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Creative announces $39.99 MP3 player

Apple's iPod Shuffle is a simple and cost-effective way to enter the iPod kingdom. The tiny flash-based MP3 player is currently in its second generation and starts at $79.99 USD.

Creative is taking the fight directly to the iPod Shuffle with its new $39.99 USD ZEN Stone. The tiny 1GB player can hold up to 250 songs and can operate for 10 hours on a single charge (12 hours for the iPod Shuffle). A wide palette of colors is also available: black, blue, green, pink, red and white.

"The Creative ZEN Stone, at just $39.99, opens up a huge new market for MP3 players," said Creative chairman and CEO Sim Wong Hoo. "This is an incredible price for everyone to get a superior quality MP3 player capable of holding up to 250 songs. Whether it's your only player or a second player to take with you anywhere, the low price lets you think of MP3 players in a whole new way. You can loan it to a friend just like you would a CD or a mix tape and not have to worry about it, but you'll like it so much that you'll want another, so you always have one with you."

The ZEN Stone will also come to market with the $39.99 Creative TravelSound ZEN Stone which turns the MP3 player into a portable speaker system. The TravelSound ZEN Stone will be available in black or white and can operate for 20 hours with two AAA batteries.

The ZEN Stone and the TravelSound ZEN Stone will be available at online retailers and in B&M stores on May 14.

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Sledge Hammer
By Mitch101 on 5/3/2007 10:24:31 AM , Rating: 3
Im going to make a sledge hammer with the saying Ipod killer on it. I figure at least it will live up to its name unlike all the other so called iPod killers.

The problem is while there are much better products than the iPod the sheep out there dont seem to care or want the other products because Apple carries a bigger more known name with commercials than any other MP3 player out there. Is there even another MP3 commercial out there? Zune did but I dont recall seeing one in a while. Must be a pretty forgetable commercial then.




RE: Sledge Hammer
By jimmy27 on 5/3/2007 10:40:53 AM , Rating: 2
It is not that the ipod is better than other players, which makes me and others FLOCK to it. I would like more features and flexibility, but at the end of the day, and Ipod was my first player, I got used to itunes, and it works. It works very simply and quickly doing what I want it to do. The interface and learning curve combined with the comfort of so many people with itunes is why your sledgehammer will really be the only ipod killer.


RE: Sledge Hammer
By Flunk on 5/3/2007 10:53:43 AM , Rating: 3
If you get a chance, try out some other music management software. iTunes is terrible, as someone who switched to an iPod from another player I can tell you iTunes is crap for everything but the store. Unless you buy all your music from Apple you can do much better than iTunes.


RE: Sledge Hammer
By kelmon on 5/3/2007 11:08:56 AM , Rating: 2
We must be using different iTunes software. What is iTunes crap for? I've been running it for the past 4-years with no trouble and, most importantly, no hassle having come to it from the likes of Windows Media Player and Winamp. More importantly, I came to iTunes without an iPod which I only bought late last year so I wasn't "tied to iTunes" until then. I've heard a lot of people say that iTunes is crap and I just don't understand what makes them say this.


RE: Sledge Hammer
By Wolfpup on 5/3/07, Rating: 0
RE: Sledge Hammer
By tdawg on 5/3/2007 12:33:13 PM , Rating: 2
Not to mention that iTunes provides great podcast management, unlike anything else I've used. I moved from an old 2g or 3g iPod to a Zen Vision:W and I am using Zencast as my podcast manager and it sucks. I've tried a couple of other podcast managers and was less than satisfied. The podcast management ability alone of iTunes makes me long for an iPod again.

I'll tell ya, while the Zen Vision has a myriad of features that the iPod doesn't, and the screen is gorgeous, the music management and overall ease-of-use of the player is less than ideal, imo, and far from the iPod. Luckily my Sansa e260 provides music playing functionality more on par with the iPod, so I just basically use that for music and the Zen for watching movies on the go.


