Creative unveils Vision:M video iPod killer

By Slimy
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Grand Master

Slimy

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Creative is about to launch its alternative to Apple's video-enabled fifth-generation iPod. Creative is expected to announce the player tomorrow, but the company's Japanese division appears to have jumped the gun and detailed the machine today.

Dubbed the Zen Vision:M, the skinny player combines music and video playback with photo viewing, all on its 2.5in, 262,144-colour, 320 x 240 LCD.

The unit measures 10.4 x 6.2 x 1.9cm into which Creative has squeezed a 30GB hard drive and a rechargeable battery capable of running for four hours in video-playback mode and 14 hours when pumping out music, Creative claimed.

Music formats supported include MP3, WMA with DRM and WAV. The Vision:M will play MPEG 1, 2 and 4, WMV 9, Motion JPEG, DivX 4 and 5, and XviD video files. Photos need to be JPEGs. The player has a recordable FM tuner on board, though this may not make it to all territories, we understand.

The unit weighs 166g, compared to the 30GB iPod's 136g. The two products are pretty much the same size face-on, but the iPod is about half as thick. That said, the Vision:M plays video for longer: four hours to the iPod's two.

Interestingly, Creative has equipped the Vision:M with a slim connector, no doubt in the hope of encouraging the formation of an ecosystem of compatible accessories of the kind that currently services iPod owners.

In Japan, at least, the Vision:M will retail for ?39,800 ($329/?190), and will be offered in iPod-style white and black, and also in green. It goes on sale there mid-December. ?

visionm_1.jpg

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mrogers

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Interesting, though I think it's quite a stretch to call it an "iPod killer." Let's see:

1) Same size screen as the iPod. It better be a darn good one, because the iPod's LCD is one of the absolute best out there as far as mobile devices go.

2) Double the video battery life. Very good, point to Creative.

3) Twice the thickness. Ouch. A large part of the iPod's appeal is it's small size. The thickness (or thinness) makes a big difference for many buyers, I can say that with certainty. Point to Apple.

4) Same capacity, but costs even more. Not so good.

5) Format compatibility. Here's where the Creative has a real chance to shine, but only if it can play a standard DiVX file from your desktop without having to resample it to 320x240. If you do, then there's no advantage over the video iPod here at all, because you'll still have to spend time converting your videos.

6) Looks. Personally, I think it's butt-ugly. Not a fan of the entire lower half being buttons (can't grab it anywhere around the bottom without pressing anything), and generally just so many lines across the thing.

7) Interface. Creative would have had to pull quite a feat to come up with an interface as simple and efficient as Apple's. Somehow, I doubt that happening because they've had years and they haven't got it right yet.

So, here's what I think, in summary: a real good competitor, on some points, and a good alterative for some people, perhaps. But far, far from an "iPod killer".

Grand Master

chconline Veteran

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I am sorry, but that thing is just not THAT great, and creative just always seem to try to make an 'ipod killer'.

Dont get me wrong, I dont like Ipod, I own a creative muvo N200 right now. But the fact is the Ipod is definitely in for its looks, but that creative has more compatibility and WAYYYYYYYYYYYY Better sound (Which is exactly what I want) they get their looks right, I am sold for one.

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Zolk

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iPod killer? More like iPod copy that will flop like all the Creative players that came before it.

I've always said that a true "iPod killer" will look nothing like an iPod. You have to innovate, not duplicate, if you want to make a dent in this market.

The whole color scheme of that interface is a direct copy of the iPod and the interface itself is probably much less intuitive based on Creative's history. And what is with those buttons? Other than the play/pause, many of those symbols are confusing and foreign to consumers.

The iPod is all about simplicity, ease of use, and an ecosystem of software and services (iTunes) to pull everything together. No one can match that combination at this point.

