Creative Technology Ltd. today announced the Zen Vision MP3 player with a 3.7-inch SharpPix™ high-resolution 640×480 262,144-color screen for photo viewing and digital video playback. Featuring a transflective screen, the 30GB Zen Vision carries up to 15,000 songs, tens of thousands of photos, or up to 120 hours of video, according to Creative. Available in either pearl white or black, the Zen Vision measures 4.9 by 2.9 by .8 inches and weighs 8.4 ounces. It retails for US$399.99 and comes with a rechargeable, removable Li-ion battery, an AC adapter, USB 2.0 cable, high-quality earphones, an AV cable, and a protective pouch. Optional accessories, including a docking station, Compact Flash Adapter, screen protector, spare extended-life battery, wired remote, and IR remote, will all be available for purchase separately.
The Zen Vision supports a wide selection of video formats for enjoyment of movies downloaded from the Internet, including MPEG-2, MPEG-4 Simple Profile formats such as DivX and Xvid, WMV, and MJPEG. The Zen Vision also supports TiVoToGo, for viewing of TV content recorded on a TiVo personal video recorder, and digitized home movies transferred from the PC. Easy alphabetical scrolling enables quick access to movies and video files. The removable rechargeable battery provides up to 4.5 hours of video playback. The Zen Vision can connect to a projector or TV with the included AV cable.
More info here.
You think Apple is sitting around just watching this and not working on something?
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They better be. That looks pretty… Can’t wait for iPod video!
Looks very impressive, especially at that price. The top of the UI looks familiar?!?
Could do with widescreen!
Lets hope Appls has something special under it’s sleeve.
Take a look at the flash demo. The beach video looks like the beach screensaver built into OSX.
Can’t wait to ride my bike to work while watching a film on that brick!
not!!
joe
see this is exactly what
i worry about. apple is resting on its laurels after doing well with its
original ipod but is not stepping up to the plate on its new release hence falling behind the crowd
and do not forget the impact of the change
over to intel, new chipsets, new architectures, it could vastly delay and cripple apples ability to get
product
to the market in a timely and efficient manner
creative could be the market leader on this product and apple may not be able to
sufficiently produce to catch up.
that amoung other things, is
why i will never support apple and intel.
it could be our doom.
wonky
Interface -Especially the top bar – looks very iPod-ish…
i still think that the big screen etc is pointless – movies on the go dont work…
The future is high capacity with the ability to play straight into a TV at high quality…
Expect a iPod Video and media centre all at the same time from Apple…
Rushed that puppy out didn’t they.
dear lisa
The sky is not falling. Apple knows what they are doing
Take a sedative. Everything will be ok.
I take it back. TiVO to GO? I want one. My PowerBook can’t even do TiVO to Go!!!!!
And content comes from what easy-to-use source…?
I think it’s safe to say that Creative has no iFlicks-type store in development.
And Apple is resting on its laurels only if by “laurels” you mean “just grabbed a lock on podcasting before anyone else was even close.”
apropos of absolutely nothing, except that it is neat, ESPN is gving away an iPod car stereo system.
I think that Apple is right to wait, I think, as people have been saying, that the key feature for a portable video player is the ability to hook it up to a TV, with DVI/HDMI, not crappy s-video/scart. So until HD/digital TV’s really take off, theres no need for a vPod just yet.
P.S. See this for info about Tivo To Go…
I just have to learn that, if I’m too busy at work to read the whole article, I’m obviously also too busy to be posting.
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I was on a flight Monday and the guy next to me had one of those little DVD players. He was struggling to see the screen while it was on the tray. His battery died only about 45 minutes into the movie (Team America). Meanwhile, myself and the woman on the other side of him continued to enjoy music from our iPods. As did about 4 other passengers on the plane.
I just dont see the point of video on the go. When the f are you gonna use it? Jogging, no. Biking, no. Walking, no. Riding a bus? Well if its an hour and a half ride maybe. At the beach? NO!
So for all those people who have an hour and a half commute 5 days a week, there ya go. For everyone else, iPod.
I’m definitely a little jealous of this. I’ve got a TiVo and even if Apple releases a video iPod, it won’t be able to play TiVoToGo video because it’s not supported on the Mac. TiVoToGo and Solidworks are the only two applications I want and can’t get on my Mac.
I really hope Apple is working on a video iPod and movie/TV store. I would love to be able to get rid of cable and subscribe to only the couple shows I want to watch and have then download weekly.
Yeah, that’s my question about this device or a potential iPod video…when/where will people actually use it? Unless you ride a bus or train to work (which 95+% of people don’t), I don’t see much use for it out there. Maybe I’m just missing something, but I don’t really think so.
What aspect ratio is that screen??
Why the fsck didn’t they use the ‘widescreen standard’ video format???
A typical basic error from Apple’s competitors that cost market share and sales im affraid.