RE: Sledge Hammer
By sxr7171 on 5/4/2007 1:02:10 AM , Rating: 4
You're right iTunes is pretty bad, it's really dumbed down and annoying in some ways. But, it still does the basic stuff well, and if you either buy from the iTunes store or all your music is ripped from CDs, then it really works well.

Recently I tried Windows Media Player to transfer to another music player I have, and it is much worse. There are no ways to organize your music so as to find songs easily and a simple checkbox would be better than having to drag everything to copy to your player. At least on iTunes you can find and select files very easily.


RE: Sledge Hammer
By Mitch101 on 5/3/07, Rating: 0
RE: Sledge Hammer
By Frank M on 5/3/2007 10:57:35 AM , Rating: 3
Again, I'm going to have to disagree. There were already some very nice HDD and flash-based mp3 players out there before the ipod came along. They just weren't as pretty.


RE: Sledge Hammer
By creathir on 5/3/2007 11:02:30 AM , Rating: 4
Exactly. Things could not have gotten more simple than an RCA Lyra. That was my first MP3 player... back in '98 or '99... A full 2-3 years before iPods were even in existance. This misnomer that iPods were the first MP3 players drives me CRAZY...
- Creathir


RE: Sledge Hammer
By eyebeeemmpawn on 5/3/2007 11:39:44 AM , Rating: 5
quote:
For one they are acknowledging Apple Ipod superirority in that statement


You're confusing superiority with market superiority...The ipod is, perhaps, the best example of successful advertising. I blame lazy consumers...


RE: Sledge Hammer
By nekobawt on 5/3/2007 1:16:02 PM , Rating: 4
Agreed. I have had to explain to my coworkers--twice--the difference between an iPod and an mp3 player. iPod has become the Kleenex of portable digital music, I swear...


RE: Sledge Hammer
By Mitch101 on 5/3/2007 4:46:32 PM , Rating: 2
I agree I could have worded things a little better just didnt think everyone would take so much out of context. Looks to be a gripe day on the dailytech.


RE: Sledge Hammer
By slacker57 on 5/3/2007 2:48:21 PM , Rating: 2
Am I reading the wrong article? Who called anything an "ipod killer"? Um, yeah, I think it was just you.

Also, is it just me, or is this post almost a complete 180 from your first post? Maybe I am reading the wrong thing...


RE: Sledge Hammer
By Frank M on 5/3/2007 10:56:23 AM , Rating: 3
How is the ipod more flexible? I guess having more third party docking stations is nice, but as far as ability to play different music files and interact with management software, it's pretty inflexible.


RE: Sledge Hammer
By Vanilla Thunder on 5/3/2007 10:48:32 AM , Rating: 3
As much as Apple's success is about style, it also has a lot to do with the fact that they're so damn easy for sheep to operate. Simplicity is bliss.

Vanilla


RE: Sledge Hammer
By hubajube on 5/3/2007 12:11:17 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
As much as Apple's success is about style, it also has a lot to do with the fact that they're so damn easy for sheep to operate. Simplicity is bliss.
Ding! Ding! Ding!


RE: Sledge Hammer
By slacker57 on 5/3/2007 2:45:52 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
As much as Apple's success is about style, it also has a lot to do with the fact that they're so damn easy for sheep to operate. Simplicity is bliss.


Please, people, isn't that what technology is all about, making things easier? Otherwise we'd all be camping and living in caves making fire with sticks. "Easy for sheep to operate." Yeah, that electric stove is so easy for the sheep to operate. I'm too elite (1337) for that, so I use flint and steel to cook my dinner. Give me a break


RE: Sledge Hammer
By Vanilla Thunder on 5/3/2007 3:09:44 PM , Rating: 2
You completely misconstrued my post. I was only referencing people as "sheep" in response to the original poster's comment. I'm not trying to be elite. I own an iPod and I love it. I use iTunes and can't complain. It is by far the most "user friendly" software I have personally used with an MP3 player. So before you flame, and pin the 1337 tag on me, realize I was supporting the same thing you're saying.
Simplicity is Bliss.

