Beleaguered Derivative… er, “Creative” today introduced an iPod shuffle knockoff called the “ZEN Stone,” a 1GB MP3 player priced at US$39.99, available by May 14.
The ZEN Stone comes in black, white, red, blue, pink and green.
Beleaguered “Creative” says users can drag and drop up to 250 songs (based on MP3 format encoded at 128kbps) to the ZEN Stone. Choose “Play” or “Shuff…” er, “Random” and listen to up to 10 hours on a single charge of the built-in battery.
According to beleaguered “Creative,” the ZEN Stone is “so simple to use that it does not even need a screen; just skip through tracks or albums while you are on the go, or simply play all the songs randomly in the shuffle mode.”
Let’s see what beleaguered “Creative” CEO Sim Wong Hoo had to say upon the debut of the original iPod shuffle:
Actually, to me it’s a big let-down: we’re expecting a good fight but they’re coming out with something that’s five generations older. It’s our first generation MuVo One product feature, without display, just have a (shuffle feature). We had that — that’s a four-year-old product. So I think the whole industry will just laugh at it, because the flash people — it’s worse than the cheapest Chinese player. Even the cheap, cheap Chinese brand today has display and has FM. They don’t have this kind of thing, and they expect to come out with a fight; I think it’s a non-starter to begin with. – Beleaguered Creative’s CEO Sim Wong Hoo, January 12, 2005
Beleaguered Derivative… er, “Creative’s” press release via PRNewsWire here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Twilightmoon” for the heads up.]
There ought to be a law against naming your company the polar opposite of what it really is and does.
Related articles:
Beleaguered Creative reports loss; seeks to boost sales with Apple iPod accessories – May 02, 2007
Creative CEO: Apple iPod shuffle ‘a big let-down, worse than the cheapest Chinese player’ – January 12, 2005
When will we read Beleaguered Microsoft on MDN?
They’ll probably sell a few of the white and black ones, if only because from a distance they vaguely look like an old iPod. But on the other hand, the extreme cheapskates toward whom this product is marketed can go buy a real old iPod for $20 on eBay.
Zen, Zune, they’re all the same…
…doomed!
They might as well call it a iPear Random Player, and put Engrish on the box.
nice colours…
Actually, I hate to say it, but at $40, they’ll probably sell a ton of these things. At least until/unless Apple drops the price of the Shuffle. It’s $79 right now. Sure, it looks a bit better, and is probably a bit better overall, but it’s twice the price.
I hope Apple drops the price of the Shuffle, then I’d add one to my collection.
They might as well sell these at the dollar general. Put Engrish instructions on the box.
Of course, you can always get a factory refurbished, genuine Apple iPod shuffle, with a full one year warranty, for only $49 on Apple’s website right now……
can play up to 250 MP3 songs:
“Based on MP3 format encoded at 128kbps; the ZEN Stone can also hold up to 500 WMA songs encoded at 64kbps.”
lolz.. 64kbs songs.. who encodes their songs in less than gramophone quality of 64kbs? At least their primary claim is for 128kbs. But MP3 only? no AAC? no WMP?
Even at it’s price it seems like a rip off crippled that badly.
Wow, $40? Awesome. Wait… how do I get my music on it? Wait, what?
Is there a clip like there is on the Shuffle?
“Stone” (dead)
Bartsimpsonhead:
Zen, Zune, they’re all the same…
…doomed!
—————————————————————————————
funny a s hell…let me add to that…zen, zune, zero, zilch and zip…doomed
Too bad you need Windows to use it. If it would work with a Mac, I bet a decent number of people would consider buying one, if for no other reason that the dramatically lower price. The color selection is nice. Hell, I’d consider buying one at that price if it would work with my PowerBook. All my music is in MP3 format anyway, since at the bit rates I rip to, AAC doesn’t save me much space for the same quality.
Creative Stone, waa…
Is this sort of like a Pet Rock or something…
Now getting paid to come up with that name takes some “stones.”
@ Clip?
“You can personalize the Creative ZEN Stone with attractive translucent skins that include a clip and are available in five matching colors”
It’s not clear but it looks like it comes with colored shells that have a clip built in.
Realistically, at that price, they will sell a good handfull of those to PC diehards. If they aren’t over confident and
don’t over manufacture the thing, they might even make a profit. Competition is healthy. Bring it on!
Doesn’t matter…they won’t sell a ton of these.
People aren’t buying buttloads of Shuffles just because of it’s lower price.
It’s because it is an iPod…dagnabbit!
Is there a clip like there is on the Shuffle?
The clip is an accessory that costs extra. Other accessories are an armband or a keychain. I hate to admit it, but the keychain is a half-decent idea. That doesn’t excuse them for the pathetic rip-off of the 2nd gen shuffle design, though.
Well,
1. Can it work with iTunes?
2. Can you buy your music online?
3. Does is look as cool as the Suffle?
4. Is it as small?
The little Shuffle is an amazing device if you ask me. I hae one and I use it a lot (despite of having an iPod video as well).
MDN Word: earlier, as in “we should have thought of that earlier”
Encore? Sure..
Please, Beleaguered, let it go
For I don’t love you anymore
And to live without iPods is a sin
So release us, and let’s enjoy iTunes again.
I can buy 20 for stocking stuffers.
Kids – “Mommy what is this crap santa got us this year.” 🙁
Shiva, I would not be surprised if it would not work nicely on iTunes. I have several older mp3 players that you “drag and drop” music onto thru iTunes and they work fine.
Well, OK not as fine as Shuffle, nano, etc but OK.
en
I have an iPod and a Shuffle, and I have to admit this doesn’t look half bad. The thing I really like is the “jump to next folder of music” button. I’d like to be able to do that on my Shuffle. Sometimes I don’t want to listen to every song in order or shuffle everything. Right now if I want to listen to a Snow Patrol song, I have to advance through 100 other songs first. Meh.
It’s a stone alright…
and it’s going to drop right to the bottom of everyone pond or should I say there bathtub or worst!