Creative Zen Vision:M 30 GB MP3 and Video Player (White)
by Creative
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Category: Network Media Player
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: CreativeBrand: Creative
Edition: Electronics
Audio: English (Original Language); French (Original Language)
Model: ZVM30EFWH
Color: White
Publisher: Creative
Studio: Creative
Music Label: Creative
Product 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
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Creative Zen Vision:M 30 GB MP3 and Video Player (White)
Customer Review: Creative Zen M Vision Overal Nice MP3/Video Player
Summary: 4 Stars
Hey! I finally caved in and searched for a nice mp3 player. I really like the idea of placing most of your collection on one device and take it anywhere with complete access to it. I originally just wanted it for music but then Ipod and Creative Zen came out with their video playback capability. I enjoy movie trailers, short clips, and pic online so the video capabiltiy is appealing for myslef. So I had to debate to buy one or the other. If you just want music then video is not required. I got the creative zen for the following reasons and compared it to the 30g Ipod video and mp3 player:
1. Display screen seemed brighter to me. I really like color and this applealed to me. Also a little larger. The Ipod picture was darker and faded looking.
2. Supposedly could playback multiple video files like mp3, wma, dvix(sp?), xvid(sp?) ect.
3. I liked the layout menu for songs and video. And I liked how in the background I could select one of my pics for the background even adjust the coloring on it just like how you do on your computer monitor for wallpaper. I don't know if Ipod allows this, I tried to and don't remember being able to do it.
4. I liked how I could save space by instead of using mp3 files use wma files when ripping discs. Less quality but I didn't notice a difference. It says can take 15,000 wma songs based on I think about 2min songs or 7500 as mp3s. That's not including video content though I believe. I currently have about 4,000 tracks and about 30-40 short video clips on it and maybe just about 200 cds ripped into it with 14gb left in the player. I still have another 100 cds to rip into it.
5. Has FM radio that I can record songs to play back and even put it on my computer.
6. Has a microphone. I can record clips off my tv of music I like from soundtracks I can't get or sounds on tv I want to play back to listen to again and again. Sound from microphone probably b/c it is small and compact is not spectacular but pretty good for a small little gadget. I can also record my self talking or playing my flute to play back or add onto the computer since the microphone is portable and I can position myself for the best acoustics necesary. LOVE this for my flute playing.
DOWNSIDES to creative zen compared to Ipod:
1. IPOD HAS EVERYTHING!!!!!!!! From accesories to the gosh darn movie trailers I'm striving for. Very annoying. I'm annoyed at apple b/c it looks as if along with PSP has gone to certain movie websites to promote the product by providing mv4 format trailer clips FREE. It is not compatable with this player. Also many movie trailers I find are in apple or seems apple at least its viewable on apple itunes is the file .mov which is not compatable. So while the player can play multiple formats, it's not the most used formats. Which is annoying. Also even the formats it supposedly can sometimes its a larger file or seems higher resolution (I'm not computer person but had to be converted to view it) and sometimes not work. HOWEVER: There are various programs and some FREE ones that can help you convert the .mov and sometimes the dreaded ipod .mv4/mp4 file or any file for that matter to windows media player file wma which is compatable for the player. Sometimes the quality isn't perfect. I'll repeat the download and comes out ok usually. Sometimes doesn't work right away (as you are using the programs to convert it) but try again and does. It's just who wants to continue that all the time just to view it. However I have dealt with it for the other features. You can find many generic mp3 player accesories however finding cases are a problem. I went to Kmart, walmart, target and all had mostly Ipod cases. Target ONLY had Ipod cases. THIS is the reason I didn't want Ipod it just bugs me. But then I suffer not getting cool accesories. However all the reasons I mentioned above for liking the creative zen outweighs how "cool it looks." I was able to find a nice leather case for this specific player on amazon.
2. There seems to be more of a delay once the player starts becoming full with media. For ex not so much selecting album files, or artist files maybe it breaks it better but if I select all tracks takes a good 30-60 sec to accumulate it all so if you do that select a song don't like it and go back can get time consuming to the point I try not to do that. It's doable just when I looked at ipod seemed you wip through everythign VERY fast. However I don't know how much media was on that Ipod I looked at.
3. Ipod is skinnier. However it's still the size of a deck of cards and heavier but tolerable for the first highlights I liked.
