After Amazon Kindle and Barnes ">
Nov-03-2009Creative's Zii MediaBook eBook Reader
(topic overview)CONTENTS:- Creative has stunned technology news sites which were all busy conversing or much rather picking apart ever piece of information available on the Apple iTablet, which for all the information that has come out about it, may not even exist. (More...)
- Willie Png, Creative's VP of strategic business says that Creative'''s MediaBook will utilize'' "videos, pictures, text and services in one device that supports a media-rich experience." (More...)
- The Creative MediaBook Zii will be internet enabled and promises to provide more to users than the current crop of devices is able to do. (More...)
- While it will function as a reader (Creative is still working out deals with content providers) it will also be able to play video and browse pictures. (More...)
- Images were unavailable, although Engadget did manage to snag a source who snapped a blurry pic of the Creative UI reveal (pictured) earlier today. (More...)
- You're not a very good developer if you can't get audio, video, or pointer working on the Zii Egg with Plaszma by now. in fact, you'd have to be a pretty poor one. (More...)
- On the Ebook side, Creative is lining up a lot of media heavyweight support in Asia. (More...)
- Creative hopes to differentiate itself by providing more than what the current e-books can offer. (More...)
- The eBook market is hot right now with the Kindle, Nook and other devices coming very soon. (More...)
SOURCESFIND OUT MORE ON THIS SUBJECTCreative has stunned technology news sites which were all busy conversing or much rather picking apart ever piece of information available on the Apple iTablet, which for all the information that has come out about it, may not even exist. While all the sites were speculating on this wonder product, Creative has gone a step further and actually built it. Creative's surprise announcement at their Annual General Meeting stirred all involved while they unveiled the Zii Mediabook, an effective archetype of their very first e-reader which has a touch screen, a very large one at that. The additional features include an SD slot and it is said that it would also be Internet enabled although it is not clear if it would be 3G or WiFi or even both. It also does not seem that Creative intends Mediabook to be just the usual e-reader; instead it would include the ability to browse pictures and of course, play videos.
[1] All the tech news sites (including this one) have dedicated an enormous amount of time, effort, and words discussing the Apple iTablet. Despite the fact that such a product may not and may never exist, every rumor and analyst speculation about it has been picked apart and discussed to death. While we were busy geeking out over this mythical gadget, Creative was busy actually building the damn thing. That's right; Epizenter reports that, at their Annual General Meeting, Creative made a surprise announcement. They unveiled a working prototype of their very first e-reader, tentatively named the Zii MediaBook. This MediaBook isn't your standard black-and-white e-ink reader either. It's got a touchscreen, text-to-speech functionality, and an SD slot.
[2] At its recent annual meeting,
Creative unexpectedly announced plans to release an e-book reader it calls the MediaBook. While the name may change before the device makes it to production, features such as a touchscreen, text-to-speech functionality and an SD memory card reader are not expected to change. It should also feature Creative's
Zii processor and have the ability to browse the Internet, both of which differentiate it from other e-book readers on the market.
[3] Creative is certainly thinking outside of the box by announcing of their plans to enter the e-book market, where the first working model of that dream is known as the MediaBook which will boast a touchscreen display (what else did you expect?), text-to-speech functionality, an SD memory card slot and Creative's very own Zii Technology to complement its Internet connectivity for a complete multimedia experience. Creative hopes that their MediaBook will be able to stand out from the crowd by harnessing an amalgamation of videos, images, text and services in a single device that supports a media rich experience.
[4] According to Creative the MediaBook will features a touchscreen with full color outputs, allow users to browse the web and provide Twitter and Facebook access directly from the devices display. MediaBook users will also be able to enjoy movies and music on their device, look at photos and even expand their devices memory by utilizing an included SD card slot. The Creative Zii is also going to provide text-to-speech capabilities and provide information from content providers such as newspapers, magazines and other non-traditional media outlets.
[5] The MediaBook will have features that the other eBook readers don'''t offer according to creative like Internet capability. Other features will include a touchscreen, text-to-speech, and a SD memory card slot.