Vanilla


RE: Sledge Hammer
By slacker57 on 5/8/2007 3:29:47 PM , Rating: 2
Well, it is very hard to construe self-deprecating sarcasm properly through text, would you not agree? (esp. given how far away your post is from the OP)

I think you could see how a person could be mislead. My apologies.


RE: Sledge Hammer
By treesloth on 5/3/2007 11:42:34 AM , Rating: 3
The iPod was actually my second choice of MP3 player. If it were not so completely tied to iTunes (or various replacement programs) I would probably have bought it. However, I found the iTunes connection requirement unacceptable. It's not that I dislike iTunes-- it's extremely adequate-- but it's unacceptable that I can't 1) connect the iPod via USB and have it show as a mass storage device, 2) drag music files to it and 3) disconnect and play the music. If I'm on a computer without iTunes, as I frequently am, I can't add music to the player. Fortunately, the X5 from iAudio does everything I wanted.


RE: Sledge Hammer
By Zarsky on 5/3/2007 12:34:25 PM , Rating: 1
I can't 1) connect the iPod via USB and have it show as a mass storage device

I use my 30GB ipod as an external hdd without a problem.


RE: Sledge Hammer
By ObscureCaucasian on 5/3/2007 12:46:01 PM , Rating: 2
He means moving files onto the device that you can play. You can't put music on w/o iTunes.


RE: Sledge Hammer
By sxr7171 on 5/4/2007 1:07:14 AM , Rating: 2
Wow! They downrated you for posting a true fact.


RE: Sledge Hammer
By redbone75 on 5/4/2007 2:10:18 AM , Rating: 2
That's the way it is when you go against the establishment. It would seem the majority of the readers here at Dailytech simply don't like the iPod, probably because it has become "The Man" so to speak. I personally would only own an iPod if it were given to me, but I won't downgrade someone's post simply b/c it seems to be in favor of iPod or something supporting it.


RE: Sledge Hammer
By PrezWeezy on 5/3/2007 2:57:02 PM , Rating: 2
I'm actually going to get an iPod for one reason...accesories. Everything is made to work with iPods. All the speaker systems, all the clock radios, all the car adapters. If you want something to work with your mp3 player, get an iPod. As much as I absolutely HATE iTunes, and I'm not a terribly big fan of iPods themselves (in fact I own a ZEN Vision M that I'm switching from) they have the market share in aftermarket products.


RE: Sledge Hammer
By kalak on 5/3/2007 4:33:30 PM , Rating: 2
You will switch your ZEN VISION M for a IPOD ??? Are you crazy ??? Zen Vision is better in ALL areas... I own one and my wife have a IPOD, so I have used both.

ZEN Vision M:
- massive amount of quality content providers- Napster, Yahoo!, Rhapsody, MSN Music, AOL Music, to name a few, along with the upcoming content deals with MTV, Microsoft, BBC, TiVO, and others.
- Zen Vision:M Media Explorer (much better than iTunes)
- It's possible to copy music to your Zen in ANY computer with a USB port
- Radio Recording (IMA ADPCM 22kHz stereo WAV format)
- Voice Recording
- DivX and XviD out of the box
- the quality of the video playback is superb in all the formats. The frame rates are smooth and the video has no artifacts. The video also scales down nicely if the video is larger then the screen real estate of 320 x 240 pixels.
- custom 5 band EQ
- Bass Boost
- let you sync your Outlook contacts, calendar, and to do list
- you can set the brightness of the screen from 10% to 100%
- Video-Out (you can see your videos on 640 x 480 on the TV screen and it looks great)
- 20 hours of audio or 6 hours of video playback


RE: Sledge Hammer
By PrezWeezy on 5/13/2007 4:26:09 PM , Rating: 2
I guess I forgot to mention that my ZEN broke. So I need a new MP3 player anyway. I wouldn't switch at all if it wasn't for that. I love my ZEN but since I have to buy a new one, I'm going to go to an iPod. I should have started with that I spose.


