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Creative tries tablets with cheap, resistive-touch Ziio
Electronista ^ | Tue November 2, 2010

Posted on 11/02/2010 12:15:06 PM PDT by Swordmaker

Ziio 7, 10 debut as 1st Creative Android tablets

Creative entered into the tablet arena today with a pair of Android 2.1 tablets. The Ziio 7 and 10 both make audio their strong points and combine Creative's usual X-Fi audio processing with the use of apt-X's new audio codec. The format allows high-quality audio over Bluetooth with reduced lag, making them better fits for wireless headphones and speakers than the usual compressed sound.

The two are defined by their screens, which use a high-color but 800x480 seven-inch screen on the Ziio 7 but a low-color, 1024x600 display on the 10-inch Ziio. Both use a resistive touchscreen instead of capacitive to trade some precision for a lower price; the company includes a stylus to make up for the reduced finger accuracy. They still find room for a front-facing camera and an HDMI out that takes advantage of the Zii ZMS-08 chip to decode 1080p video on a TV.

Creative's tablets are getting a worldwide launch and should be available at the very end of the year. US pricing isn't yet listed, but 8GB versions of the Ziio slates will cost the equivalent of $279 and $333 for the seven- and 10-inch models in Singapore. The company also plans 16GB versions but is limiting those to its online store for roughly $302 and $357.

The launches were somewhat unexpected for Creative, which grew mostly silent after its media players lost much of their influence outside of Singapore. It signaled an intention to move to Android a year ago, but its only results until today were development platforms made with the hope that others would sign up. It was virtually silent on tablets until today as well and may be reacting equally to the iPad and the first wave of Android competitors.





TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: ilovebillgates; iwanthim; iwanthimbad; microsoftfanboys

1 posted on 11/02/2010 12:15:08 PM PDT by Swordmaker
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~; 1234; 50mm; Abundy; Action-America; acoulterfan; AFreeBird; Airwinger; Aliska; ...
Creative enters the iPad competitor market... with resistive touch screen Android tablets—PING!

Please!
No Flame Wars!
Discuss Issues, Software, and Hardware.
Don't attack people!
Please! Do not respond to the Trolls. Ignore them!


Apple iPad competition? Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

2 posted on 11/02/2010 12:17:01 PM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft product "insult" free zone!)
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To: Swordmaker

Cute.

It would be interesting to see a side-by-side, real time comparison of some of these new tablets v the iPad running the same apps.


3 posted on 11/02/2010 12:23:38 PM PDT by smokingfrog (Because you don't live near a bakery doesn't mean you have to go without cheesecake.)
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To: Swordmaker

Looks nice, though I’m not too crazy about resistive touch screens.


4 posted on 11/02/2010 12:31:53 PM PDT by Cedar
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To: Swordmaker

You seem to be an expert on all things tablet.

Do you know if the Samsung Tablet, which is due for imminent sale in USA, will have phone capability.

I know technically it does and will be sold as such in Europe.

Will it be sold as a phone/tablet in the US?


5 posted on 11/02/2010 12:32:06 PM PDT by Seeking the truth (0cents.com - Are you sick of Obama - visit this site!)
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To: Swordmaker
Of course, my only question is: "Can I load linux on it?"

/johnny

6 posted on 11/02/2010 12:39:17 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: JRandomFreeper
Of course, my only question is: "Can I load linux on it?"

Uh, Android is a form of Linux, isn't it?

7 posted on 11/02/2010 12:46:47 PM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft product "insult" free zone!)
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To: Swordmaker
Yet another tablet, and yet another entry that is pretty much useless. Guess I'll have to keep using my phone instead of a larger screen to watch video on, keep a portable music library, and do basic browsing on, as well as ebook reading.
8 posted on 11/02/2010 12:51:27 PM PDT by kingu (Favorite Sticker: Lost hope, and Obama took my change.)
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To: Seeking the truth

The phone function is slated (pun intended) to be removed for the US market.

The British O2 phone company is on the same frequencies, however as well as one of the Aussie telcoms. You could buy a GSM version from those markets and use an AT&T sim card.


9 posted on 11/02/2010 1:10:17 PM PDT by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.8)
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To: MrEdd

Thanks, but I don’t understand that move at all.

If you want to one up or differentiate from IPad, make it a phone to!


10 posted on 11/02/2010 1:37:10 PM PDT by Seeking the truth (0cents.com - Are you sick of Obama - visit this site!)
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To: Swordmaker
Google touched it. I don't want it. ;) I meant a real distro.

/johnny

11 posted on 11/02/2010 1:37:46 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: Seeking the truth

The general consensus is that the telcomms are attempting to hold off larger convergence devices.

Unproven thus fad though.


12 posted on 11/02/2010 1:52:11 PM PDT by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.8)
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To: Seeking the truth
Do you know if the Samsung Tablet, which is due for imminent sale in USA, will have phone capability.

I read that the phone capability was suppressed in the USA... but then the iPad can be used as a phone as well under WIFI. I've done it with Skype and a couple of other VOIP apps. There's no reason these Android tablets could not do the same. Whether it will be sold that way is up to the carriers.

13 posted on 11/02/2010 2:38:34 PM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft product "insult" free zone!)
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To: Cedar

I love resistive screens - higher resolution, can touch with anything (even gloved fingers), faster response time, I find them much better than capacitive, much more useful. Perfect for sketching and drawing.

That’s the beauty of an open platform, though - you get options. Tablets with capacitive or resistive screens are available, so we both can get what we want.


14 posted on 11/02/2010 4:19:28 PM PDT by PugetSoundSoldier (Indignation over the Sting of Truth is the defense of the indefensible)
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To: kingu

I bought an iPad for my daughter, I did not think I would have any interest in it. I have change my mind though.

I can sit by the pool or on my couch, use the built in VPN to connect to my office, then VNC onto my office computer and work on MS Office or Quickbooks or anything else that is on my computer. I hardly ever use my laptop anymore. They are really incredible little devices. Recently, driving from Cooperstown to NYC, my wife found an incredible deal for a room and booked it.

If you have not tried one of these things you should. They are pretty amazing, small, light, easy to carry around. I can create word or excel documents, print them, enter data or run reports in Quickbooks, print those reports, print checks... There is a lot more to these devices than a lot of people know.


15 posted on 11/02/2010 4:28:11 PM PDT by coon2000 (Give me Liberty or give me death!)
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To: coon2000

When the iPad was announced, my first thought was that it would be a great thin client for remote computers or virtual machines. Citrix announced a client within days after the iPad announcement. It’s something that Apple hasn’t played up enough, IMHO.


16 posted on 11/02/2010 4:47:17 PM PDT by ReignOfError
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To: PugetSoundSoldier

Yes, agree...glad we have options. :)


17 posted on 11/02/2010 9:17:36 PM PDT by Cedar
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