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Part one: Appearance
iPod nano: The Nano measures a petite 2.75 inches long, 2 inches wide, and 0.25 inch thick-- thickness. Matte, anodized aluminum graces the faceplate
The new nano look almost identical to the stout, squat player we've come to know and love. The new units will include 2-inch, QVGA, 320 x 240 screens and have the highest pixel density the company has ever shipped (204 pixels per inch).
In addition to the new screens, the extra-wide player will sport an "enhanced" UI (which looks a lot like the video we saw recently) and its own version of Cover Flow. However, the Nano's screen is covered with a scratch-prone plastic that will quickly show wear
Creative Zen: Creative Zen has ample screen and is pleasantly compact. At just 3.3 inches by 2.1 inches by 0.4 inch , and it's definitely pocket-friendly. We're also pleased to note that Creative didn't skimp on the controls and has migrated completely to the user-friendly tactile variety.
Creative Zen black. Still, it must be said that black does make an excellent frame for the awesome 2.5-inch TFT screen, which is capable of displaying 16.7 million colors. The Zen has a certain understated elegance with its shiny face and brushed-metal backside. It's like a smaller, sleeker version of the Vision.
In total:
For screen, the Zen has a bigger screen - 2.5 vs the iPod’s 2, but iPod nano is smaller and thinner than Zen. iPod nano is much impressive design then Creative Zen, with iPod nano has an exceptionally thin all-metal body, advanced user interface. But even Creative Zen pocket-friendly design, it control pad feels cheap.
Part Two: Media capabilities
iPod nano:
1. Audio and Video: The third-generation Nano's piece de resistance is its support for video playback. Like other iPod, it supports H.264 or MPEG4 video in either MOV, MP4, or M4V file formats, with a maximum resolution of 640x480 at as much as 30 frames per second. You can buy videos through the iTunes online store or import them into iTunes and convert them for playback. Apple hasn't changed its audio file format support. Copy-protected AAC files purchased through iTunes are supported, of course, as well as MP3, Apple lossless, AIFF, WAV, and Audible files. (Many third-party software iPod converters also do a great job converting DVD and videos for the iPod.)
The third-part software:
iTunes
iPod converter Suite
HandBrake
*
2. Game: The iPod Nano's second major new feature is support for iTunes video games. While the selection of iPod video games has grown slowly, three tried-and-true standards come bundled with the Nano right out of the box: a congenial game of Solitaire, a trivia game called iQuiz, and the brick-pummeling Vortex (think Breakout on steroids).
Creative Zen:
1. Audio and Video: Zen is its support of unprotected AAC files, meaning it will play back iTunesPlus tracks. The player can sync via drag-and-drop in Windows Explorer, or you can use a Windows Media Player or Rhapsody. Like its other family members, this Zen also supports MP3, WAV, Audible, and both protected and unprotected WMA tracks. On the video side, the Zen plays WMV
and Motion JPEG out of the box and MPEG4, DiVX, and XViD with conversion. Creative includes an app--Zen Media Explorer--which can take care of the conversion painlessly and (somewhat) quickly. (Also there are third-party software could help you convert DVD and videos for Zen)
The third-part software:
Creative Zen converter Suite
M2
Super
2. Photo: Zen not only supports video and audio formats, also it let you enjoy photos on. Photos must be in JPEG format, which Windows Media Player can convert to automatically during syncing.
3. Recording and FM radio: The Zen includes Creative's usual impressive array of features, though it's worth noting that there is no line-in recording for audio or video (the latter in particular would have been a nice touch). You do get voice recording and an FM radio with autoscan and 32 preset slots.
4. PIM functionality: You can sync contacts, tasks, and calendar info from Outlook to the device. Plus, you get the usual shuffle and repeat playback modes, handy contextual menus, and the ability to search for artists and songs as well as rate songs on the fly and set up to 10 bookmarks. Nine preset EQs, a five-band, user-definable mode, and a bass boost function ensure that you can adjust sound to your liking.
In total:
The Zen player offers a smorgasbord of desirable extras such as an SD card expansion slot, an FM radio, a voice recorder, and a user-definable EQ and it supports subscription music. Though iPod nano do not have many function, it built-in games.
Part Three: Performance
iPod nano:
1. Sound Quality: The iPod Nano's sound quality still sounds just middle-of-the-road. Users do get more than 20 equalization presets to choose from, ranging from subtle enhancement to dramatic bass boosting. Compared to products such as the Creative Zen, the iPod's sound quality still leaves room for improvement.
2. Video Performance: We were highly skeptical that we'd enjoy watching video on a 2-inch screen, yet the Nano's superfine 204ppi screen looked refreshingly sharp and bright. We still prefer the video experience of a larger player, but it's not far-fetched to imagine watching a full-length movie on the Nano.
3. Battery life: Apple rated the battery life for their third-generation Nano at 24 hours for audio playback and 5 hours for video. Our official testing squeezed out an impressive 29 hours of audio playback and 6.7 hours of video.
Creative Zen:
1. Sound Quality: The Zen did not disappoint--once we swapped in the Shure SE530 headphones. (For their part, the included headphones were passable.) Perhaps the best thing is that all genres of music sound equally great. The bass of Zen's disco house track "Disco Patel" was tight and enveloping without overshadowing the sparkle of the high hat and minute ting of the triangle. In the Bangles' high-end heavy intro to "Hazy Shade of Winter," the detail of each instrument was crystal clear, and the relatively quiet Spanish guitar was not lost among the frantic chorus of the rest of the track. Overall, music was rich, warm, and detailed...and it just made us happy.*
2. Video Performance: The Zen's screen is fabulous. Photos look vibrant and bright, with excellent color saturation and good detail. Videos are similarly impressive--clear and bright with no noticeable pixilation (though we did notice the occasional blurring around some sharp edges)--and the viewing angle from side to side is excellent. Even the interface looks stellar, right down to the transparent icons on the main menu. It's a nice screen to look at for sure.
3. Battery life: The Creative Zen also boasts plenty of volume to drive a full-size set of 'phones--we only had it up to about a third with some noise-isolating buds. The rated battery life of 25 hours for audio and 5 hours for video is good, if not all that awe-inspiring.
In total: They both has good video performance. And the iPod nano has the average-sounding audio quality which is poor than Creative Zen. Battery life is the same - about 4 hours for video or 24 for audio, give or take.
Part Four
Except the control pad feels cheap, Creative Zen has bigger screen, is expandable, and cheaper than the Nano .we're hard-pressed to find anything not to like about the Creative Zen. It's a great option for anyone looking for a great-sounding, pocketable MP3 player with an excellent, video-capable screen and plenty of extra features.
The iPod Nano is still one of the smallest, thinnest, and most exquisitely designed MP3 players on the market. If you are a fashion guy, it is what you want.
To be continue......
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