ott wrote on 2025-09-23, 16:54:

Creative updated landing page (https://us.creative.com/kickstarter), now it is some kind of modular device. […]
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Creative updated landing page (https://us.creative.com/kickstarter), now it is some kind of modular device.

The attachment Screenshot 2025-23-09.jpg is no longer available

Modules are inserted into main "bot" sound card (pic is really named "bot-sound-card.jpg")

The attachment bot-sound-card.jpg is no longer available

I suspect that I'm probably not in their target demographic (whatever that is), but some simple animation of something modular whose purpose is unclear and whose potential usefulness to me I cannot fathom is not going make me share my e-mail address with them.

If this lack of clear information at this point is an attempt to create hype and excitement over time, it is not working on me.

ott wrote on 2025-09-23, 16:54:

Creative updated landing page (https://us.creative.com/kickstarter), now it is some kind of modular device. […]
Show full quote

Creative updated landing page (https://us.creative.com/kickstarter), now it is some kind of modular device.

The attachment Screenshot 2025-23-09.jpg is no longer available

Modules are inserted into main "bot" sound card (pic is really named "bot-sound-card.jpg")

The attachment bot-sound-card.jpg is no longer available

Yep, I got the news letter email today.

This was probably Creative's sales pitch:

Hey software developers! Now is your chance to invest time, money and energy into supporting a modular media control device from a company that may not even exist in a couple years.

No? Oh okay.

Hey, Sound Blaster fans! Now is your chance to invest time, money and energy into funding a project to produce a modular media control device that developers aren't going to want to support because the company is probably not going to be around long enough for it to pay off.

Yes, in 2025 what we need is more proprietary little electronic bits and bobs with a high likelihood of being abandoned prematurely.

🤣. looks like they took a rip straight outta https://intech.studio/us/shop/category/grid-m … lar-controllers (you can plug all the pieces together).

I also find it interesting their connector is 4 pins, and intech is also 4 pins. I'm guessing gnd, vcc, clk, data. probably I²C...

If I had to guess, I'd wager it's some sort of modular stream deck device.

Forget gaming. I want Creative Labs to dust-off those A3D patents (and wipe off some of the blood too) to help bring next-gen ASMR to the world. When I get my next virtual haircut I want to be able to tell there's a hardwood floor in the next room and that there's a plant at my 7 o'clock position from the noticeable deadening of the noise from the air conditioner.

Hospital1ty edition sponsored by Warm Milk®.

RE:IMAGINE?

SERIOUS:LY...

Sound blaster is a legend in the computer world.

Intel486dx33 wrote on 2025-09-24, 09:33:

Sound blaster is a legend in the computer world.

So was 3dfx.

I don't hate Creative Labs and they have produced some decent products, but these last few years, I have been disappointed. I purchased and and returned a Sound Blaster G3 which S/PDIF is not bit perfect, which I find idiotic beyond belief. Then I purchased and returned an open box Sound Blaster X G5 or G6 (can't recall which). I do not recall what the issue(s) was/were on this one (maybe I ranted about it here at the time), but I could not get it to work the way I needed to, though it might have been faulty in some way.

I am not an expert in audio by any stretch, nor am I a die-hard/high level gamer, streaming content producer, recording artist, etc , so take my opinions with the relevant a grain of salt. That being said, I don't see a use case where the current Creative product lineup is of any interest or value to me.

I need a cheap USB DAC ?
An Apple or Samsung USB dongle sounds and measures great while costing less than 20$.

I need to record audio (line or microphone) ?
A decent and inexpensive audio interface from MOTU or similar does fine .

I need a mixer ?
Yamaha or Behringer, for example, have some decent products at reasonable prices.

Unfortunately, I do not see what Creative's recent and current sound card-like products have to to offer versus the competition, at least for my use cases. I am but one person whose opinion is of limited value, but Creative products stopped being interesting to me after the X-FI PCIE series card (both the ones with an actual DSP and the X-FI SB1040, which has decent S/PDIF I/O ).

I hope Creative finds its way back to profitability by making and selling products people want. However, I find their mostly hype fuelled latest attempt to be mildly annoying, at best. Maybe it will morph into something interesting and help make them profitable.

Time will tell.

Shponglefan wrote on 2025-09-23, 21:42:

If I had to guess, I'd wager it's some sort of modular stream deck device.

Stream or Steam? Like we need another streaming device, but Steam Deck still has a good deal of unexplored add-on potential.

Big Pink wrote on 2025-09-23, 22:13:

Forget gaming. I want Creative Labs to dust-off those A3D patents (and wipe off some of the blood too) to help bring next-gen ASMR to the world. When I get my next virtual haircut I want to be able to tell there's a hardwood floor in the next room and that there's a plant at my 7 o'clock position from the noticeable deadening of the noise from the air conditioner.

Hospital1ty edition sponsored by Warm Milk®.

That is what several of us having been saying this whole thread (tongue-in-cheek aside).

BaronSFel001 wrote on 2025-09-24, 14:57:

Stream or Steam? Like we need another streaming device, but Steam Deck still has a good deal of unexplored add-on potential.

Stream, not Steam.

Given how popular streaming has become, I wouldn't be surprised if CL tried to enter that marketspace. Even if they are about a decade late. I can't really think of anything else that would make sense.

Shponglefan wrote on 2025-09-24, 15:11:

BaronSFel001 wrote on 2025-09-24, 14:57:

Stream or Steam? Like we need another streaming device, but Steam Deck still has a good deal of unexplored add-on potential.

Stream, not Steam.

Given how popular streaming has become, I wouldn't be surprised if CL tried to enter that marketspace. Even if they are about a decade late. I can't really think of anything else that would make sense.

As part of my MIL's Christmas PC upgrade, we got her some Creative Pebble speakers. They are honestly not terrible, considering their size (the primary selection criterion was size) . For my MIL's use case, lack of bass is not an issue.

Honestly, I think they should re-evaluate the Zen line. People do hate streaming services now and there's a small but sizable trend away from cell phones as all-in-one PDAs, so having a portable media player would probably be a good shot while the iron's still hot. Of course, if they started now they'd be out the door in maybe two or three years so who knows how hot it will be then.