Creative lets us know there's a new player coming

While the press, analysts and fanboys continue to grovel at the feet of Apple and Microsoft for the tiniest little scrap of rumor regarding the next portable announcement, Creative has resorted to drumming up a little bit of their own hype in advance of a new audio player release. The "Mystery MP3 Player" looks like it will be unveiled during their upcoming sale promotion, going on from June 23-25. "Tiny with a price to match!" gives us a feeling they're going flash, and will hopefully be moving their Zen Vision:M niceties into something small enough (and cheap enough) to compete with the iPod nano. We sure wouldn't mind a Portable Media Center 2 offering from Creative, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards this time around.

[Mark @ Jun 16th 2006 6:50PM]

And here I thought Creative was just going to try to beat Apple through the legal battles. Bravo Creative! Just don't screw it up by releasing another Neeon.

Flash based Zen Vision:M? I've got to say.. Creative caught my eye just in time. I was about to crumble and give into the iPod craze... and shortly after commit seppuku for my betrayal.

[Bobo @ Jun 16th 2006 7:08PM]

The only thing that's a mystery is why do they keep trying?

[Tim @ Jun 16th 2006 7:18PM]

Who's grovelling at Microsoft's portable music player announcements? Bill G? Steve B?

Everyone I know is responding the same way that they've responded to Creative's previous efforts. Zzzzzzzzz

Tim

[Ronak @ Jun 16th 2006 7:25PM]

ooo the 'Creative Zen Nano', no erm wait 'Creative zPod nano'

nah lol, iv got it: the 'Creative iPod nano'

[Elmo @ Jun 16th 2006 7:48PM]

Pathetic. Get it through those thick skulls of yours, no one wants Creative's DAPs. Your hemoraging money so fast that you had to sue Apple over their UI, too bad you ripped off plenty of their patents in making your Zen player.


It does suck to see the innovator of a catagory go away, but the market has shown them the door. At least they weren't pushed out by some company that couldn't care less about anti-trust issues because they own the Justice Department.

[Matt @ Jun 16th 2006 7:55PM]

You people are brutal. They sue Apple and you want them to compete fair and square...then they compete fairly and you want them to stop trying???

The V:M is way ahead of the 5G...it's not even close. If this new DAP is in the same vein as the V:M I'll be picking one up.

[Ayrkain @ Jun 16th 2006 8:33PM]

Either side can be equally entertaining, eh Desides? :)

I think I could become a fanboy of that mentality.

[Paul @ Jun 16th 2006 9:10PM]

They still make MP3 Players? Hmm....

I wonder if they tried to give it away if they would gain any ground ;)

[diulei @ Jun 16th 2006 9:22PM]

I predict that Creative is going to launch yet another failure. I hope I'm wrong.

[Aaron @ Jun 16th 2006 9:36PM]

I would hardly call the ZVM a failure.

[elflaco @ Jun 16th 2006 10:06PM]

Some people are in denial, there are very few big companies that have not stolen another companies ideas although many started with their own original idea. It's sucks when they just plain rip an idea. But its nice for the consumer,when they improve on it. Just like Apple stole Creative's GUI and combined it with the wheel, Creative stole the shape of the iPod, because their original mp3 players were shaped like cd players, but their mp3 players have more features, including fm radio, more codec support, and play for sure, which is cool because you don't have to commit to one company for your mp3 players like you do with the iPod if you use iTunes. The thing is because the iPod has less features, it makes the interface simpler which people really enjoy, and also their commercials are pretty damn good. I on the other hand, prefer the extra features, because I like to dig around for different options and settings just like on my computer or any software I try.

[Rick @ Jun 16th 2006 10:09PM]

I still use my Creative Portable Media Center DAILY. Best $350 I ever spent. Converting videos is not a big deal and it is realiable and battery lasts forever.

[Neal Saferstein @ Jun 16th 2006 11:11PM]

The only where Apples marketshare can go in down.

Neal Saferstein

[Jarod @ Jun 16th 2006 11:49PM]

Creative should specialize in making won ton soups. MP3 players isn't their strong point. It's clear when there actually is someone who is in the game. Creative has been annihalated by Apple. Walk away now before they bury you too.

[Dan @ Jun 16th 2006 11:57PM]

You are in serious denial when Creative stole iPod's shape. Has Apple patented the rectangular shaped DAP? I think not.