RE: Sledge Hammer
By redbone75 on 5/4/2007 2:14:49 AM , Rating: 2
Totally agree. I, too, own a Zen Vision: M and love it, but I have to order even the most basic accessory online b/c that seems to be the only place I can find it. That, however, won't make me switch to an iPod. I would go with an Archos player before that (they kick ass, IMO).


RE: Sledge Hammer
By kalak on 5/4/2007 9:09:02 AM , Rating: 2
Archos 704 REALLY kick ass BUT at that price I could buy 3 IPODs.... :-(


Except for One Thing...
By CKDragon on 5/3/2007 10:36:43 AM , Rating: 5
quote:
You can loan it to a friend just like you would a CD or a mix tape and not have to worry about it

I might not worry about it , but I might scan the area for RIAA snipers.




Quality?
By UppityMatt on 5/3/2007 10:54:48 AM , Rating: 3
Im glad Creative is giving Apple some competition. the only thing that stands out to me though is the creative version looks like cheap plastic. The ipod shuffles seem more like a light weight aluminum? or some other metal. Seems much more durable. Again im just going off the picture though.




RE: Quality?
By mxzrider2 on 5/4/2007 1:46:31 AM , Rating: 2
the shuffle has the cheap plastic your thinking of on the creative. we will see what this player is made of when it comes to market


Nice Price, but
By Supa on 5/3/2007 11:52:53 AM , Rating: 3
I like Creative, and the price is very attractive, but I would pay $20 more for a tiny screen like the old Muvo.

---




RE: Nice Price, but
By DTAllTheBest on 5/3/2007 12:17:49 PM , Rating: 2
Me too. I'm an anti-Apple.
I own a Zen Micro and its sound quality didn't disappoint me. Moreover, you only pay less amount for a big capacity. I never regrets buying Creative product.


Creative is more established
By TimberJon on 5/3/2007 12:06:43 PM , Rating: 2
Some people HEAR about ipods, but have no idea what apple products are like.

However, any self respected PC enthusiast knows that when you want to up the sound, and add speakers, you go with a creative labs sound card. On the other hand.. any PC builder already knows all about the ipod..

Anyways, Creative DOES make a superior product in some cases. While the Nomad Jukebox was not THAT easy to use compared to the ipod, I enjoyed it and loved having one of the first HDD mp3 players out there. Excellent sound on my KOSS UR40s (2001 model).

Additionally, I enjoyed and still enjoy (on the side) a PC built with a Creative gfx and sound card, which practically creates no driver issues or problems, and the system runs Win 98-SE and has experienced no BSOD's during music, video, graphic design, web design, or games since 1998. Any problem i DID have I attributed to the gfx or sound card and creative tech fixed it every time. Good company. Then, I have yet to test them out nowadays..




RE: Creative is more established
By darkpaw on 5/3/2007 4:58:56 PM , Rating: 2
Sadly, they are a shadow of their former self. Especially their PC products. Their MP3 players are still pretty nice, but the SB line has gone straight to hell.

I'd still take a Creative product over anything Apple produced because it'll be cheaper and do more.


Alternative MP3 Player
By scifilewis on 5/3/2007 2:02:08 PM , Rating: 4
Check out the Sansa Express MP3 player. It has 1GB of storage, 15 hours of playback, FM tuner, recording ability, the usb connector is part of the unit like a flash drive and it sells for $59.99 list. Did I mention it also has a OLED screen and a microSD slot(max 2GB card)? I'm going to pick one up this weekend.




Barbie's iPod?
By darktechs on 5/3/2007 10:43:38 AM , Rating: 3
These pics make them look kinda feminine, granted there's a lot of people out there who would like that look. I bought a Shuffle recently and I love it for how I use my mp3 players - just while exercising and shopping...no screen required.