4. The controls where cumbersome at first. Has a little touch pad to move up and down that was EXTREMELY annoying at first (just like the laptops with no mouse just that little touch pad). But I did learn how to use it correctly. I'd press lightly and to go up or down 1 or 2 songs go slowly but leave my thumb in place till I slected the song. I used to tap it down then realease the thumb causeing it to skip the song and go up and down up and down so you just have to find out how to press it and it's actually not bad. However, due to it's thickness and the positions of 4 buttons in a square pattern with the touch pad inbetween plus add a little case it can be cumbersome to manipulate it with one hand as you can with ipod. It's totally doable but can get cumbersome. I'm a klutz and almost dropped it b/c it was cumbersome so I usually need one hand to control it and one to support it or my hand cramps. However while it's cool to do it in one hand still the radio, display, microphone outweigh it.
5. I would have rather purchased creative zen with 60gb as Ipod has available however not available for this product. I also hear Ipod will had microphone and radio at some point.
6. It looks like you have to have windows to use this. I could be wrong. However I have windows so I use it without a problem. Some with ipod supposdely all you have to do is plug it into your computer and just piles your songs together for you without specific program. This you do need a media player supposedly. It comes with a program to rip discs and organizer to plug into your computer to add files hence probably why you need windows compatability. I did like the organizer how I can connect it to my computer and add playlists that way or rename songs. On the player itself too time consumming to search through all the songs and delay time to create a playlist there. However only organized by artists and I like it organized by album. Also cannot seem to rename the main heading a file is under. I can rename the file but not the album once it's in the player and working with the program organizer.
7. This goes for all mp3 players, the FM radio transmitter to play in cars stink. Does not have a good sound. The only thing does work is one of those cd/mp3player tape converter things that you plug into a tape player press play and play the player. On reg stereo system I hear a clicking from the cassette player and my car is a ford escape which has NO tape player or I'd use it.
SO: I ultimatly chose creative zen m vision for it's display, microphone, radio, video capablity since I can convert almost any file for the most part to play in it usually (I don't know how well Ipod can). I didn't notice a differece in sound with this and Ipod. It's small enough to keep in my purse. I love fooling with the display options and pics. I love adding internet video media to the player and the colors it transmits. I wish it was more user friendly as Ipod is such as going to a major motion pic webiste downloading the trailer bam get it in your player and watch it, more accesory options, easily transfer files to the player however creative zen can do all these functions and is more fun to fool around with for my tastes such as recording my flute anywhere without being stuck to my computer area which has no great acoustics. I do wish it was a little faster however I do get impatient! OVERALL I enjoy this player a lot. I have to work at it but there seems to be more to fool around with here.
HELPFUL HINTS: One time this player did freeze on me. Had it a couple months and never did before but I think it was with the delay with the all track feature. I displayed all the tracks, played a song then pressed back repeatedley (I'm clicker trigger happy) and it froze. I read somewhere saying you have to replace the battery and maybe so on other models but NO you don't have to infact I don't think you can remove the battery which stinks b/c supposedly Ipod has a thing that they will replace the battery when it depletes in hopefuly years to come but creative zen doesn't. Anyway there's a little hole with a reset button on the bottom player to the L. Take a small paper clip and press it and it will reset from the time it froze and you won't loose any data prior to that. Now if it froze as you added media it may not save the media you were transfering as it was interrupted. Takes about 5min but it reboots and there are your files...whew I was petrifried when it froze and even if I got it to unfreeze I FREAKED I would loose my hours and hours of ripping time!!! But was saved.
Description of Creative Zen Vision:M 30 GB MP3 and Video Player (White)
Creative Labs' ZEN Vision:M is the fusion of music, photos and video into one compact player. With its 30GB of storage you can store up to 15,000 songs, and up to 120 hours of video. Use it as a portable storage device, for sharing all your audio, video and photos easily. In between listening and viewing session you can hear the top songs on the FM tuner. Sync your player's personal organizer with Microsoft Outlook to transfer your calendar, contacts and task list so you won't miss your important appointments and anniversaries. Watch TV, film and video clips on the LCD monitor -- or connect the Zen Vision:M to a TV and enjoy video that's larger than life. Photo formats - JPEG, GIF, TIFF, PNG and BMP Video Playback - Up to 4 hours Syncs with and views Microsoft Outlook Contacts, Calendar & Tasks 8 EQ settings - Acoustic, Classical, Disco, Jazz, New Age, Pop, Rock and Vocal Contacts, calendar and tasks Repeat, resume, and random play Sleep and wake timers Outputs - TV-out with stereo audio; 3.5 mm mini-jack composite Battery life - Up to 14 hours (Charge time - 6.5 hours USB, 2.5 hours AC) Dimensions(WxHxD) - 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.7 Weight - 5.7 oz.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 tool to format a portion of the drive for use as a USB 2.0 mass storage device, 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.
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.
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