[FireFlie @ Jun 17th 2006 2:10AM]

Man, i love it when the fan boys or for the "sexual sentive people" FanPeople, go at eachother to see who right. in the end, no one wins.

by the way nice post elflaco

[e @ Jun 17th 2006 2:21AM]

it sucks...

Creative has some really good design but the insitence of requiring their own software to load music keeps me from buying creative or apple. Why can't more companies offer plug & play support?

[flamer's grill @ Jun 17th 2006 2:36AM]

Do I have to go all the way to Singapore to partake of the savings?

[pablo @ Jun 17th 2006 3:43AM]

Whoa, no love for Creative in here... Let's not get too fiesty just because they sued Apple. They still make some great products at good prices, so anything new should be welcome. Take a deep breath and repeat "Apple is not God. Apple will not be mad at me if I don't try to flame a Creative DAP story"

[John Ong @ Jun 17th 2006 5:20AM]

It's about time some one actually sued Apple. Apple is notorious for suing the pants off anyone who threatens what they deem is a threat to thier money making machine! They've even sued their own fansites for posting spectulations on future products!!??
As for those who don't believe Apple didn't steal Creative's GUI, the patent for creative's GUI is on public record which infact was approved one year before Apple even though of applying.
I don't get it why ipods are so popular? Doesn't it make more sense to get a DAP made by a company known for their sound cards rather than a company that makes personal computers and operating systems? Doesn't it make sense to get a DAP from a company who's been making mp3 players for the past 12 years? Although Microsoft created the portable media player software, I don't see any DAPs made by Microsoft??? Maybe it's because they know they wouldn't make a DAP viable enough to compete with other nonipod companies.

[Intrepid @ Jun 17th 2006 6:35AM]

Lol. Apple fanboys going bananas because their little 'monopoly' is threatened. Look around fanboys... your empire is crumbling - if the iPod fails, so will the Intel Macs... I can see why you are fretting.

[ResidentGamer.com @ Jun 17th 2006 9:27AM]

I've had a Creative Zen Xtra 30GB when it first game out and I still use it to this date. You don't need software to put music on it you just use it had a HD dump music on it and go.

Apple is ONLY popular because that have a good marketing team and traicked everybody into thinking that the Ipod is so cool and fabulous.

So tell that to the millions of people who have deleted their music library fooling with Itunes.

[AT39 @ Jun 17th 2006 11:07AM]

YOu have to use Creatives Software to sync music? WHat?! Totally untrue!! All you need is a simple playsforsure firmware update (at least that's what I needed for my Zen Micro) And then it syncs BEAUTIFULLY with WMP 10 or WMP 11. I love my Zen Micro, and was going to get a ZV:M, but if they are coming out with a new better product with at least 10GB of space, i will be snapping one up right away. I will not succomb to Apples dominance, with it's guidline that you buy a new player every year, and with the poor battery performance. Also, I cannot stand that you can only use one online store that doesn't even have a subscription play for it.

[Chris @ Jun 17th 2006 12:16PM]

Creative players aren't bad (hey are best save for the iPod), but they really need to stop trying to copy the iPod. If you copy the giant will always be in his shadow. I hope for Creative's sake, that this "mysterious" player is not a nano clone, but a new conecept all together.

As for the iPod haters, you type is well know around Engadget. You hate iPods, you hate OS X and think Windows is a great OS. You've made your remarks. Now, isn't time to reboot your PC, again?

[Knight @ Jun 17th 2006 1:18PM]

Too all Apple fanboys:

Regarding the ZVM, what is wrong with a company (Creative) making a better product than what is currently leading the Market? The ZVM has the 5G iPod beat on almost every level and you people hate them for it? what kind of sense does that make? Every audio Test shows the ZVM outputting better sound quality, and every video test shows the ZVM outperforming the ipod. The battery lasts longer, and there's way more features. The price now costs the same as the 5G ipod, so the only negative thing to be said about it is its size (thicker than the ipod). You guys should lighten up. The US patent office decided the a menu based GUI on a DAP is something that can be patented. So, Creative, just like Apple most certainly would have done if Creative owned over 90% of the market, sued over patent issues. This is just the standard business playground and u guys are calling fowl.

[Wolfe @ Jun 17th 2006 2:17PM]

"Apple is ONLY popular because that have a good marketing team and traicked everybody into thinking that the Ipod is so cool and fabulous.

