Creative has announced the third generation Vado HD pocket video camcorder, claiming to combine a "sleek design with stunning HD video quality".

The new model is said to see improved quality of video in low light or brightly lit conditions, gets external stereo microphone support, a headphone output, "motion detection mode" that means it will start recording when it senses movement, still photo capture mode and the out-of-the box Mac and PC compatibility.

With simple on-board editing and one-click uploads, the third gen Vado HD can record up to 120 minutes of HD quality video or up to 7000 still photos with its 4GB of built-in storage (half that of the previous gen) while the rechargeable battery is said to be good for more than 2 hours of recording or viewing.

The 4GB third generation Vado HD is up for pre-order in the States in black or white for $179.99, no news on a UK launch just yet.

Tags: Cameras Camcorders Creative Creative Vado HD Digital cameras

Creative unveils third gen Vado HD with new design originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:24:33 +0000

Creative has announced it is to enter the e-book reader market with the forthcoming launch of what's dubbed the "MediaBook" which will run on the company's Zii Plaszma platform.

It seems the tablet-esque device may fall more into the PMP category but boast ebook reading capabilities as it won't offer an easy-on-the-eyes E-Ink-type display - rather a touchscreen - and will offer a "media-rich experience".

The MediaBook, revealed at Creative's recent AGM, will boast text-to-speech functionality, an SD memory card slot, internet connectivity, and will offer "videos, pictures, text and [other] services".

Creative is said to be in talks with publishers to provide content for the device with "fiction, newspaper, magazines, education materials and textbooks" said to be in the mix.

There's no further details at this stage about the MediaBook, but we'll keep you posted.

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Tags: Gadgets Creative eBook readers Zii PMPs Audio

Creative unveils plans for Zii MediaBook originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:16:35 +0000

Creative has announced the Live! Cam Socialize HD web cam that comes complete with "enhanced" Live! Central 2 software.

It's designed for video chatting on the likes of Skype, Yahoo and MSN, and for recording video in high def to post on social media sites, such as YouTube.

The Live! Cam Socialize HD streams up to 30 frames per second, can record at up to 720p resolution and with the software, offers one-click uploads to YouTube.

Small and lightweight, it gets a new "low profile" design, which is said to bring the lens closer to eye-level, allowing for better eye-contact during video chatting.

Capable of snapping 5.7-megapixel stills and with a noise-cancelling microphone, the webcam is available in the US through Fry's and Amazon for $69.99.

Tags: Hardware Webcams Creative Live Cam Socialize HD Webcam

Creative Live! Cam Socialize HD webcam announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:42:49 +0100

Creative has announced a set of wireless speakers for your PC - the Creative Inspire S2 Wireless. The set comprises of a subwoofer and two satellites, as well as a tiny Bluetooth dongle which you plug into a USB port on your computer to bring the noise.

Each satellite measures 7.4 x 7.3 x 10.3cm, which Creative reckons is small enough to make them most useful for laptops. They have a range of about 10 metres, and contain dynamic 2-inch drivers which apparently emit "well-balanced audio". The subwoofer contains a front driver and rear-firing port tube that should mean that more bass reaches you - rather than getting lost in the floor or walls.

If you're finding your neighbours complaining, then there's a control knob on the subwoofer that should allow you to turn it down (or up, if they've been stealing plastic flamingos from your front garden). There's a remote control on the right speaker which has an aux-in input, a headphone-out connection and a LED that displays speaker status.

The Inspire S2s are available now and cost ?130. A wired version is also available, for ?70.

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Tags: Audio Speakers Creative Creative Inspire S2 PC speakers

Creative introduces Inspire S2 speakers originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:48:08 +0100

Creative has unveiled a couple of headsets aimed at PC gamers who fancy amping up their sound a little. There's the Sound Blaster Arena Surround USB Gaming Headset, and the Fatal1ty Professional Series Gaming Headset MkII. Both have a new noise-supression technology built in called "Silencer".

Silencer operates on both the headphones and the microphone. Like other noise-cancelling techs, it uses two microphones - one to work out what you want to hear (your voice, in most cases) and one to work out what you don't (your mum yelling at you to do your homework). It'll then generate an inverse waveform of what you don't want to hear and overlay it on top of the sound - cancelling out the noise you don't want to hear.

Let's take the Sound Blaster Arena Surround USB Gaming Headset first. As the name suggests, it plugs in via USB and includes X-Fi audio tech - which purportedly makes things sound better - the aforementioned Silencer noise supression and VoiceFX - that lets you change the sound of your voice over internet comms, so you can sound like an alien, or an orc.

Then there's the Fatal1ty Professional Series Gaming Headset MkII. This is an upgrade of the original Fatal1ty headset, branded after the minor gaming celebrity and Quake III and Poker player. This one has dual gold-plated minijacks that connect it to your computer, and can pump out 20Hz - 20kHz of frequency response.

The Sound Blaster Arena Surround USB Gaming Headset will cost 100 euros (about ?90 at the time of writing) and the Fatal1ty Professional Series Gaming Headset MkII costs 70 euros - about ?64. It's not clear when they'll be showing up on virtual shelves, but we wouldn't imagine it'll be long.

Related links:

• News - Creative Fatal1ty Gaming Headset announced

Tags: Gaming Gaming hardware Creative Creative Sound Blaster Arena Surround USB Gaming Headset Creative Fatal1ty Professional Series Gaming Headset MkII

Creative launches "Silencing" gaming headsets originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:34:59 +0100