iPod nano 4th vs Creative Zen X-Fi, which mp3 player better

iPod nano 4th:

In contrast to last year’s compacted design, the Nano has been stretched back to the candybar footprint of its first and second generations. Apple’s fourth-generation iPod Nano returns to the original long, light, and slender formula that put the series on the map.

Creative Zen X-Fi:

Creative’s newest flagship product is the Zen X-Fi, a high-capacity flash-based digital media player that adds Xtreme Fidelity (X-Fi) sound technology. But with added wireless features and X-Fi sound enhancement. Will this be enough, though, to satisfy the Zen fans who have been patiently waiting for Creative’s latest addition to the family?

Quickly look: iPod nano 4th vs Creative Zen X-Fi

iPod nano 4th

1.Size:90.7 mm x 38.7 mm x 6.2 mm

2.Weight: 1.3 ounces (36.8 grams)

3.Capacities: 8GB - $149 or 16GB - $199 flash drive2

4.Screen: 2” (diagonal), 320x240-pixel

5.Rated Battery Life: 8 hours or 16 hours of video5

6.Transfer Protoco: USB flash drive

7.Video Formats: H.264 video, .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats, MPEG-4 video

8.Audio Formats: MP3,WAV,MP3 VBR,AAC,Audible,AIFF

9.Photo Formats: JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD(Mac only)and PNG

10.Other Features: Genius playlist tool, a tilt sensor, and accessibility features for the visually impaired, cover Flow browsing.

Creative Zen X-Fi

1.Size: 83mm x 55mm x 12.8mm

2.Weight: 68g

3.Capacities: 8GB (no Wi-fi) - $149, 16GB - $199, 32GB - $280

4.Screen: 2.5”, 320x240 pixel, 16.7m colors

5.Rated Battery Life: 36 hours audio, 5 hours video

6.Transfer Protocol: MTP

7.Video Formats: WMV, MPEG4-SP, Divx 4/5, Xvid, and MJPEG

8.Audio Formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, and Audible 2,3,4

9.Photo Formats: JPG (Software will transcode BMP, GIF, PNG, and TIFF)

10.Wireless: IEEE 802.11 b/g with WEP, WPA-PSK, or WPA2-PSK security

11.Other Features: Built-In Speaker, X-Fi Sound Enhancement, FM Radio, Calendar, Contact, Task List

Features comparision of iPod nano 4th vs Creative Zen X-Fi:

iPod nano 4th Key Features

1.New Genius feature
you can create an instant 25-song playlists based around the musical characteristics of a single song. The Genius feature is easy to use, and the results are fun, provided your music collection holds enough songs to make interesting connections.

2.Adds the same tilt-sensor
It allows for some interesting control tricks. Giving the iPod Nano a vigorous shake, for instance, puts the music player into shuffle mode. Causal shaking caused by running or exercising isn’t enough to trigger the Nano’s shuffle mode, and you can always deactivate the shake-to-shuffle feature under the iPod’s setting menu or by engaging the hold switch.

3.Cover Flow music view
iPod’s Cover Flow music view when turning the device on its side. We found it a little confusing to use the iPod’s scroll wheel controls while holding the player sideways for video playback. You get accustomed to it, but it seems like an inelegant design solution coming from a interface-savvy company like Apple.

4.Easier to make voice recordings
Apple makes it easier to make voice recordings on the fourth-generation iPod Nano by allowing microphone input through its headphone jack. You’ll have to shell out for an Apple-approved headset.

5.An unprecedented feature
It is the capability for vision-impaired users to hear menu, selection, and playback information read to them in a synthesized voice.
You can enable this feature through iTunes, which generates the synthesized voice information and transfers it to your iPod Nano. capability for vision-impaired users to hear menu, selection, and playback information read to them in a synthesized voice.

6.Convert DVD to iPod nano 4th
Any way, the ipod nano 4th also can play movie and video. You can put DVD to iPod nano 4th with DVD to iPod Converter, it can be free download. DVD to iPod Converter is software which can exerts itself to convert DVD to iPod video formats MP4 (MPEG-4),M4V, and convert DVD to iPod audio format MP3, AAC, M4A with great quality and super fast speed. I prefering using Daniusoft DVD to iPod Converter, it is professional and easy to use DVD Converter for iPod, for all iPod.

Creative Zen X-Fi Key Features

1.Photo Viewer
Nothing has changed from the previous Zen players on the photo viewing side. You can easily browse photos in folders, lists, and thumbnails. You are also able to create and view slide shows to music.

2.Radio
Radio reception is poor. The autoscan feature is great, but it only picks up three stations where other players will pick up more than eight. A radio station I am only a few miles away from has static at times, which is totally unacceptable.

3.Voice Recording
Voice recording is the same as what is found on the Zen; files are saved as low quality WAV files. To use this as a voice note taker, you can easily map the short cut button to record quickly.

4.Organizer
The organizer feature remains the same as the previous Zen organizers. Using the Creative’s media player you can sync your contacts, calendar, and to-do list with Outlook or Windows Contacts.

5.Wireless Features
This section applies only to 16GB and 32GB Zen X-Fi models.
The Zen X-Fi is Creative’s first player ever to have built-in wireless features (802.11b/g with WEP, WPA-PSK, or WPA2-PSK security). The capabilities are rudimentary compared to other wireless-enabled DAPs with web browsers, but it’s nice for streaming and downloading content from the Creative media server (Creative MediaBox) or one you have at home.

6.Convert DVD Video to Creative zen X-Fi
As you know, zen is creative mp3 player, but it can also play movie and video. So you can convert DVD to creative zen with DVD to Creative Zen Converter, the same as DVD to iPod Converter, it’s a software which can convert DVD to Creative Zen video including AVI, WMV, MPEG that fits for Creative Zen and also convert DVD to Creative Zen audio MP3, WMA, WAV with excellent quality. To convert DVD Video to creative zen, please go here.

Creative Zen X-Fi Box contents

Zen X-Fi, short USB 2.0 cable, mini software CD, quick start guides and other paperwork, and Creative EP-830 noise-isolating IEMs with three sizes of silicone tips. Additional accessories, such as an armband, leather case, and TravelSound speakers, are available separately.

iPod nano 4th Box contents

iPod nano, Earphones, USB 2.0 cable, Dock adapter, Quick Start guide

Conclusion:

Zen X-Fi is marketed as “the sound of perfection”. It is the company’s best-sounding player to date and it does sound undeniably great, but really only when X-Fi, its most lauded feature, is disabled. Most of the other features unique to the Zen X-Fi are gimmicky at best, and the new controls do nothing but clutter an otherwise attractive player.

The iPod Nano 4G’s Genius playlists, shake-to-shuffle, and improved voice recording compatibility are fun features to have, but they’re not worth $150-$200. But if you’ve filled up your 4GB third-generation Nano and want some extra room or if you need the additional accessibility features such as enlarged screen font and text-to-speech, the fourth-generation iPod Nano is an ideal choice.