iPod has the Vision:M beat; the Vision:M is .7 inches thick, while the iPod measures .4 inches. The Vision:M is slightly heavier, too. These details aside, the Vision:M feels comfortable, yet sturdy, in the hand, with curved surfaces in all the right places.
Creative takes a somewhat different approach with the Vision:M's controls, answering the iPod's Click Wheel with a vertical touch pad--which allows you to scroll up and down menus and control volume--plus four buttons that offer navigation through the user interface. The contextual menu button on the bottom right is a welcome addition, allowing you to make quick settings changes and view information about media files on the fly--functions that are more cumbersome on an iPod. Creative could have made the buttons a bit more sensitive--they require a firm press that gives an overall feeling of clunkiness to an otherwise well-designed user interface. Another annoyance is the touch pad's over-sensitivity; it's easy to make selections unintentionally, sending you on a wild ride through the user interface.
The Vision:M's screen, which measures 2.5 inches diagonally, offers sharp details, vibrant color, and excellent response with little or no video ghosting during high-action sequences. The 320 x 240 resolution is to be expected from a device this size, and although it's small, you'll likely have no trouble enjoying video while you're sitting on the subway or a flight, or in the back-seat of a car. Our only nitpick was the screen's less than stellar viewing angle, especially when compared side-by-side with a video iPod. While this can be good for maintaining privacy, the narrow viewing angle also means that friends beside you will struggle to see anything other than a black screen.
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The Vision:M's music organization scheme is standard fare; you can browse playlists, artists, tracks, albums, and genres. Equalizer settings are robust, with a nice range of automatic settings, plus a custom equalizer that's easy to control. The music library's "DJ" function is a nice touch, allowing you to listen to your most popular tracks. It can also pull up the tunes you listen to least frequently--in case you've got some forgotten tunes lying around on the Vision:M's 30 GB hard drive. Sound quality is everything you'd expect from a top shelf digital audio player, and DRM'd Windows Media files played without a hitch. The device fully supports a whole range of "PlaysForSure" download and subscription services, such as Napster and Yahoo Music. Creative also ships a CD-ripping and music transfer application called MediaSource with the Vision:M.
Playback of Windows Media DRM'd video files (WMV9) was also hassle-free. Purchased videos delivered crisp colors and detail, with no frame drops. Video playback consumes a lot of power, bringing Creative's claim of four hours of video playback into serious doubt. Expect under three hours when watching videos continuously. Thankfully, if you need to come back to your video later the Vision:M's software remembers the timecode of where you left off--unless you power the device down between viewing sessions. In addition to protected and unprotected WMV files, the Vision:M can play MPEG 1/2/4, Motion-JPEG, DivX 4 and 5, and XviD formats, making it a very flexible device with respect to encoding options.
The Vision:M can also store thousands of photos, letting you browse through them or set up a slideshow. The device's TV-out option comes in handy here, as you can present slideshows on a TV or projector. Videos can be displayed this way, too. An FM radio with easy preset tuning functions and great signal reception, plus a voice recorder feature, round out the extra media features. There's also a handy application on the Vision:M that formats a portion of the drive for use as USB 2.0 mass storage, letting you set aside up to 16 GB for data storage.
Connectivity and Synchronization
A Creative Sync Adapter ships in the box with the Vision:M, making it a snap to connect the device to a USB 2.0-capable PC. With the connection made, Windows XP recognized the device right off the bat and Windows Media Player immediately asked us if we wanted to load the PC's music onto the Vision:M. Music management and synchronization has come a long way on the PC, and the experience of organizing and transferring music to and from the Vision:M was, barring a few curious click-through boxes, pretty seamless. The Vision:M also supports synchronization of your Outlook contacts, calendar, and tasks, in case you want to use it as a personal organizer of sorts.
Amazon Unbox Integration
To be truly successful, the Vision:M has to be more than a great media device, it has to integrate with Amazon Unbox and make the process feel like second nature. Although the Vision:M was tested using a beta version of Amazon Unbox, things are looking good already. Amazon Unbox and the Vision:M go together like peas in a pod, making the process of purchasing, downloading, and enjoying content on the go a real cinch. The Amazon Unbox Video Player, which queues, downloads, organizes, and plays your purchased movies and TV shows, recognized the Vision:M right off the bat. An icon for the Vision:M appears in the devices panel of the application, and you can immediately begin transferring downloaded content to the device. Once you're all loaded up, the Vision:M offers a great way to bring Amazon Unbox entertainment along for the ride.