Grand Master

Toastyone

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Posted

I would not call this an ipod killer....I mean it costs more, weighs more, looks worse and creative's software is not as good as Apple's IMO...... I have owned three mp3 players in the past 3 years and the iPod is still the best in terms of looks and performance I have owned......but you know people are going to buy this just because they have some weird hate for Apple and the iPod :p

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chrisgeleven

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Posted

Oh. I think the iPod (video) sucks too, because of its battery life and large size. My PDA is only slightly larger and has a 480x320 screen, plus a camera, wi-fi, etc etc.

Plays movies much better. And for more than two hours, too.

The main purpose of an iPod will always be music. At that, it crushes any PDA or device Creative has. Video functionality is just a plus and just for hardcore geeks at this point. To me, the important piece is that Apple made it braindead simple to get videos onto the iPod via the iTunes store.

The next iPod will be stellar when it comes to video.

Creative still doesn't get it. It isn't so much about features (although those are important), but the whole package. I can buy an iPod, bring it home, and within 5-10 minutes have iTunes up, ripping CD's, and buying songs on iTunes for 99 cents. No Creative or any other mp3 player comes close to that type of integration and simplicity.

I can give someone an iPod (and they never used one), say "Rotation your thumb on the wheel" and within seconds most people pick up how it works and within a minute they are navigating it like a pro.

In fact, my mom bought an iPod nano a month or two ago. I knew she was getting one, but I didn't have time to call to see how she liked it. I get a call later and my mom is chatting away with me. I ask if she got the iPod and she goes "Yeah, I already bought 20 songs and imported a few CD's...this is simple."

Creative might get it sometime, but they fall short again.

Grand Master

Slimy

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

I would not call this an ipod killer....I mean it costs more, weighs more, looks worse and creative's software is not as good as Apple's IMO...... I have owned three mp3 players in the past 3 years and the iPod is still the best in terms of looks and performance I have owned......but you know people are going to buy this just because they have some weird hate for Apple and the iPod :p

Not really a weird hate for the iPod. I don't like how it doesn't have an fm radio, that I can't use wmp with it, that if I want to transfer some songs from my buddy's computer I have to go and install itunes or go back to my place and set it up as a hardrive. I don't like how it comes with cheap earphones and has worse sound overall. I don't like its limit on formats. I don't like its battery life or the fact that you can't easily replace the battery.

Don't get me wrong though. I'm just hard to satisfy. I love the huge screen, the clickwheel, the whole design, the size and the smoothness of the iPod. I love the black version of the iPod video, absolutely beautiful.

Edited by slimy
Grand Master

Slimy

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ew slimy do you like WMP :x I can't stand it.... always seems to take ages to open and start going for me but each to their own....you do know that you can use Winamp with the ipod?

It does everything I need, plays everything I need, organizes my music correctly, opens really fast and has great skins availabe :D

Grand Master

DirtyLarry Veteran

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  • Veteran
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iPod killer? More like iPod copy that will flop like all the Creative players that came before it.

I've always said that a true "iPod killer" will look nothing like an iPod. You have to innovate, not duplicate, if you want to make a dent in this market.

The whole color scheme of that interface is a direct copy of the iPod and the interface itself is probably much less intuitive based on Creative's history. And what is with those buttons? Other than the play/pause, many of those symbols are confusing and foreign to consumers.

The iPod is all about simplicity, ease of use, and an ecosystem of software and services (iTunes) to pull everything together. No one can match that combination at this point.

Great post.

Any so called "iPod killer" has to be nothing like an iPod at all. Seriously.

Grand Master

Slimy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

iPod killer? More like iPod copy that will flop like all the Creative players that came before it.

I've always said that a true "iPod killer" will look nothing like an iPod. You have to innovate, not duplicate, if you want to make a dent in this market.

The whole color scheme of that interface is a direct copy of the iPod and the interface itself is probably much less intuitive based on Creative's history. And what is with those buttons? Other than the play/pause, many of those symbols are confusing and foreign to consumers.

The iPod is all about simplicity, ease of use, and an ecosystem of software and services (iTunes) to pull everything together. No one can match that combination at this point.

I think the following has the potential to be an ipod killer: http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/ultra/u10/U10-1GB.aspx (just much bigger hd size)

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