[6] 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 services".
[7] Based on Creative's
Zii platform, the final version of the MediaBook will offer a touchscreen, SD card slot, text-to-speech function and Internet access.
[8] The company showed a working prototype of the Creative Zii MediaBook and said it hopes to differentiate it from the other e-readers in the market with additional features, including a touch screen, a text-to-speech function and an SD memory card slot, according to epiZENter.
[9] Somebody apparently managed to get a camera up during Creative's presentation of its upcoming
Zii Mediabook e-reader, but unfortunately the UI mockup that was demonstrated on screen is hardly standard (no hints of Android, for instance), and it's hard to separate proposed UI elements from flashy video transitions. If there's anything to take away, it seems that the device has an edge to edge screen, and is heavily touch and gesture based on a very custom-seeming GUI. One thing that happens repeatedly in the video is that a bit of text is highlighted, and then when it's "flicked" up it shoots out as a web page or a video or what have you -- seems like an odd way to go about things, but it at least demonstrates that Creative isn't just working on any old e-book reader here.
[10] There's yet another competitor throwing its hat into the steadily crowding e-reader arena (we get any more hats in there and we could open up a millenery shop!), but it's not exactly from a source you'd expect. Creative Labs is taking a run at the market, with a unit they're calling the Zii MediaBook.'' Now, this actually has some pretty choice add-ons with it, like a touchscreen, text to speech functionality (it will READ you a book) and an SD slot, plus, it will be "Internet-enabled", though no one's sure if it means 3G or WiFi. On the unsure list are the Zii's release date, its price structure and any content delivery methods, (pictures of the device were also in short supply) though word is Creative's in talks with several different providers, and not just for books, either.'' This could be one to watchor Creative Labs could think better of it and stay out altogether.
[11] The Creative Zii MediaBook will feature a touchscreen display, and will have a built in text to speech function, plus a memory card slot, and it will run on Creative's Zii technology.
[12] Not much is known about it however, save that it has a touchscreen, text-to-speech function an SD memory card slot and uses Creative'''s Zii platform. The MediaBook will also likely be running on either their own Plazsma OS, Android, or some combination of the two and be heavily multimedia focused.
[13] While currently under heavy development, Creative demo'd a working prototype that featured a large color touchscreen, text-to-speech functionality, Wi-Fi, and a SD memory card slot.
[14] According to EpiZenTer, the MediaBook is expected to feature a touchscreen, text-to-speech capabilities and an SD memory card slot.
[15] The new e-reader will offer enhanced features including a touchscreen, Web browsing, text-to-speech, video playback and an SD card slot.
[16] The device will also feature a SD card slot, text-to-speech function and more.
[17] The device will feature a touchscreen and will be internet-enabled. It will also accept SD memory cards, and will feature text to speech. It will run on the ARM0-based Zii technology the vendor is rolling out across its technology range.
[18] No photos of the hardware yet. Other known features of the Zii MediaBook: Internet-capable, SD card, text to speech feature, and multimedia support.
[19] Singaporean manufacturer Creative has leaked its own eBook Readerthe Zii MediaBook eReader. Surprisingly, the
Zii Plaszma will throw its own set of unique features on an eBook reader.
[19] After Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Nobles' Nook eBook Reader, there's yet another big company looking to dive in eBook Reader market - Creative. EpiZENter.net stated that at an Annual General Meeting, Creative showed working video of its eBook Reader currently dubbed MediaBook. Taking everyone by surprise, this MediaBook will have Creative's Zii applications processor. Creative planted its Zii applications processors into Zii Egg, multi-touch and HD compatible portable media player.
[20] Next up, sound technology pioneers Creative, who at their recent Annual General Meeting unexpectedly showed off a working prototype of an Ebook Reader they are calling a MediaBook.
[13] The burgeoning market for e-book readers is about to become even more crowded, as Creative Technology demonstrated its MediaBook reader to attendees at its Annual General Meeting.