So tell that to the millions of people who have deleted their music library fooling with Itunes."

millions? where did you get these stats? just because you know a person or two who were too stupid and clicked "yes" to the "replace ipod with this computer's library" or whatever that popup said, it doesnt mean "milions" or people did this.

and you cant sell something on marketing alone, i think the millions (yes this is a real stat) of people who have bought ipods would have realized that they aren't "cool" or "fabulous". the marketing strategy is pretty simple, ive never seen an apple commercial claiming that the ipod was fabulous, i think people drew that conclusion on their own.

and to the guy who said that apple fanboys' empire is "crumbling": this is one of the most incorrect statements i've seen in a long time. so many people have bought music from itunes, and will not be able to use all of that music on a non-ipod DAP. not to mention that so many people are used to ipod that they wouldn't want to bother with learning to use a different brand DAP. im not even going to touch your idiotic comment about the intel-based macs. sorry but the ipod wont die until the whole market for DAPs die, you can count on that.

[Eric @ Jun 17th 2006 3:07PM]

As much as I love my iPod, Archos whoops Creatives ass. My next player will probably be an Archos with 100GB.

[Deezee @ Jun 17th 2006 5:14PM]

The Sansa e200 series already kicks the Nano in the teeth. But after seeing this announcement by Creative I think the least I can do is wait a week to see what its all about. If it sucks, Sansa it is.

[Mark @ Jun 17th 2006 6:44PM]

People should wake up and realize that there ARE other options rather than iPods. Sure, iPods are the safe way to go, but have you ever considered that the safe path is not always the best choice? If Creative decided to give up, you'd just have an UNCONTESTED monopoly. Let's just see what Creative comes up with and praise/insult the player for what it is... even if it does somewhat resemble the iPod nano

[S.A. @ Jun 18th 2006 2:34AM]

I love my Creative Zen Vision: M. I played around with a friends Ipod video for a couple of weeks and I found it to be okay. But then I bought a Zen Vision M a few days later and I loved it. I found it much easier to use. And it has so many more features. The screen is also much better than the Ipods. The Zen has a little more bulk to it which I dont mind a whole lot, it has a nice feel to it. I think you should all check out a Zen Vision M and then decide which one is better.

[Mark D. @ Jun 18th 2006 4:49AM]

I really do hope this is a good offering from Creative, I was never really partial to their players and only went towards the Nano I have now for it's size and solid rss feed/podcast support and integration (used to have a 40gb Lyra, which rocked for adding music, literally drag/drop and it even indexed itself if you wanted so it worked fine with any OS, it was huge though.) If this could trump or even tie the Nano I'd be pleasently suprised, but I hope they don't try to sell it as some amazing do-all device, hopefully they'll push size and battery life over video support and more windows DRM integration (oh sure playforsure is great, more options, but geez, it's still just as locked down as itunes, I prefer my music with NO DRM, no matter what player it is, who cares if it works with a dozen music services.) A solid small offering could help Creative gain some ground and, hey, competition is always good (maybe get apple to reveal that next generation of iPods finally, or get SanDisk to expand on it's great Sansa line.)

[nads @ Jun 18th 2006 5:55AM]

I feel sorry for anyone that buys this, especially when Apple gives Creative the legal one, two and bankrupts the company. Apple has two outstanding patent cases and has set them in two different states to bleed as much money from Creative as possible. And they deserve it. Any company that uses patents (Creative sued Apple first) just because they can't compete dont deserve to be around.

[Keith @ Jun 18th 2006 8:24AM]

I would relish of having one of those Creative Mystery MP3 player.

[Aaron @ Jun 18th 2006 11:05AM]

Me, as an Apple fanboy, would like to say that the iPod (hardware) is NOT superior to any other MP3 player.

GASP!

However, the main reason the iPod is so popular isn't the hardware. It's the software. iTunes. It's easy to use, full-functioned, free, and with some hacks, compatible with any MP3 player on the market.

Give the public a choice between a difficult alternative (syncing with Windows Media Player, for example) and an easy alternative (the brain-dead easy syncing with iTunes), and the public will choose the easier option every time.

Once Creative offers a SOFTWARE solution that is as good and easy as iTunes, then they'll have an iPod killer because their hardware is more advanced.

-Aaron-

[John Ong @ Jun 18th 2006 1:23PM]

Any company that uses patents (Creative sued Apple first) just because they can't compete dont deserve to be around.

