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How to use Zen Micro on Macintosh  

 

Zen Micro is a decent MP3 player from Creative.  Some people may think that it is an iPod Mini clone.  However, it is far better than a clone.  Comparing Zen Micro against iPod mini, it has quite a number of improvements:

 

l          It offers higher capacity, built-in FM radio, and voice recording

l          It can synchronize music from multiple computer

l          Its Li-ion rechargeable battery is removable

 

Anyway, Creative was one of the first to launch MP3 players.  Long before iPod was available, Creative MP3 players was very well supported by the first generation of iTune.

 

Preparation

Creative is not providing official Mac support.  However, it doesn¡¦t mean that there is no way to use Zen Micro on Mac.  A free third party application called XNJB can be used to manage songs on Creative Jukeboxes.  According to XNJB project web site, the software supports the following music players:

 

l          Creative Nomad Jukebox 1 a.k.a. Creative D.A.P.

l          Creative Nomad Jukebox 2

l          Creative Nomad Jukebox 3

l          Creative Nomad Jukebox Zen

l          Creative Nomad Jukebox Zen USB 2.0

l          Creative Nomad Jukebox Zen NX

l          Creative Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra

l          Dell Digital Jukebox ("Dell DJ")

l          Creative Nomad Jukebox Zen Touch

l          Creative Nomad Jukebox Zen Micro (NOT MTP firmware version 2.00.12 or above)

l          Second Generation Dell Digital Jukebox

 

XNJB can be downloaded from the following site:

 

http://www.wentnet.com/projects/xnjb/

 

In order to use the software, simply download the binary disk image.  After the image is ready, open the image and drag the file XNJB into Applications.  It¡¦s certainly much faster and simpler than a complete installation on Windows platform.

 

¡¿ Drag the file XNJB into Applications

 

Importing Music into iTune

To listen to music on Zen Micro, you are supposed to import the music into the computer first.  This rule holds no matter you are using a Windows based PC or a Mac.  By default, Mac is ripping the music into AAC files.  While AAC files cannot be played on Zen Micro directly, you need to change the default import format into MP3.  The option is available in iTune > Preferences > Importing.

 

¡¿ This is a reference configuration

 

After the configuration is done, you may import the music as you usually do.  By default, the music files are stored in Music > iTune > iTune Music.

 

Even though Zen Micro supports WAV format, this format is not recommended for Mac users.  Unlike the official Windows software, Zen Micro Media Explorer, XNJB does not let you add album/artist information before you transfer the WAV files.  It will be very difficult to manage WAV files on Mac.

 

Managing Zen Micro Using XNJB

In order to manage Zen Micro, you must connect the player to any USB port on the Mac.  After that, execute XNJB and it should automatically switch Zen Micro to Docked state.

 

¡¿ Zen Micro in Docked state

 

To transfer music, click the Music tab.  The upper part of the window shows the music files in Zen Micro.  The lower part let you find your music in the computer.  Select desired music files or the folder that contains the files and click ¡¶ to transfer the music into Zen Micro. 

 

¡¿ Transferring music from computer to Zen Micro

 

To transfer data file, click Data tab.  Data files are managed in the same way.  Please note that Zen Micro does not play music files stored in the data portion.

 

XNJB also let you create your play lists on the computer.  To creating play list, click the Playlists tab.  The upper part of the window shows the music files in Zen Micro.  The lower part let you manage your play lists.  Click the + sign to add a new play list.    Select the play list you want to edit.  After that, choose the music you want to add into the play list.  Click ¡¿ to add the selected music.

 

¡¿ A play list has been created

 

XNJB can also modify owner information and configure the clock of Zen Micro.  Click Jukebox Settings to modify the information or to adjust the clock.  Click Update Jukebox to confirm the changes.

 

¡¿ Modifying the information of Zen Micro

 

Right now, the software cannot synchronize contacts, task list, and calendar into the player.  It doesn¡¦t support smart synchronization either.  The bottom line is that it has already offered all the basic elements of music management.

 

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