[21] Creative recently announced at its Annual General Meeting, that they will be launching a e-book reader, the Creative Zii MediaBook.
[12] What do we have here? epiZENter.net is reporting that Creative surprised attendees of their annual general meeting with the announcement of the Zii MediaBook.
[14] According to the Epizenter blog, Creative Labs unveiled the Mediabook at the Singapore firm's annual general meeting last week.
[18] If true, the company will join a long list of e-readers, including Barnes & Noble's Nook, Plastic Logic's QUE, Spring Design's Alex, Sony's Reader and Amazon's Kindle. Online Creative fan site epiZENter late Friday wrote that Creative used its annual general meeting last week to discuss plans to enter the e-reader market.
[9] Creative is apparently planning to hop aboard the increasingly crowded ebook-reader bandwagon, with a device tentatively titled 'MediaBook'. According to Creative fan site epiZENter.net, the company displayed a working prototype at its recent annual general meeting.
[8] 
Willie Png, Creative's VP of strategic business says that Creative'''s MediaBook will utilize'' "videos, pictures, text and services in one device that supports a media-rich experience." It certainly sounds like Creative is intending the MediaBook to be more of a MID (Mobile Internet Device) than a traditional Ebook.
[13] Rather than being "just another electronic device which displays books in text" like the Kindle, the report says the MediaBook will combine "videos, pictures, text and services in one device that supports a media-rich experience," according to Creative VP Willie Png.
[21] Describing the Kindle as "just another electronic device which displays books in text", the Creative's e-book will harness "videos, pictures, text and services in one device that supports a media-rich experience." said Mr Willie Png, Creative's VP of strategic business.
[12] The (Kindle) is "just another electronic device which displays books in text Creative's e-book will harness "videos, pictures, text and services in one device that supports a media-rich experience." Got it?'' Yeah, we didn't think you could picture it in your mind the way he describes it.''
[22] Willie Png, vice president for strategic business, Creative, said that MediaBook will harness "videos, pictures, text and services in one device that supports rich media experience."
[20] Describing
Amazon's Kindle as "just another electronic device which displays books in text", Creative's vice president of strategic business, Willie Png, suggested the MediaBook will outstrip rivals by "harnessing videos, pictures, text and services in one device that supports a media-rich experience".
[8] Creative spokesperson Willie Png explained that Creative's Internet-enabled device would create a "media-rich" experience by harnessing videos, pictures, text and services. He added that Creative Labs is currently negotiating with 10 publishers to provide content for the device, which is likely to include fiction, newspapers, magazines and textbooks.
[15] The device is capable of surfing the Net, playing video, and displaying photos and text. Creative revealed that they are in talks with 10 international and local publishers to provide premium media content like e-books, newspapers, magazines, and educational materials (look out
Crunchpad and rumored
Apple Tablet ).
[14] Top of that list is the single largest publisher in Singapore, Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) which publishes 17 newspapers and more than 100 magazines. That would provide a lot of Asian focused content for the new device. Creative certainly needs a hit as their line of MP3 players have been pushed nearly out of the '''Anything But iPod''' market by SanDisk and a resurgent Zune. Could a MID flavored Ebook Reader be the device they need to bring the Zii platform to market at last.
[13] 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".
[7] Now, Creative will put Zii chip in the MediaBook for creating a rich media experience offering eBook Reader stated EpiZENter.
[20] It was only a matter of time before eBook readers, known as eReaders began to resemble tablet PC's and Netbooks and with the announcement of the Creative Zii MediaBook that's exactly what we're getting.
[5] The eBook market is quickly getting as hot as the netbook market with new eReader coming to market all the time. Over the last few weeks, the Kindle has had its price cut and Barnes Noble has announced the Nook. Today Creative has announced plans to bring its Zii MediaBook to market.
[17] The company plans to offer Zii user's on-the-go access to Facebook and Twitter as well as photo viewing. Availability and pricing remain unknown, though $259 has become the sweet spot for e-reader pricing with Amazon's Kindle joining the upcoming B&N Nook at this price. Hard details such as the operating system that will underpin the Zii MediaBook remain unknown, though Android has been speculated as a likely candidate.
