HiFi Blog: digital audio goodness

Q4 financial results and conference call notes

• $230.9M in sales ($305.4M a year ago)
• $12.7M net loss ($31.9M a year ago)

Verdict? Betten than last year, but stil… Michael from epiZENter also jotted some notes from the conference call—interesting to see they’re pushing the X-Fi technology, talking about a future product that is connected to the Zen Vision:M and offers X-Fi sound output.

Zen Patent: Apple settles and pays $100M, Creative targets other enemies

That’s a few less lawsuits to keep track of—Apple finally licensed [via] the ‘Zen Patent’ from Creative Labs for *$100M*, with Steve Jobs noting: “Creative is very fortunate to have been granted this early patent”... This is a one-time payment, the amount is nothing for Apple’s cash inventory while it’s certainly something for Creative Labs. Everybody wins, and Wall Street seems to agree.

Also, from the “didn’t-see-this-one-coming” department: in the same press release, Creative announced it will be joining Apple’s “Made for iPod” program, entitling them to launch iPod-related accessories with the “Made for iPod” seal of approval (which means Apple will be getting a 10% cut). It makes sense: you can try for taking the #2 spot all you want, but why not embrace the iPod ecosystem and get some cash from the iPod-loving fanboys traitors while you’re at it?

Finally, now that the Apple chapter has closed, Creative is targetting all the other MP3 players and cellphones that use this oh-so-blatantly-obvious method of browsing a music library. Fun times for many legal departments ahead.

Zen Vison:W introduction

The successor to the Zen Vision supports a wide array of video formats (think Zen Vision:M—and, yes, that includes DivX and XviD), sports a 4.3-inch wide screen, a removable battery that lasts for more than 4.5 hours of video playback, and a CompactFlash slot to offload the pictures from your digital camera. Comes in 30GB (~$410) and 60GB (~$475) versions—the prices are calculated from the perspective prices in Singapore—with the larger version coming at the end of September. The 30GB version is available now, its bigger brother is coming at the end of September—that’s for Singapore though; worldwide availability should follow within a reasonably short amount of time (no word about it in the press release).

The viewable-from-any-angle screen (*cough* Zen Vision *cough*) is said to be awesome.

→ Product Page (sg.creative.com)

Zen Vision:M gets a 60GB version

As expected, the flagship MP3 player got a 60GB version. If you’re in Singapore, you should have it by the end of the month for about $380 (USD)—wordwide availablity should follow shortly.

Things that are different from the 30GB model:

• it’s thicker: 22.1mm vs 18.6mm
• it’s got a better battery: 16/5 hours for audio/video vs 14/4 hours for the 30GB model
• it’s got USB-host functionality to offload the pictures from your digital camera
• it’ll come in two colors only: black and white

→ Product Page (sg.creative.com)

Here is the company’s press release on the two introductions and a chart with their specs.