Creative ZiiO 7" touchscreen tablet review (hands on) Part-1

[jiapk21]

it doesnt turn landscape at the start of the vid.. but around 6.30 when he's in the browser, it does.. what's with that?

[annilynn39]

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[david1337sjoeburg]

cant u watch youtube videos on that?

[1albin1]

i have one at monday cant wait its cheap only 230 euro :P

[LEXXONE74]

@ecofuelbox This is all great but due too the fact that you didn't use HD video I stooped it short cause I want to see what the screen looks like and in 480p it looks like KaKa so sorry, but it is 2011 HD cameras are extremely cheap, buy one and continue with the great work you do, just trying to help, your welcome, bye.

[ecofuelbox]

@LEXXONE74

Hi,

it is not a professional review ;), I did this review because at given moment there was NO ANY "hands on" review about Ziio. I did it just to help to others make their choice.

[LEXXONE74]

@ecofuelbox I know it's not professional, that wasn't my point, my videos are in HD not professional...But thanks, I was just trying to help, if you want more views/Subscriptions HD video will help a lot.

[regalo1979]

"you can use your stylus or your FINJER..or your nails IF YOU WISH" :D cute!

[petlover424]

were did u get it??? and how much did it cost???

[darkhood66]

does the subtitles works on movies ? thanks!

[darkhood66]

you said it does better than archos 70 ?

[darkhood66]

I have some questions:

1. have you upgraded your tab to 2.2 android version ?

2. after upgrade, the g-senzor does response smoothly ?

3. how is the sound through the earphones and the speakers ? is it loud ? any distorsion ?

thanks!

[ecofuelbox]

@darkhood66

1. Yes. Theres is also newe firmware available at creative.com from yesterday.

2. Yes, it's better than before the updgrade.

3. The sound is good. I had some weired sound problem with first firmware, now it's gone.

The sound is loud and IMHO, Ziio sounds better than my Galaxy Tab 7

[darkhood66]

@ecofuelbox thanks for the reply. I also wanted to ask you about how is playing the HD movies (720/1080p) on the youtube, if it has flash plugin, how is the battery life and if I can make the desktop/main screen orizontally ?

[lukas918273642]

resistive but cool :D

[Merlo177]

You have a French accent .

[autoelektrikar]

those black bars. This is wrong on this tablet. Are there still?

[ITweijie]

Do you recommend buying this tablet?

[dimcreed]

it doesnt play youtube videos? oh man this suck

[cadmiumpureland]

The ZiiO breaks easily! I bought 1 recently & the touch screen broke when I slipped accidentally from my bedside.  U know what? Creative wanted to charge me the cost of a new ViiO for the simple replacement of the screen which will be done overseas.

Crazy!!!!!!!!! I won't buy any Creative product in future.

[olegulen]

download the 91pandahome2 home replasment, it will make everything on the homescreen go faster and you can turn it to landscape mode, up side down etc.

[siralexu]

ewww resistive touchscreen

[casperspirits]

piece of crap

[BigFatLoserDude]

seems to be the same hardware as the Nook Color except it's resistive

[sookster54]

Why would you use a stylus?

[ecofuelbox]

@sookster54

Have you heared about fingerprints ? :)

[postisozero]

Hi, i just had 3 questions :)

-is the "Notepad" Application from Creative, only limited to this device? or Can i download it using another Tablet PC?

-with what program can i open pdf?

-can i upload "Portable_FoxitPhantom2" (special way for readying pdf) onto the device?

[ecofuelbox]

@postisozero

1. As I know you cannot download it.

2. I recommend "ezPDF reader" it's the best I've found for PDFs.

3. You cannot use windows EXE softwares/files on android devices.

[octzh]

@ecofuelbox

Hi, I want to try out ezpdf as well. Tried android market but always encountered the error "there are no android phones associated with this account, please sign in with a different account". Any other websites you know off?

[ecofuelbox]

@octzh

Unfortunately you cannot install it on Ziio directly trough google market. you need to have a compatible device or you may try those words on google : download ezpdf apk

[octzh]

@ecofuelbox

OIC you got hold of it Through another device and install it onto ziio..

[octzh]

This is a failed product. No radio no 3G, resistive touch screen less sensitive to touch after a while.

[decisionpolluted]

@ecofuelbox Can larger pdf magazines ( 70 - 100 MB ) be read smoothly ? Is pinch and zoom works perfect for pdfs of these sizes? I read graphic comics, Mens Health magazines... Thanks for your replay. Cheers !

[rells2000]

Thanks for the review... I like your style and music

[Rubbswe]

why doesnt youtube work???

[fcbokkel]

Is it possible to use a program like word on this device?

[ecofuelbox]

"it will accept Honeycomb?"

I don't think so.

Even the update to Android 2.2 Froyo, which was promised for January, is delayed for "unknown period..."

[enigmalsd]

it will accept Honeycomb?

[SmileyLegoGuy]

Is it worth the money, because I got a Nook color, but I didn't want to root it.

[ecofuelbox]

@SmileyLegoGuy

I think yes, it worth the money i've paid.

However:

PROS: Battery life is good, it's fast with 1 gHz processor and 512Mb RAM, 2 Gb for applications, screen is very responsive...

CONS: No market place and ZiiSpace just sucks, I have permanent white noise sound problem (i get used to it), after 2 weeks of use I have small gaps between top and bottom parts of plastic enclosure (bad mold design), Creative support - is probably the worst support I've ever seen.