[16] The latest entrant? Creative Labs. The Singapore-based manufacturer is reportedly working on an e-reader of its own called the Zii MediaBook.
[16] Creative currently produces electronic dictionaries and is working with Singapore's Ministry of Education, which epiZENter wrote could point to a possible future for the Creative Zii MediaBook as a replacement for traditional textbooks.
[9] Creative has now announced the coming of the next device in the Zii family called the Zii MediaBook.
[6] Along with the device, even the content is important and which is why Creative is already talking to 10 international and local content publishers. With the potential of Zii applications processor, Creative can turn its MediaBook into powerful educational tool backed up with loads of content, of course.
[20] 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.
[7] Details are sparse at the moment, but what we do know today is that Creative is hard at work developing a "MediaBook" device that will combine video, pictures and text with what could be described as an eBook form factor. Creative is also talking with publishers, a la Apple, although in their case the talks are primarily in Singapore, where they already have a number of e-learning initiatives.
[23] The image included here is an illustration, not the actual device. Creative reports that its reader will allow the user to watch videos, view pictures, read text, and support other services with the one device., It sounds a bit like a netbook in an eReader form factor.
[6] The Zii reader will be able to show video, pictures, text, and services on one device.
[24] The Creative MediaBook will also have the ability to play videos and photos in addition to text and unspecified online services. This also indicates the device will include a full color screen.
[3] The MediaBook will be a touch screen device with a color screen that offers much more media functionality than existing products reports Creative.
[17] The MediaBook is reportedly powered by Creative's Zii technology, which offers hyper-computing power on a nano-sized chip. The Creative subsidiary has described its ZMS-05 chipset as the "ultimate media processing solution" - which is designed to handle media-intensive applications such as high-definition graphics, music and videos.''
[15] Considering that the first device to be based on the Zii platform, the Zii EGG has yet to make it to market and there are still more odd buzzwords connected to Zii then practical applications (what the devil is '''stem cell computing''' anyway?), I am sure Creative is eager to get any product out there to showcase the technol,ogy, no matter what niche it fills.
[13] The reason? The Zii Egg is a very comfortable, powerful device. Its only for DEVELOPERS right now. Who on Earth buys Developer-only products and then complains that they don't work Shitty developers, and keepingupwiththejoneses gadget fanboix, thats who.
[10] The Creative MediaBook Zii will be internet enabled and promises to provide more to users than the current crop of devices is able to do. [24] Rumors continue to fly about a new Apple tablet device that would have e-reader capabilities as well. Now, according to Creative fansite EpiZenter, the MP3 and pocket video camera maker is almost ready to introduce its MediaBook and showed the device at its shareholders' meeting.
[21] While we don't get a great look at how it works, the video does whet our appetite for more.'' Engadget says they see no hint of Android within the video and we're likely to agree.'' Why even post this here?'' Well, back in July,
Creative released the Zii Egg to developers which allows for writing for both Android as well as their own Plaszma platform.'' It's highly possible that the MediaBook runs Plaszma and, hopefully, Android.
[22] Check out the video of Zii based Creative MediaBook
here.
[20] There are no details as yet on the exact specification of the Creative Zii MediaBook, or when we are likely to see it in the stores.
[12] One possible partner mentioned is Singapore Press Holdings, publisher of 17 newspapers and more than 100 magazines in Singapore. Singapore's Media Development Authority has already made Creative part of its FutureBooks program, which would give the MediaBook official support and funding on the island.
[21] Creative is currently in talks with content publishers and intends to offer the full range of content on the Ziibooks, newspapers, magazines, textbooks, etc.
[16] Creative plans to offer a variety of content for the reader including fiction, newspapers, magazines, and educational textbooks.
[24] Creative is in talks with content providers to get newspapers, magazines and other content types to the machine.
[17] Creative reports that it is in talks with 10 international and local publishers to provide content for the device.
[24] Creative is apparently in talks with publishers to ensure a steady stream of books and magazines for the device.
