Creative paid a visit to Gearlog HQ yesterday morning to show off the company's newest Flash-based portable media players, the Zen V and Zen V Plus. These palm-size gems are packed with features: Both play music, display photos, and have FM radios built in, and the Zen V Plus also plays video, believe it or not. The OLED screen's just 1.5 inches, but it's crisp and colors are 
vivid. You probably won't watch 2-hour movies on such a tiny screen, but it's fine for short clips, music videos, and so on. Both Vs support all the music subscription services and sync with Outlook, and they each have line-in recording and a voice recorder.
I charged up a sample Zen V Plus that Phil left behind; I haven't had much time to use it yet, but I like the size and shape a lot: It's small and light, but feels sturdy. I'm looking forward to trying it out on my train commute.
Each player will come in 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB versions, with different color schemes for each version. The Zen V will be available in July, at $119, $149, and $199; the Zen V Plus comes in August, at $129, $169, and $229. (At the 1GB size, the price premium for video is just $10. Why not go for it?)
Mike Kobrin, PC Magazine's audio analyst, is testing and reviewing the players right now. Watch for his review soon, at PCMag.com.
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June 21, 2006 10:10 AM
That thing looks a little...awkward, to say the least. Looks thick, but that could just be the picture. I'll be looking forward to the review; my question is whether or not Creative crammed too much into the thing; it syncs with Outlook, it has a line in for recording, has an FM radio built in (although that's admittedly nothing new) it makes me wonder whether or not there's just too many features in the thing, and whether it's good at just being a portable media device. We'll see though-keep us posted, I'd like to hear more about it. And uh...no comment on the obviously "borrowed" black case/red wheel design. :)
June 21, 2006 11:06 AM
It actually has a nice hand-feel; it's thicker than a nano, but that's not saying much! Sorry I didn't include measurements, but they're 2.5 by 1.5 by 0.5 inches. (No comment on the design... except if you can't beat 'em, etc.!)
June 21, 2006 2:59 PM
Dr Pepper is the new for gearlog entries?
June 21, 2006 3:02 PM
the new must-have prop, I meant to say. Stupid no-HTML forms. *muttermutter*
June 21, 2006 4:34 PM
If only we were paid for product placement... (Nice to have you back on the boards!)
June 22, 2006 7:23 AM
It looks pretty kewl. Tamagochi style that's for sure but looks functional at the same time. I like joystick navigation as it really allows for one hand operation, find it difficult with my ipod at times... Apparently this thing can plays diVx clips and movies without need for conversion, according to their website. This means any video from bittorrents can be simply drag-and-dropped and will simply play back.
June 25, 2006 6:44 AM
It's really good. I have seen this first hand and fiddled with it. It's small, and you CAN control the joystick with one hand. The video quality is also very clear and bright. It looks awkward. That I agree. But only on the stock photos. The real thing looks kind of slim and cool. Like a small smooth flat pebble. And it does plays divx clips and movies.
June 25, 2006 6:46 AM
By the way, the whole thing is scratch-resistant. And shock resistant. I saw the thing being thrown repeatedly from chest height to the floor and it still works.
July 15, 2006 12:34 PM
I fell in love with this thing. I'm definitely going to get one. Shlack my puggu.