Creative Zen V Plus 8GB announced

And in this corner, in the blue and black trunks, weighing in at 8GB, Creative's Slammin' Singaporean in Stereo -- the all-new Zen V Plus! That's right folks, Creative announced today its expected 8GB bump to the Zen V Plus, which is due out next month for S$430, the local equivalent of what we might call 270 greenbacks. It's sure to go head-to-head with the slick 8GB iPod Nano and that sassy SanDisk Sansa e280 in an upcoming prizefight. While this new color scheme (pictured) is only available in a limited edition direct from Creative's online store, the press release notes that the new player normally comes in "glossy black with a new colour accent of red" -- actually, we find the snaps on their site to be more of a subdued ochre, but hey, we're just stupid Americans.

[Thanks, Vizion and Pablo]

[snark @ Sep 29th 2006 5:35PM]

a little late and a little overpriced. The Sansa 8Gigger is $219 and you can add additional memory. So unless this dog does some newer tricks, Creative has another loser on their hands.

[LongshotX @ Oct 16th 2006 9:24PM]

Agreed Creative seems to have no sense of direction. They have like a thousand players, none of them which seem focused on beating the iPod.

The Vision:M is a good buy however. It does more than the iPod video.

[stan nagdimov @ Sep 29th 2006 9:56PM]

CREATIVE PRODUCTS BEAT APPLES ON THEIR WORST DAY. THE DON'T ADVERTISE AS MUCH THEY SPEND MONEY ON R&D FOR THEIR PRODUCTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[soundboy64 @ Sep 29th 2006 5:47PM]

God, these are so pug fugly, everything from the bloated casing to the horrid pixelated font...

[Mike Browning @ Sep 29th 2006 5:48PM]

While late, it's not exactly over priced. The converted price in Singapore is NOT the same as in the US.
For example: Creative Zen V Plus (4GB) is $319.00 Singapore Dollars, which converts to roughly $201 US Dollars. However, the 4GB Creative Zen V Plus US MSRP is $179.99, and is available for pre-order on Amazon for $168.
Assuming the difference for the 8GB is the same, expect the US MSRP to be around $240, with street prices being around $230 or so.
It may not be expandable like the Sansa, but I think it offers more for the money (smaller, lighter, etc etc).

[Sukhsham @ Aug 28th 2007 1:52AM]

my ipod has got problem in shutting down...
i ve creative zen v 4gb ipod.
i ve bought it just some months b4 .can u help me?

[shblay @ Sep 29th 2006 6:00PM]

I think it's pretty cool assuming the actual US price is lower like it is with the 4GB model. And more importantly assuming it ever comes out! I've been on pre-order for the 4GB model and the release date keeps on changing. It's funny that the 8gb is announced and the 4gb hasn't even hit US shelves yet.

[Chris @ Sep 29th 2006 6:03PM]

I agree with Mike Browning. The player should do well, but I have to admit I, too, thought it was ugly--until I saw it in person. Then, I was just, like, HOLY S**T that thing is small! Seriously, I like it better than the Sansa just because of its tiny size (Sandisk's player is huge by comparison). However, Creative would really have a winner if they steered away from the 1x1 aspect ratio that's been on this and the Zen MicroPhoto.

[Daviel @ Sep 29th 2006 6:24PM]

Let's hear it for Creative!
i've got a 8gb Micro Photo, and it's great.
while i'd rather it have flash memory and be able to play videos, at least i've had it fo 8 mounths!
MicroPhoto and V plus screens are NOT pixelated at all. They are brilliantly colored, and ok size... could be bigger on MicroPhoto, but hey...
Only complaint is why can't Micro Photo play video?
hopefully firmware update will fix this...

[Mike Browning @ Sep 29th 2006 7:00PM]

Man, screw Creative.


Dear Michael,

Thank you for contacting Creative Labs online customer service.

The Zen V Plus will not be released here in the U.S. It will only be
available in a select few countries. This is why we have no information
on it. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance and thank
you for your interest.

Please retain all the previous correspondence when replying to this
email.

Best Regards,

William H. (15747)
Direct Sales
Creative Labs Americas

To provide feedback on your "Creative Experience" please click on the
following link:
http://www.creativehelp.com/support/contact/welcome.asp?r=CLI&d=DS

Original Message Follows:
------------------------
Wow, I don't know if I was lied to, or if you just didn't know. There's
no denying the 8GB Zen V Plus now...
http://sg.store.creative.com/products/product.aspx?catid=213&pid=15306
So, when will it hit the US?