[18] Creative Labs is hoping to grab a piece of the expanding e-reader pie with a net-enabled device it will also pitch as a social networking and general media tablet.
[18] Creative Labs has debuted a prototype e-reader at its annual general conference.
[15] Creative is already a late comer to the already crowded e-book market with products like Amazon's Kindle, Sony's e-reader and Barnes & Noble's Nook.
[12] What the blog didn't mention was when the device would be likely to hit the market. This Christmas is shaping to be an e-reader punchout, with Barnes and Noble's Nook e-reader joining the likes of Amazon's newly internationalised Kindle and Sony's established reader on the market.
[18] The e-book reader market has mostly been the province of Amazon's Kindle and Sony's Digital Reader. In recent weeks, those devices have been joined by Barnes & Noble's new dual-screen Nook, while Spring Design announced the similar Alex.
[21] When not making tires, Bridgestone is working on e-book readers so flexible they'd probably survive being driven over. They've even got a prototype ready for testing, but no plans to commercialize the slender and bendy device at this point. The reader (press release in Japanese) is definitely slender, as it's almost half as thin as a Kindle 2. It's said that it can be "bent to some extent since the circuit board and the electronic paper are flexible," but no one is saying how much "to some extent" is.
[25] While it will function as a reader (Creative is still working out deals with content providers) it will also be able to play video and browse pictures. [2] Creative, based in Singapore, is reportedly working with ten international and local publishers to supply content, from books to periodicals to textbooks.
[21] Singapore's largest publisher, Singapore Press Holdings, is expected to be the local content provider. This could include newspaper stories, images, videos and radio programmes.
[3] As cool of an idea as an e-reader is, I'd rather shave my eyeballs with a Mach 5 than read books and newspapers on an electronic device that cost hundreds. I'll stick with hard copies and/or free Internet content.
[16] Last month also saw
the introduction of Plastic Logic's QUE proReader e-reader, which is targeting business users by providing news and financial information and the ability to work with Microsoft's Word, PowerPoint and Excel applications. Sony is also starting to show its upcoming Reader Daily Edition, which has a 7-inch touch display and includes free 3G broadband access for browsing Sony-specified sites for on-the-go content, as well as USB connectivity for downloading other reading materials.
[9] If it has a 9" or 10" touch screen (esp. a pixelqi hybrid display, or one like it), real browser (not just a mobile browser, like regular android), USB Host for external keyboard, VGA or DVI-I out, and can read the same e-book formats as the other Android e-books, decent primary storage (8GB, 16GB, 32GB options, at least), decent RAM (1GB at least as an option), decent battery life, and a decent CPU, Ill be all for it. Esp. if its priced competitive with the other android e-readers.
[22] The screen will be touch capable and an SD card slot will be featured for storage.
[24] According to epiZENter.net, the MediaBook sports a nearly edge-to-edge touchscreen, text-to-speech, and an SD card slot.''
[22] Images were unavailable, although Engadget did manage to snag a source who snapped a blurry pic of the Creative UI reveal (pictured) earlier today. There will be a touchscreen, which would make this slate/tablet markedly different than an ebook like the Kindle, although somewhat similar to the Nook. That's all for now. Send an email to Jack Loftus, the author of this post, at
jloftus@gizmodo.com.
[23] What potential users will get is a touchscreen of unspecified size. It will be a cross between a PMP and an eBook reader, I guess (alright, this sounds like a plain old PMP to me). It makes sense as the Zii Plaszma platform is made for multimedia.
[19] Amazon Kindle, Sony eBook Reader, and Barnes & Nobles' Nook eBook readers are limited to showing eBooks.
[20] The highlighting and flicking that is shown throughout the short clip is not something we see in other ebook readers and could help differentiate Creative's offering.''
[22] Creative has announced that it will be entering into the eBook market with a device.
[24] I feel compelled to visit your site, block all the ads, and then refresh constantly to waste your bandwidth. Creative can try, but I doubt they can pull-off a device like this without some serious software issues.