Pros
- Crisp, vibrant color screen is great for video
- Generous video format compatibility
- Excellent sound quality and music management functions
- Narrow screen viewing angle may be a problem for some
- Finicky controls for some functions
- Slightly more bulky than other competitors
Creative ZEN Vision:M, earphones, Sync Adapter, USB 2.0 cable, pouch, user's guide, and installation CD that includes Creative MediaSource and Creative Media Explorer software. Note: As of July 2006 Creative no longer ships the Zen M with the AC power adapter.
Amazon.com Product Description
The Zen Vision:M MP3 and Video Player lets you take all your movies, music and photos in a light, pocket-sized device that is loaded with 30 GB of memory. At this capacity you can carry tens of thousands of photos, 120 hours of movies (500 Kbps MPEG4-SP), or up to 15,000 songs (WMA encoded at 64 Kbps), all in the palm of your hand. You can also tune in the radio (32 station presets), record your favorite talk show, or make personal voice memos with the built-in microphone.
 The Zen Vision:M can hold thousands of songs, photos, and movies in its 30 GB memory. View larger. See the Zen Vision:M in 3D. |
You can also connect the Zen Vision:M to a projector or TV with the included AV cable, and put on a big show from this little device. Synchronize music files with photo or video montages for a taste of spectacular, personalized big screen magic. Viewing images on this device is a pleasant experience. The 2.5-inch, high definition LCD screen features a 320x240 resolution and hundreds of thousands of colors. What this means is you see crisp, clear detail in every movie and photo, even under bright light.
Creative didn't scrimp on design, either. The Zen Vision:M features an ergonomic design with an innovative touch pad control that enables quick, comfortable access to menus and settings. And you'll get loads more playback time with the built-in rechargeable, battery. Enjoy up to 13 hours of music or 4.5 hours of movies on a single charge. The optional extended-life battery pack lets you double playback time, so you can enjoy days of uninterrupted entertainment. Other features include a personal organizer that you sync with Microsoft Outlook, and an integrated voice recorder that can store hundreds of hours worth of recordings. Take a closer look at all the Zen Vision:M features.
The Zen Vision:M MP3 and Video Player uses PlaysForSure technology. Look for the PlaysForSure logo if you're shopping for a portable music or video device and you want to make sure the digital music and video you purchase will play back on it every time. Match the PlaysForSure logo on a large selection of leading devices and online music stores. If you see the logo, you'll know your digital music will play for sure. Choose from a large number of digital music and video stores, including MTV's Urge, Rhapsody, Yahoo!, MSN Music, MusicMatch, MusicNow, Napster, Wal-Mart Music Downloads, and many more.
What's in the Box
Creative Zen Vision:M, earphones, sync adapter, USB 2.0 adapter, pouch, user's guide, and installation CD. Note: As of July 2006 Creative no longer ships the Zen M with the AC power adapter.
From the Manufacturer
Smaller and better than ever before. The Zen Vision: M does more than play your videos, photos and music. It displays them in their true glory on a vibrant, large full-color screen. Perfect for road trips long or short, carry your entertainment in the palm of your hand.
120 hours of movies1
Big screen blockbusters, yesterday's picnic with your best friends, and even your favorite TV shows4. They now fit in your pocket and are perfect for sharing. Zen Vision: M supports many video formats, such as DivX 4 and 55, XviD5, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG4-SP, WMV9 and Motion-JPEG, which simply means more choice and less restrictions on the types of video formats you can use.
Tens of thousands of photos
View precious memories--tens of thousands of them--in 262,144 vivid colors at 320 x 240 resolution. Featuring a True Resolution image display, you can now view any photo you import without loss in quality or having to resize it. Take a closer look at your photos with the Zoom function, or scroll through your entire photo collection easily with the touchpad.
