
Excited I am. The creative line of players while robust and featuring top notch audio quality have often fallen short in terms of usability and UI interaction. Several months ago Creative announced that their “Zii” line of players would have both an in-house OS model as well as an Android model. But these were just MID/audio players to take on the iPod Touch market. The Android model had some pretty awesome specs, though sadly wasn’t a phone nor was it even hinted at being one. I’m not discounting the MID scene. It’s just that I love a good MID/audio player like any other geek, but what I would really love to see is a true uber phone. You know. a be all end all type of gadget. It looks as if my wishes will soon be coming true.
The banner pictured above shows the headline for the Zii Summit 2009 in China. The big surprise is that the Zii line of Android players looks to be transgressing into the phone arena. According to the banner, the specs are fairly mouth watering…
A range of OEM-ready Zii Powered devices will be showcased – powered by ZiiLABS ZMS-05 and ZMS-08 media-rich application processors. The line-up of devices on display include: a Touch Tablet PC, a Netbook, a Web-Box, a 360o Multi-View Camera System, ultra high-performance Speakers, a Piano Keyboard for the PC, and a Portable e-Book Reader. But the highlight of our devices line-up is our Mobile Phone platform. ZiiLABS ushers in a new era of explosive high definition 3D with the Zii Optimized Android Phone platform. The Zii Optimized Android Phone platform gives developers the chance to use the familiar Android OS, but with a difference. Harnessing StemCell Computing Technology found on the ZMS-05 Media Rich Processor, Android is now super-charged with seamless 3D graphics and High Definition video playback performance.
Phone with Fully featured Android Platform
- OpenGL ES 3D graphics
- 1080p HD video output
- Accelerated video, graphic and imaging
- Full integration with SurfaceFlinger
- High Quality Audio
- Enhanced User Interfaces
- Image Processing
- Accelerated Web Browsing
The biggest draw for me would be a physically appealing device with the awesome abilities of Android all wrapped around true high-quality audio. Don’t get me wrong, the iPhone has a aesthetically pleasing music player skin and overall UI in general, but it’s only so-so in terms of audio quality. Could this Android powered Zii-phone be the music phone I’ve been waiting for? That’s assuming the fact it ever leaves the Chinese mainland. Still, I reaming ever hopeful.
What about yourselves?