[10] Creative also says it will be 'Internet-enabled', but didn't elaborate if that meant 3G functionality or WiFi (or both). Creative is building their new product as more of a multimedia tablet PC than a dedicated e-reader.
[2] No matter. While the lack of too many details about it or any plans for a commercial product put a damper on Bridgestone's device, the good news is that other companies might adapt the technology in their products.
[25] You're not a very good developer if you can't get audio, video, or pointer working on the Zii Egg with Plaszma by now. in fact, you'd have to be a pretty poor one. BTW, G1 DEV phone was really crap to code for in its first release, too. and now with todays new version of Plaszma OS Firmware release, things are going very smoothly on the Zii Egg.
[10] Creative got us all excited when it unveiled its
Android-powered Zii Egg last month.
[6] Just look at other dev edition devices before you defend Zii Egg. BTW keep your puppy, while I move on to better options coz this device has zero chance to be out or successful.
[10] I have programmed on developer devices before, including Google dev phone, but Zii Egg is a freaking nightmare.
[10] Though the Zii processor is very powerful, the software and device drivers are utter piece of crap. Their support forums are littered with people having issues with every single feature of their device. They are years away (if ever) fixing their software bugs. Unfortunately I can't even return it as its non-refundable.
[10] On the Ebook side, Creative is lining up a lot of media heavyweight support in Asia. [13] Singapore-based Creative is said to be negotiating with 10 international and local publishers regarding the provision of content for the MediaBook.
[8] Creative is also in talks with ten international and local publishing companies to bring content to the reader. There is no word on a launch date or pricing at this time.
[6] No details on a launch date, cost, or content delivery methods have been given yet. Considering Creative already has a working prototype, I doubt we'll have to wait too long before we get them.
[2] Creative hopes to differentiate itself by providing more than what the current e-books can offer. [12] Basically, Creative is designing a tablet with a 'large' touchscreen that's designed for movie watching, Internet browsing, and e-book reading.
[2] The eBook market is hot right now with the Kindle, Nook and other devices coming very soon. [24] SOURCES1.
Creative Unveils Zii Mediabook | TopNews United States2.
Creative Throws Their Hat Into The E-Book Ring: Zii MediaBook3.
Creative intros MediaBook reader/tablet hybrid | Electronista4.
Creative to enter e-book market5.
Creative Reveals Plans For Zii MediaBook6.
Creative Zii MediaBook breaks cover - SlashGear7.
Creative unveils plans for Zii MediaBook8.
Creative MediaBook e-reader to take on Amazon Kindle - Crave at CNET UK9.
Creative Zii To Join Nook, QUE, Alex, Kindle In E-reader Market - Mobile - IT Channel News by CRN10.
Zii MediaBook UI video explains very little11.
Creative Labs Going Into E-Reader Market | GadgetReview12.
Creative Zii MediaBook | Geeky Gadgets13.
Getting Creative About Ebooks | Mobility Site14.
Creative Setting Its Sights on Internet Tablet, e-Book Reader Market with Zii MediaBook | eHomeUpgrade15.
Creative Labs debuts Zii powered MediaBook16.
Creative Labs Has E-Reader in the Works17.
Creative unveils plans for Zii MediaBook - SlipperyBrick.com18.
Creative whips out e-reader at AGM ''' The Register19.
Creative Zii MediaBook Touchscreen E-Reader | PMP Today20.
Techtree.com India > News > Gadgets > Creative to bring Zii MediaBook eBook Reader21.
iTWire - Creative Technology supposedly readying new e-reader22.
What is Creative's Zii MediaBook? | AndroidGuys23.
Creative Zii MediaBook Could Combine eBook and PMP Features - Zii - Gizmodo24.
Creative Zii MediaBook Announced - I4U News UK25.
Bridgestone unveils flexible e-book reader prototype - Future Tech - Crave - CNET AsiaGENERATE A MULTI-SOURCE SUMMARY ON ANY SUBJECTEnter your search query below. WAIT 10-20 sec for the new window to open.
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