Creative Launches Slew of New Devices in India, More to Come

Creative has just announced plans to expand its presence in the Indian market. As part of this, the company introduced its international range of personal entertainment products for the Indian consumer. The new range of products include the new Vado HD video camera that can capture still images, the touch screen Zen X-Fi 2 PMP, Inspire S2 Speakers, the Creative Sound Blaster Arena Surround USB Gaming Headset powered by Sound Blaster X-Fi technology and the Creative Fatal1ty Professional Series Gaming Headset, the MkII.

New Vado HD video camera comes with new features like instant playback on HDTV with the bundled HDMI cable and stores 120mins HD videos or 7000 still photos. Creative has incorporated a few improved features in the quality of video in low light or brightly lit conditions with manual exposure adjustments. Users can also use an external stereo microphone when necessary for extended audio. It also has a new Motion Detection Mode that enables users to program the camera to begin recording as soon as motion is detected. It’s also a little better designed now with a touch sensitive navigation system rather than conventional buttons.

The Zen X-Fi 2 PMP is Creative’s first touchscreen enabled PMP that comes with 262k color support in very light weight design. It has support for DivX and XviD video formats and comes equipped with Creative’s patented X-Fi Audio Enhancement. It also has an FM radio as well as voice recording feature and options for syncing it with your PC to back up schedules on the calendar and your contacts as well as create alarms via the built in speaker. The X-Fi 2 also supports external memory via microSD cards.

Creative’s small palm sized Inspire S2 speakers combine technology and premium components in quite a neat and stylish design. It can dish out 6 Watts RMS per channel (2 channels) and 17 Watts RMS for the Subwoofer. It’s equipped with a DIRECT-THROW subwoofer that’s designed to provide for dynamic mid-bass.

The Creative Sound Blaster Arena Surround USB Gaming Headset is powered by Sound Blaster X-Fi and Silencer technologies that are designed to actively eliminate ambient background noise and provide crystal-clear voice commands. It comes with a feature that allows users to disguise their voices with VoiceFX, which offers 18 selectable voice-morph personas that range from Aliens to Orc. It’s a little bit weird and one should try not to get too carried away with this feature. It also includes 3D positional surround sound technology.

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Creative MkII Fatal1ty Professional Series Gaming Headset equipped with gold-plated stereo mini plugs, is another option for gaming enthusiasts. It’s been endorsed by world champion gamer Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel. The microphone that both headsets use is completely flexible unlike most others that are stiff and not very adjustable. Both headphones seemed extremely comfortable to wear even for long usage.

At the conference, Creative also showcased its upcoming range of web cams - Live! Cam Sync (entry level) Live! Cam Socialize (mid-level) and Live! Cam Socialize HD (high-end). The products will be introduced globally and in India in December 2009.

Also on display was the new special edition World of Warcraft series headset that’s been endorsed by Blizzard entertainment. The headsets although a little large are wireless and Creative mentioned that they would be able to run for 6 hours non-stop. On the outer surface are WOW logos that are highlighted with lights. The design also incorporates a microphone that can easily be unplugged. Encased in a gun metal color, two editions will be launched in India bearing two different logos and are going to be priced at approximately Rs. 10,000.

The prices of the devices launched are as follows -
The new Vado HD third Generation is priced at Rs 14,999.
Creative Zen X-Fi 2 is priced at Rs 8,999 for 8GB, Rs 11,999 for 16 GB and Rs 14,999 for 32 GB.
Creative Fatal1ty Professional Series Gaming Headset MkII is priced at Rs 4,999.
Creative Sound Blaster Arena Surround USB Gaming Headset is priced at Rs 6,999 and the
Inspire S2 Speakers are priced at Rs 5,999.