You can bet your ass that if Apple is developing the video ipod that it will feature the following:
1. Widescreen (high resolution) format screen
2. Connects wirelessly to mac and your tv.
3. Seamless file transfer via the iFlicks video store/app.
4. Innovative concept for design – maybe features ipod wheel and a couple of buttons, usb2 and firewire ports.
5. Will come with a remote control
Whats the battery life on it?
45mins?
LOL!
Lisa, you need to sit back down, your ass is talking again.
18 bit color?
Odd
An average movie is about 2 hours long. Other than traveling by train or plane, I can’t imagine when I’d want to sit in front of a 3″ screen to watch a movie. This could be useful on vacation trips to keep the kids quiet, but how often does that happen?
I’m in agreement with Jobs’ oft stated feelings about video iPod, “What’s the point”? Just because the technology exists doesn’t mean there’s a market for it. Certainly not for the thing introduced by Creative.
Compact video players have been around a while now. They sell the “Video to Go” machines in toy stores, and portable DVD players are all over Best Buy. Let’s also not forget the Playstation PSP.
Apple will not be a market leader with vPods the way they are iPods because there just isn’t the same demand. In fact, I don’t see why Apple should care about video iPods anyway. Aside from sitting on a bus or long road trip, when would I want to watch a movie, TV show, hockey game, or whatever on a two inch screen? The iPod works because I can turn it on and then forget about it. I can have it shuffle through a couple thousand songs and never touch the controls again while I’m at the gym, lounging, working, fighting crime, or whatever.
The only benefit to a vPod would be increased eye strain. How many people right now even use the “photo” function? The elegance of the iPod is its simplicity– I’d hate to see it turn into this wannabe-everything device for audio, video, games, cooks my dinner, satisfies my wife, and whatever other lame function stupid marketing departments cook up.
Damn! Gregg Thurman already made my exact point for me. It sucks being such a slow typist.
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So, we have a hard drive with a screen.
SJ was right – why buy it ? Get a PSP and use DUO memory sticks to hold music or video & get an excellent gaming machine that you can play for hours and for less cash !!
No, I’m still hopig SJ is going to bring out a machine the size of a Newton that can do all the Zen can do but also acts as a media console for itunes & home wireless networks. Including a touch sensitive screen to use screen touch controls as well as data input for web browsing – something the PSP can’t do without using a very crude alphanumeric key selection syste ( using inkwell technology).
max
max is right, psp is a better deal than this thing.
Man Apple should be scared. I mean the last time they let Creative beat them to market was with the Nomad, and look what happened then!
Wait…
Hmm… where have I seen that UI before?
see this is exactly what
i worry about. apple is resting on its laurels
—
shut the fuck up… watch the Zen Vision sales –> convergence blows…
this is one of those products that.. you see in stores.. wow cool.. play around with it.. then go buy a normal mp3 player…
lets see the tablet
“carries up to 15,000 songs”? If you read the fine print, that is with 64kbps Windoze Media. NOBODY encodes their MUSIC at that low a bit rate. Even 128kbps Windoze Media is horrible! At least Apple advertises the iPods at a respectable bit rate and doesn’t try to mislead consumers with ridiculous claims using extremely low bit rates. Bad enough that Sony tried to inflate their numbers the same way. Another sign of the desparation at Creative when they feel the need to inflate their numbers as well.
Small, but pretty and high-res. I bet Creative isn’t making a dime on this unit. it’s just too inexpensive. iPod sized. I’m not going to buy a video iPod and I won’t buy this. I have a 12″ Powerbook, which is great for watching movies while driving my gas-guzzling SUV and talking on the phone.
When the direct neural visual and aural stimulation iPod comes out wake me up. Till then, my G3 iPod is more than good enough.
I have to say I’m impressed with the number of posters here who actually “get it”. That the video iPod would be a complete waste. I find it amazing how many tech, and financial analysts seem to insist that if Apple doesn’t come out with a 3″ handheld video player, then Apple is doomed. Such a device would make The Cube seem like the greatest financial success Apple ever had.
Nobody wants this device; they just THINK they do. But that’s because they’re not really thinking at all.
I have to admit this thing is really not that bad. I’m sure Apple can do better, but still not bad. Maybe this will light a fire under Steve’s ass and we will have video a little sooner.
Other than you greenhouse-gas-emiting gas-guzzling-SUV drivers in the US, most people around the world take public transport to work every day. A vPod-like device will definitely be something that people will buy and use. BTW, people are already using such like devices. Just look at what the mobile phones in Japan can already do.
The only reason that Jobs has been pooh poohing video on a handheld is because Apple hadn’t come out with one yet. Hopefully it’ll take less time for Jobs to change his mind with this than it took him to offer a mouse that is really usable.
“Other than you greenhouse-gas-emiting gas-guzzling-SUV drivers in the US, most people around the world take public transport to work every day.”
Leave it to a blow hard Euro to make a point like that…