Creative certainly got the pricing right. Had this been out when I made my purchase, I would've seriously considered buying it instead of the Shuffle. It's too bad that Apple won't be more reasonable with their profit margins with some of their product offerings since I tend to prefer their design sensibility.




I don't buy Creative anymore
By osalcido on 5/3/2007 9:44:47 PM , Rating: 3
I made the mistake of buying a Zen Nano around a year ago. The thing started losing its audio output volume after about 8 months.

I knew it was the audio output connection that was physically worn out but tech support insisted that I try to flash the firmware. I knew it wouldn't work but they told me I'd have to pay shipping + $25 for an RMA so I thought I'd get them to at least wave the $25 if I do what they ask.

Too bad their software was a piece of shit and froze my entire computer during the flash... leaving me with a paperweight.

I told them what happened.... and they still refused to wave the $25 fee. I used the money on a Zune instead.

I later found out the true reason for them pushing that firmware flash on me was that they wanted to REMOVE FUNCTIONALITY of the FM Recorder to placate the RIAA, which was the primary reason I bought their crap instead of an IPod They never mentioned this in the e-mail communcations. Sneaky bastards




WoW
By rdeegvainl on 5/3/2007 10:30:17 AM , Rating: 2
I thought it was just another attempt to be like ipod with a similar price range, but that price is killer. I want one now.




A couple of core failings
By psychobriggsy on 5/3/2007 11:44:25 AM , Rating: 2
Price : Excellent. Half the price of Apple's Shuffle. Then again why should Apple drop the price if they're making so much profit off each one? Maybe this will prompt them to drop it a bit.
Features : No AAC, only WMA and MP3. No clip, therefore not good for exercise.
Looks : Always subjective, but it doesn't look bad to me.

I'm not about to rerip my CD collection into MP3 (certainly not the 128kbps MP3 you'd want to maximise capacity on this device). AAC is a cheap to license, common format, so why wouldn't you support it? I bet there's loads of iPod owners or iTunes users out there that wouldn't mind a cheap flash player.




Nope...
By daftrok on 5/3/2007 12:50:40 PM , Rating: 2
Needs a screen where the ZEN logo should be and be $39.99. Hell give us a $59.99 option with 2 GB.




A earlier relese date, please?
By Etern205 on 5/3/2007 4:20:14 PM , Rating: 2
The price does look attractive, but
if they can get it release earlier, this might
just be the perfect Mother's day gift. :D

And with Creative Zen player...
I can finally get myself stoned!
lol




Close, but...
By Trippytiger on 5/3/2007 8:13:44 PM , Rating: 2
As far as I'm concerned, the wearable audio concept embodied by Apple's iPod Shuffle is the most innovative thing Apple has done with their players. I have a 1GB Chinese Shuffle knockoff that I got for $20 USD shipped, and I absolutely love being able to just clip it to my pocket and go.

I really don't think Creative's attempt at an ultra-minimalist DAP has any chance if it doesn't have a built-in clip; that's the best part of the player it's trying to take down.




No screen...
By therealnickdanger on 5/3/2007 10:40:53 AM , Rating: 1
I'm not looking for a 3" color LCD, but with 250 songs, it would be nice to be able to find the track you're looking for without having to listen to the intro to each track to figure it out. One of those e-paper displays would be perfect: minimal power draw and so very tiny.




Please enter your comment subject
By Visual on 5/3/2007 11:44:59 AM , Rating: 1
the small-capacity ipods (and other flash players, this zen stone too) with only built-in memory are just crap.
there are no-name flash-card players which i would prefer any day.
just bought some for my sister, with 2gb built-in, costing some $60, but it accepts 1gb micro sd cards which cost less than $15 and will be falling even more.

replacable memory has a "downside" though ;)
now i wish i had some comfortable way to carry many of those tiny cards without confusion which one is which...




Can you spell...
By Mudvillager on 5/3/07, Rating: 0
"If they're going to pirate somebody, we want it to be us rather than somebody else." -- Microsoft Business Group President Jeff Raikes

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