 View photos and movies on the Vision:M's bright 2.5-inch LCD screen. |
An amazing 15,000 songs2
Perfect for taking with you on the road or around the house. Your music will sound as good as it looks, thanks to Creative's world-renowned audio clarity, custom equalizer and 8 preset EQ settings.
Movie and Photo Slideshows
Connect the Zen Vision: M to a projector or TV with the video cable, and delight friends with big screen movie magic.
2.5-inch high-definition LCD screen
Watch movies and photos in their full glory on the large 2.5-inch LCD screen, even under bright lighting. Displaying up to 262,144 vibrant colors, get crisp, clear detail in every image in high-definition 320 by 240 resolution.
Vertical Touch Pad
Ergonomically designed, the innovative touch pad control enables quick, comfortable access to menus and settings.
Rechargeable Li-ion battery
Enjoy up to 14 hours of music3, or 4 hours of movies with the rechargeable Li-Ion battery. Perfect for watching an entire movie non-stop anywhere you are.
FM radio and recorder
If 15,000 songs aren't enough, listen to more with the integrated FM radio. 32 station presets let you switch stations whenever you want.
Personal Organizer
Store and view all the information that's important to you--daily tasks, contact lists and even a calendar. Zen Vision: M syncs easily with Microsoft Outlook, and lets you edit your information with Creative Media Explorer.
Voice recorder
Meetings, lectures, even voice memos to yourself--record them all with the integrated voice recorder, which stores hundreds of hours worth of recordings.
Full access to online music stores
Select from more than a million songs from a myriad of online music stores--Napster To Go, Yahoo! Music Unlimited, Rhapsody To Go, and so much more. With PlaysForSure support, you will always be able to play any digital music you purchase.
Fits your life perfectly
Select from an extensive line of accessories that make Zen Vision: M the perfect companion. Pamper and protect your player with the chic leather case and LCD screen protector. Or choose from the wired remote, docking station, and car adaptor kit designed to make life easier.
What's in the box:
Creative Zen Vision: M, earphones, Sync Adapter, USB 2.0 cable, pouch, user's guide, installation CD (includes Creative MediaSource and Creative Media Explorer software).
1Based on 500 Kbps MPEG4-SP format.
2Based on 4 minutes per song at 64 kbps WMA.
3Audio at 128 kbps MP3, in locked mode.
4For converting TV programs recorded using Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, it is recommended that you have Cyberlink PowerDVD or Intervideo WinDVD version 6 and above installed in your computer.
5DivX and XviD encoded files are playable if they are encoded as standard MPEG-4 Simple (SP) or Advanced Simple Profile (ASP) without GMC support. This product is not certified by DivX Inc. May not play all DivX 4 and 5 files.
Customer Reviews
Truly Amazing Gadget!
I've had my Zen M for about 2 months now so I think I have a good feel for what it's pros and cons are. Here you go:
Pros: Beautiful and Bright Screen (displays thousands of more colors than the Ipod video by the way). Even at 50% brightness (which is default setting out of the box) it looks bright!
Ability to Customize most of the features. This includes being able to set your own photos for the wallpaper, custom equilizer, custom brightnes setting, custom shortcut button, organization of folders(audio, photo, video folders)...etc.
Great Sound! This isn't a surprise because Creative develops sound hardware/software like soundcards.
Good User Interface: The thumb scroller interface takes a few days to get used to, then it's pretty user friendly. You can customize the sensitivity of it too.
Ability to play lots of different video files like Divx and Mpg4.
This was a big selling point for me. The screen is perfect for watching cartoons and anime on.
Good Size. I'm refering to it's physical size. It's actually the perfect size and feels great in your hand. Still pocketable and still feels rock solid and not fragile.
Displays Album cover art! I had trouble with this function in the beginning only because in order to get it to display the album art correctly, you need to rip the Cd album with a program that automatically downloads album info including art. One program that does this is Windows Media Player.
--For the techies that don't want to re-rip everything to get the album art to display, just download a small jpeg image of the album cover that is about 150 by 150 pixels, rename it folder.jpg, make it a hidden file and place it in the folder of the correct album. When you move it to your player it will ask you whether you want to move it to the photo folder, make sure you select "no" and leave it where it is.
