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Creative adds wider screen to Zen Vision PMP

Full 16:9 ratio now

Creative has updated its Zen Vision:M digital music player and Zen Vision video device, at least in the company's native Singapore. Both gadgets had appeared in Western magazine ads, but this is the first time the company has discussed them officially.

The Vision:M gets a 60GB hard drive, double the capacity of the first version, which launched back in December 2005. The Vision W will also ship with 60GB of storage - there'll be a 30GB version, just like its predecessor, too. What the new version offers - hence the 'W' - is a 4.3in, 16:9 widescreen display, a big improvement on the earlier model's 3.7in, 640 x 480 job.

Creative said the Vision W will play MPEG 1, 2 and 4-SP, Motion JPEG, and XviD video content, but we reckon it'll handle WMV too, as per the older Vision. Indeed, beyond the bigger screen there's doesn't appear to be much the distinguishes the new model from the old one.

Both have built-in FM radios with 32 station pre-sets and CompactFlash slots. Both offer 4.5 hours' video playback time. Both have PAL- and NTSC-compatible TV-out ports, voice microphones and PIM functionality that can be synchronised with Microsoft Outlook.

European and US pricing and availability has yet to be announced, but the Vision W will cost SGD649 ($412/£218/€323) for the 30GB model and SGD749 ($475/£251/€372) for the 60GB version.

The 60GB Zen Vision:M will cost SGD599 ($380/£201/€298). ®

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