[ecofuelbox]

A friend of mine got reply regarding the update to Android 2.2 Froyo....

And the answer is : " After you have checked with our manager, I am sorry to inform you that the date of the update 2.2 for Android Ziio 7 "is still unknown."

That sucks ! I think i will return my device...

Even manufacturers of cheap Chinese tablets offer better support and regular updates.

[ecofuelbox]

Unfortunately I must say that Creative support SUCKS ! No phone number to call, no postal address, nothing...like if it's an scam website.

I've contacted them few times regarding the "White Noise" background sound problem which i have with my device, and they haven"t answered to my emails !

Unbelievable !

You guys better think twice if consider purchase Creative products. When it works - everything is fine, but if you have any problem you are at your own...

[ecofuelbox]

i've tested my Ziio with : WiFi on + Radio playing at max volume + Ebook reader with screen powered ( light at 50%) and battery stayed 8h39m

Yesterday one of my friends has found that there is a small gaps between top and bottom parts of plastic enclosure, in some corners.

So he opened his ZiiO and found the problem with the design conception. In fact the plastic clips / hooks which holds two parts together are to small so there is few small pieces of plastic tape attached to reduce the gap

[ecofuelbox]

So i've placed the speakers in front of my ears, and SURPRISE - the noise is permanent !

Both speakers emits the white noise all the time from device startup till the it goes in to sleep mode or completely shutdown.

I've contacted Creative regarding this issue today, so i'm waiting for their reply.

If someone also have Creative Ziio 7, could you check if you have this noise and post the result ?

[octzh]

@ecofuelbox . I asked and just got a reply from creative presales, they claim that their latest firmware release in Jan include a fix on the noise problem during standby. Can you try and tell us if it fix your problem?

[ecofuelbox]

@octzh

I've uptadet the firmware. As for now I don't have the loud "fax noise" anymore, but still have the "white noise" all time the device is ON.

[ecofuelbox]

I've noticed yesterday night something quite annoying.

I've recorder some audio memos with "Note Everything" and they all was with "White Noise" background noise. It happens when I've tried may other recording application, bu not with the ZiiO recorder application. Later when I has read PDF book, ive notices that the noise is quite noticeable in complete silence at night.

[xdgf360]

will there be java for this device

[ecofuelbox]

@socoil23

Yes, its very responsive with finger as well.

I've only triesd few games : Raging Thunder and Angry Birds and both runs very smooth.

I mostly use it for book reading and it stays around 10 hours of reading (with back-light 25%).

I will test it today with online (wifi) radio and screen on, and will post the result later.

[Mikestroh]

I'm considering purchasing one as well when it becomes available in the States. My main question is: Can you run additional apps while playing music? For example go onto the internet simutaneously?

[ecofuelbox]

@Mikestroh

yes , you can run multi-tasks.

You can for example : listen music + open web browser + have lot of application running on background.

I often listen "background" music + read the ebooks.

Sound quality is very good.

I will upload Part-2 (and may be 3) today.

[Mikestroh]

@ecofuelbox

Thanks for the info ecofuelbox! I think I'm still going to hold off until the 2011 CES when I can see all of the competitiors that will be released in that calendar year. So far...Creative is the number one contender because I specifically want it for music and video playback....too back they don't these tablets in 32GB's.

[Mikestroh]

@ecofuelbox

Thanks ecofuelbox......More than likely I'm going to wait until after the 2011 CES. I want to make sure this will be the best audio/video tablet for the price. I also hope that the Android 2.1 will be able to be upgraded to at least 2.3...(crossing fingers)

[ikkenienwel]

nice buddy, and nice accent too

If I hadn't know any better I would say you are russian...

anyway

ZiiO looks nice, responsive and delivers what's promised for the right price !

[ecofuelbox]

Unfortunately "SlideMe" is rather poor's man marketplace, and you can find only limited quantity of applications.

And i though that Archos AppsLib is worst application database...

Frankly say, Creative have long way to go.

The hardware is ok, but the software support, imho, is weak.

I hope it's only for temporary problem, and hope that Android 2.2 Froyo will be available soon with the Flash support and better performance.

[abuammrah]

how much does it cost you ???

nice music and great video review

[ecofuelbox]

@abuammrah

I paid 269,99 € Purchased directly from Creative Labs France

However it was shipped from China via Fedex, and for unknown (for me) reason it was held by Chinese customs. So it took 9 days instead of two, to arrive.

[abuammrah]

@ecofuelbox thanks for your fast reply ...

ok what about the zen touch 2 i thinking of getting one ... or should i go for the ziio

[ecofuelbox]

you are welcome ;)

[abuammrah]

thank you so much you're the best

[ecofuelbox]

@abuammrah

I will upload second part tomorrow (very busy right now)

and probably will do third part as well ;) I have filmed for more that 40 minutes with different applications "in action"

Oh, by the way I have finally found how install the application.

1. Disable "Block popup windows" in default web browser settings.

2. open Creative Space > go to SlideMe (SAM 4.0) >> download SlideMe application (kinda "google marketplace") >> install the downloaded package

3. Open SlideMe

[abuammrah]

@ecofuelbox i can't wait to see all parts

[abuammrah]

@ecofuelbox and by the way you're the first who upload a review for the ziio thanks buddy i've been waiting

[ecofuelbox]

Later i will upload part 2...