Cons: There isn't a lot about this player that is negative. But one aspect which is really annoying is that to charge it or plug it to the computer you have to use this tiny seperate adapter that comes in the box. It's the white adapter/attachment that looks like a dock connector. What the heck were they thinking! I have to carry the separate item everywhere I go just in case I need to charge it or upload music. It sucks man! Why the heck didn't they just build all of the ports into the player itself!!
Also, they should've included the video output cable instead of selling it separately! Or at least made it use a standard video cable! Also, the battery is not removable... at least not meant to be.
These are the only reasons why I gave this player 4 out of 5 stars. Otherwise I would have given 5 out of 5! All in All this player really rocks and is worth every penny! ... and is a much better buy then the "other" competition out there.
Hope this is helpful to you guys. If it is, please give me a vote. Thanks!
For more electronics and technology reviews, visit my site at:
http://newtechnews.blogspot.com/
I now own 2 Vision:M players
I had ordered one of the players as a gift for a family member, then realized how difficult it appeared to get them, so I ordered another from a second source.
I received the first unit as promised. I immediately started loading this on it. It's a little thicker than the iPod, but I actually like how it feels in my hand better (IMHO). The screen is beautiful, the file formats that are supported are great, the integration with WMP10 and the on-line stores is certainly better than the iPod. I just love it. I loved it so much, that when the second unit arrived, I decided to keep it for myself :)
I have used iPod many times before and I do like them. But they can coexist and the competition will make all the players better. If you love the iPod's great. Again, I like them too, but right now I would pick this player. I have synched up CD music, on-line songs, even a bunch of my TiVo shows (via Tivo To Go TTG). I have taken those shows and played them directly on my TV too (with an A/V cable).
The currently availability of accessories is a bit frustrating, but livable - I am sure it will not match or surpass the iPod in that respect.
Like the iPod and other devices like this the screen scratches pretty easily. I immediately bought some Palm protectors and cut them to fit. I have customer shields ordered (from theinvisibleshield.com) but this will do for now.
This FM radio works fine. I personally like one integrated. It doesn't take any more space and it's nice on rare occasion. I have read other reviews that say having the FM radio is a "negative" of this player. Huh? Why? If you don't want it, just don't use it.
There is a reason why this little player just won the overall best of the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Even my friends that have iPods snap their heads when they see this. But again, this shouldn't be a religious discussion of iPods vs. non-iPods. Buy what you like best and suits your use.
This one suits mine. I am even thinking about buying a third one. Why? I don't want to share mine (or my wife's) with the kids LOL
iPod or Vision:M? Not black and white.
Is the Vision:M a 5th generation (video)iPod clone? You bet... right down to the little green battery charge indicator in the upper right corner. Is it better than the 5th generation iPod? In my mind there's no contest, but there are trade-offs. Judge for yourself.
Creative Vision:M, why is it better?
-Plays DivX and XviD video, as well as WMV-9 and MPEG1/2/4.
-Higher color screen (262,144 colors vs 65,000 colors)
-Natively plays MP3, WMA and WAV, without conversion.
-Better signal-to-noise ratio under same frequency response.
-Longer battery life (approx 4 hours video playback vs iPod's 2 hours)
-Includes AC charger.
-FM Radio/ Recorder.
-Voice Recorder.
-Compatible with popular music services, like Napster.
-Customizable menu, with background image.
-Organizer features Outlook sync support; Contacts, Calendar & Tasks.
-Colors blue, green, and pink are also available.
-The back side isn't made out of scratch magnets like the iPod.
-Natively acts as external hard drive in Windows.
Apple iPod 5th Generation, why is it better?
-Slimmer. iPod - 0.43in / Vision:M - 0.7in.
-Lighter. iPod - 4.8oz / Vision:M - 5.7oz.
-Clickwheel is still the preferred navigation input for many.
-Lots of first and third party accessories available.
-60GB version also available.
-iTunes support.
-30 USD cheaper.
If you're in the market for a 30GB player and you're considering the 5th generation iPod, give the Creative Vision:M a serious look. If your friends ask you why you bought a "generic iPod," you can tell them with pride all the reasons why the iPod simply wasn't good enough for you.
