Creative Zen X-Fi 2 First Hands-On

The original Zen X-Fi player is an excellent little portable media player. Loads of supported video codecs and expandable storage made it a definite contender, even if its button layout could be a little challenging for those of us with fat fingers. It seems almost a given that the next step would bring Creative into the touchscreen game and that is exactly where the X-Fi 2 comes in. Having spent ample time with its main competitors, it's fair to say that the X-Fi 2 is a different experience.

We have been playing with the 16 GB unit, which carries with it a price tag of just $179. That's $40 less than a Zune HD with the same amount of storage and $20 less than an iPod Touch with half that amount. There are two other models available, including an 8 GB version for $129 and a 32 GB model for $229. That gives Creative a significant advantage in the price-per-GB contest, especially when you factor in the built-in MicroSD card slot that can accommodate more storage on the fly.

The Dolby Truck hits Los Angeles

Over the next few months, Dolby is driving a tricked-out surround sound truck around southern California to promote its surround sound technology. The Dolby Truck features Definitive Technology speakers, Toshiba HDTVs, Pioneer Elite receivers, and even some Nokia and HP cell phones and notebooks to demo.

The tour started today at a Torrance Best Buy, and tomorrow the truck will be in Los Angeles at a Weyburn Avenue Best Buy and later at the Lakers-Memphis game. For a full schedule of the truck's various stops, check Dolby's web site. The truck will be zig-zagging all over Los Angeles until January, when it will head to Los Vegas for CES 2010.

— Will Greenwald

[Source: Engadget HD]

HD Deals: Logitech G11 Gaming Keyboard

For all you hardcore gamers out there we found a deal to update your current keyboard to this Logitech G11 Gaming Keyboard for only $41.22. More HD and gadget deals* after the jump.

Blu-ray's future glimpsed at Blu-Con 2.0

Yesterday’s annual Blu-Con 2.0 conference in Los Angeles delivered a progress update on Blu-ray Disc and many of the advanced technologies associated with it. The conference took place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, and was organized by the Digital Entertainment Group, a trade association whose members include movie studios and consumer electronics manufacturers.

Some of the sessions were enlightening, although a few focused rather heavily on marketing data. Rather than give a blow-by-blow of each session, I’ll just cite the most interesting comments.

A Look at Some of the Freshest Beatles Tribute Albums

There are tribute albums, and then there are Beatles tribute albums, ever sprouting like mushrooms. And boy, do we love to consume those ’shrooms! Some fresh ones picked for your pleasure after the jump.

 

Boston Acoustics announces Reflection Series

Speaker makers Boston Acoustics has introduced its newest line of satellites, the Reflection Series. The new series includes 6 models ranging from compact bookshelf to floorstanding tower models, all of which us fiber-ceramic woofer cones that Boston Acoustics claims produces a consistent response across its entire frequency ranges.

The series consists of the RS 230 compact bookshelf satellite, the RS 260 bookshelf speaker, the RS 223 LCR satellite, and RS 244C center-channel, the RS 334 floorstanding tower, and the RS 1000 subwoofer. The bookshelf models respectively feature 3.5- and 6.5-inch woofers, while the LCR offers dual 3.5-inch woofers, and the center channel and tower speakers each feature quadruple 4-inch woofers. The subwoofer boasts a 10-inch driver with dual 8-inch passive radiators, and is powered by a 500-watt (1000-watt peak) amp. The RS 260, RS 244C, and RS 334 also feature dual sets of binding posts for bi-wiring/bi-amping.

HD Deals: This Is Spinal Tap on Blu-ray

If you haven't seen the rock comedy This Is Spinal Tap, this deal we found is the perfect early Holiday gift for yourself. More HD and gadget deals* after the jump.

What Happened To OLED?

 

Some electronics industry observers may be wondering if OLED TVs should be lumped in with the flying car, the food synthesizer, and other technological no-shows. After the first OLED TV, Sony’s XEL-1, showed up in spring 2008, the cognoscenti assumed we’d see larger models by that fall, and OLED TVs in all shapes and sizes by Christmas 2009. But almost 2 years after the XEL-1 was first demonstrated, the $2,500, 11- inch set remains the only OLED TV ever to make it to market, despite countless teasers from Sony and other manufacturers about larger sets to come.

HD Deals: Save $950 On A Sony 55-inch HDTV

Need to upgrade your small HDTV to something much larger? Then check out this deal we found on this Sony 55-Inch HDTV for  $1649.99. More HD and gadget deals* after the jump.

Guidelines To Buying An HDTV

Question: My wife has approved the purchase of a big TV to watch the World Cup next summer. Reading S+V has proven invaluable in the search. What guidelines can you offer when shopping for a 50-inch HDTV that will produce a decent (not soft-looking) picture when watching standard-def channels on Comcast cable? Will the cursed Motorola DCT2000 set-top box provided by Comcast help at all? | Bill Holloway | Alameda, CA