Creative CES Rundown

Creative always makes a big splash at CES, as that’s where they unveiled CNET’s Best of CES Zen MicroPhoto (2005) and Zen Vision:M (2006). This year is likely to be the biggest since 2006, as the Zii is poised to make its first appearance. From what I’ve heard, the Zii will be more important than X-Fi technology to Creative over the coming years. Eagle eyed Supermonkey over at epiZENter just found another likely release at CES- a Fatal1ty branded headset. You can read the BBC article here. (more…)

Trademarks Found for “Zii”

Via a few Gizmodo readers, Creative has registered a pair of trademarks for the word Zii. It’s been registered at the US Patent and Trade Office since September, and the full text is below. Here’s a brief summary though:

First section: Lots of digital objects listed. Second section: A lot of advertising junk, and the ability to provide it online via a database. Third section: The big one. Basically allow for providing music, information, and digital services via the global communications network (internet? cell phone data networks? phone lines?). Fourth section: Audio and visual entertainment services. Fifth section: Providing on-line facilities, via a global computer network, to enable users to program the scheduling of audio, video, text and other multimedia content (Slingbox like) and more jargon. If there are any lawyers or discerning readers out there who can dissect this mess better (including those visitors from a certain corporate headquarters in Singapore), click the submit a tip link to the right. (more…)

Creative Teases the Zii

News from epiZENter.net:

Creative will be unveiling a new processing chip at CES 2009. The chip will be called the “Zii”, a name not unlike that of Nintendo’s console. The chip might have a simplistic name, but according to their teaser site, it’s going to change everything. The Zii will be using “Stemcell computing”, whatever that means. That term has been trademarked by Creative just a couple of weeks ago, and it may raise a few eyebrows. We don’t know exactly what Creative means by Stemcell computing, but we’re definitely curious.

The chip has been top secret at Creative’s headquarters for some time now, and it looks to be one of the biggest projects they’ve invested in. We can’t reveal too much more about the chip right now, and we don’t want to spoil it for Creative. Just know this is completely different from their X-Fi audio chip and it will be used in a variety of upcoming products.

From my blog post at Tech in Hiding:

Engadget obviously already hates it. Despite no actual product announcements, images, or demonstrations, they have proclaimed it the end of Creative. For the second time (see their brief on the Zen Moo), Creative apparently has “gone off the deep end”, and additionally ripped the Wii’s logo off. Apparently they feel as if rounding the two i’s is a complete ripoff. Not like their beloved fruity company completely stole the Zen UI or anything. Seriously Engadget? Go find an iPhone to lick or something.