Monday, July 14,2008 @ 8:25am
Creative ZEN X-Fi to hit US, undercut iPod
Creative this morning set US launch information for the ZEN X-Fi, its first Wi-Fi media player. The local launch quickly follows the Singapore announcement and prices the full wireless versions well below the iPod touch and also with more features than Microsoft's flash-based and similarly wireless Zunes, putting a 16GB version of the player at $200 and a 32GB player at $300. An 8GB player without wireless will sell for $150. All three should be available in early August.
Planned accessories will also make the jump to the US, with the TravelSound ZEN X-Fi speaker dock selling for $50 while protectors that include an armband ($20), a leather case ($25), and a silicone skin ($13).
The player lacks the touchscreen of its Apple rival but still allows streaming media from a local wireless network as well as instant messaging courtesy of a nine-point control pad; it also supports Outlook contact information and accepts outside storage from SD cards.