Posted at 5:55AM on Jun 18th 2006 by nads [ ! ]

Apple is known for suing anyone who they deem is impeding on their patents. Apple constantly files for patents for this reason so that no one could compete with them.
Apple's latest patent filing is a lcd with a built in web cam. How many companies are working on this technology? How many of these companies will be bankrupt because Apple sues the pants off of them for patent infringment!!??
I'm really crossing my fingers for Creative to win this suit just for this reason. And give Apple a taste of their own medicine.

[riopato @ Jun 18th 2006 2:03PM]

However, the main reason the iPod is so popular isn't the hardware. It's the software. iTunes.

Give the public a choice between a difficult alternative (syncing with Windows Media Player, for example) and an easy alternative (the brain-dead easy syncing with iTunes), and the public will choose the easier option every time.

Posted at 11:05AM on Jun 18th 2006 by Aaron [ ! ]

Itunes code was oringally written by the people of Musicmatch jukebox. But for some reason Itunes runs horrible on a windows machine compared to musicmatch and even windows media player.
How dumb are people that they don'y know how to use windows media player?

[Tom @ Jun 18th 2006 8:56PM]

There is no requirement for either apple or creative players that says the only way to get your music on or off of it is with their software. This is true at least for open source operating systems, for which neither company will supply software. (look up libnjb)

[sota @ Jun 18th 2006 9:02PM]

Currently I have a Creative Zen Nano plus (lemon green)

and considering that when it was boght I entered the store to buy an Ipod ...

Ipod ... no radio ... lazy ass software (I prefer tu use drag'n'drop to ANY software) ... no FM radio ... EVERYBODY has one ... no FM radio ... all are WHITE white White ()... did I say no FM radio yet ?

I don't know where apples fanboys come from but I can say that the biggest problem with apple is their lack of ALTERNATIVES on their products (on the contrary Creative problem is too many alternatives on the range, they should focus more ons less products) ...

As I like listening to FM RADIO I ditched the complete lineup of apple and got a 100$ 1GB mp3 Nano plus ... the rest I spent on a PDA ... not buying a iPod until FM is tickable in the options list.


To the fanboys ... I don't give a damn for Creative (the company) and if they sink it would be for their lack of fales ... as for most of the "apple fanboys" (Apple is barely the only company that the term fanboy REALY aplies to their userbase) if the company sunck almost everyone would jump in the water also ...

[Richie @ Jun 19th 2006 1:07AM]

I am neutral, but here's my analysis:

- Creative's success has been in niche sound cards. That's a fine business, but it is niche.
- 1 year ago Creative's CEO, in the MP3 market for years but never really doing well (probably due to poor marketing) declares 'war' on Apple. He boldly vows to achieve a 40% of the market within a year.
- 1 year later, they are still less than 10%.
- Looking at their financials, they are losing money on each MP3 they make (and sell). I am talking about GROSS margins, not net margins. Companies should usually have a GROSS margin in excess of 50%; Creative's is negative.
- This implies they manufacture the product, but due to Apple's faster product replacement cycle and better inventory management, by the time they are ready to sell it its competing Apple products are alread below their cost. So they sell at a loss.

Sum: if you can't compete, admit your company's mistake and get out of that line of business.

However, one can easily see its an ego thing now for the management of Creative. Do you know how long and expensive legal cases go on in the US? Just take a look at Govts vs Microsoft (billions of dollars and years later...).

Conclusion: the longer Creative stays in the MP3 business the higher its chances of going under.

[Lincoln's Log @ Jun 19th 2006 9:13AM]

"Itunes code was oringally written by the people of Musicmatch jukebox. But for some reason Itunes runs horrible on a windows machine compared to musicmatch and even windows media player.
How dumb are people that they don'y know how to use windows media player?"

Wrong Answer. iTunes was originally a product called SoundJam prior to Apple purchasing Casady & Greene in 2000. SoundJam was a jukebox for the Mac, not Windows.

[rachael @ Nov 1st 2006 7:49PM]

hey i want to know how to contact creative in newz zealand..to get my ipod repaired...is there a free phone number??

[Matt Was Here =07= @ Sep 6th 2007 4:12AM]

Just cos im so smart, i can say to you that its the new creative stone mp3 player.

it wont win against apple at this rate.

we need some SERIOUS ADVERTISING x]

[Matt Was Here =07= @ Sep 6th 2007 4:14AM]

DID CREATIVE MAKE APPLE?!