Creative ZiiO Android tablets offer 7 and 10 inches of apt-X love

Android 2.1 promising audio and video skills

Creative has announced the launch of two Android tablet devices in 7 and 10 inches, called the Creative ZiiO.

Joining a growing flood of devices entering the tablet market at the moment, Creative is looking to leverage its experience in audio by packing the new tablets with X-Fi tech and the apt-X audio codec, promising a premium audio experience whether it is via headphones or wirelessly with Bluetooth, using compatible apt-X speakers.

So here are the detail on the two models:

The Creative ZiiO 7-inch model comes with an 800 x 480 pixel resolution display, but there is no sign of a capacitive touch experience, so you’ll find yourself using older resistive technology. This is packed into a device measuring 207.4 x 133 x 13.7mm and weighing 400g.

Internally you’ll get a Creative processor, named as the ZiiLabs ZMS-08, but we don't know what sort of clock speed this has and when we asked, we were told they were "still being optimised". No word on how much RAM you'll get to back it up.?In terms of connectivity, aside from that Bluetooth 2.1 with apt-X, you get Wi-Fi b/g, a 3.5mm jack and Mini-USB.

The ZiiO offers a reasonably up-to-date Android 2.1 operating system, although like other devices of this ilk, there is no sign of the Android Market, instead you’ll have to get to grips with the ZiiStore, Creative’s own application store. Creative is promising that the Android 2.2 update is coming, stating that it is currently in a certification process, with Android Market support definitely?coming with that upgrade.

However, Creative is pitching this as a media device first and foremost, going up against the likes of Archos, and as such you’ll find a good range of multimedia support, with wide audio and video compatibility (H.264, MPEG4, WMV9, MJPEG, MOV, AVI, MKV, MP3, AAC, WMA9, FLAC, OGG, ADPCM, MIDI, WAV, Audible).

Creative is also promising HD video out from the tablets to your TV, along with the likes of a 640 x 480 front-facing camera, a microSD card slot (supports up to 32GB). A mic and stereo speakers are also present and correct.

The 10-inch version offers a 1024 x 600 pixel resolution display, is again resistive, and offers all the above packed into a frame measuring 262 x 173 x 13.7mm and weighing 650g.

Creative is promising 10 hours of mixed use, 5 hours of video, or 25 hours of music playback from the battery.

Both tablets will be available mid-December and you will have the choice of 8 or 16GB models, costing ?199.99 or ?219.99?respectively?for the 7-inchers, or ?249.99 or ?269.99 for the 10-inch versions.

Tags: Tablets Android Android 2.1 Creative Creative ZiiO

     

Creative ZiiO Android tablets offer 7 and 10 inches of apt-X love originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 10:30:00 +0000

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