Creative Americas Customer Care wrote:
> > Dear Michael,
> >
> > Thank you for contacting Creative Labs online customer service.
> >
> > The Zen V Plus will be released with in the next couple of months, but

> > unfortunately, we do not have the exact date. We will not be coming
out
> > with an 8gb version of this player either. Please let us know if we
can
> > be of further assistance and thank you for your interest.
> >
> >
> > Please retain all the previous correspondence when replying to this
> > email.
> >
> > Best Regards,
> >
> > William H. (15747)
> > Direct Sales
> > Creative Labs Americas
> >
> > To provide feedback on your "Creative Experience" please click on the
> > following link:
> > http://www.creativehelp.com/support/contact/welcome.asp?r=CLI&d=DS
> >
> > Original Message Follows:
> > ------------------------
> > =======================
> >
> > Subject: CLI - Customer Service Request
> > Name: Michael Browning
> > Self Description: Advanced PC User
> > Country: United States of America
> >
> > Inquiry Type: Product information
> > Product Purchased:
> > Detailed Description of Inquiry:
> > When will the Zen V Plus be available? Will there be an 8GB model?
> >
> > =======================

[Lt_Ladle @ Sep 29th 2006 7:23PM]

or...for less money buy a 30 GB iPod?
im not a mac fanboy, but seriously...

[Mike Browning @ Sep 29th 2006 7:37PM]

I sure as hell don't want to bring a big, heavy, and fragile (ipod) HDD player to the gym with me. I'd sooner pay $249 for the 8GB nano than get a 30GB ipod for the same price, not that I'd get any sort of ipod anyway.

[Paul @ Sep 29th 2006 8:58PM]

What does limited edition mean? Seriously... it's not like they sell more than a dozen of any one of their hundreds of players on the market anyways.

[arthurbarnhouse @ Sep 29th 2006 10:16PM]

YOU CAN TELL I'M SERIOUS BECAUSE I TALK IN ALL CAPS!

[alex @ Sep 30th 2006 12:25AM]

Stan, while I admire your enthusiasm for Creative and I am by no means an Apple fanboy (in fact prefer anything else but iPod), Creative has to stop following the herd and start bringing to market something a little more innovative.

[Dave Johnson @ Sep 29th 2006 11:01PM]

I think the casing is just fine, but the pixilated screen sucks: http://media.gear.ign.com/media/844/844814/img_3778091.html.

And it is a real good question: why spend $20 more than you'd spend for a 30 gb iPod? I mean, seriously ... for most people, it's a no-brainer and that's why this model won't fly at this price.

[Alex Wilks @ Sep 30th 2006 7:02AM]

Seems quite tempting really, I'm planning on getting a Zune when they come out but have been looking for a flash player for whenever I'm doing more 'demanding' tasks. Whilst the Nanos are nice, they aren't exactly feature packed and I still don't like being locked down to iTunes. As a guitar player I love the line-in feature on the Zen:Vs as it means I can record myself or my band playing (from mixer) anywhere I like. The radio is a bit of a must-have for me and so that really puts the Zen:V in front of the Nano for my purposes. I'm not quite sure whever I'd need 8GB for how much I'd use it but at least the option's there now, so the Zen:V really is my flash player of choice.
In regards to those of you questionning why people wouldn't just buy a 30GB HDD player, the answer's fairly simple- those who have a smaller music collection and want a simple DAP are going to go for a smaller, 'faster', and less fragile device instead of spending the same money for space (physical and memory) that they simply won't use.

[Pork @ Sep 30th 2006 3:12PM]

Has anyone had any experience with the recording function? I wonder what the quality's like? I need a small device which can record in mp3 format with decent quality using my tiny sony mic.

http://www.mailinglistarchive.com

[Chris @ Oct 1st 2006 11:29AM]

British newpaper The Guardian had an article on how ipod owneras are twice as likely to have had a repair to thier players than thopse wwith other players. Apple charges a premium- but that extra cash doesnt filter down into the making of the product.

[Muhahahahaz @ Nov 4th 2006 7:11AM]

Hey Dave,

Obviously it is going to look pixelated with 600% zoom. Seriously, I measured that pic and the screen was 9.5" diagonally. The real screen is only 1.5" lol, so I it will not be pixelated. I even used my browser to zoom out until it was about 2", and what do you know, it looked great!

The pic was so large that I could not possibly zoom out until it was 1.5" diagonally. How's that for a screwed up representation?

[Marissa @ Nov 9th 2006 9:48PM]

I have a little question. I have a Creative Zen Sleek Photo MP3 player. I was wondering if I-tunes will or is compatable with this Creative Zen. If you use I-tunes for YOUR creative zen then please notify me at my e-mail address, because it would be very helpful to me so I could know if I should sell it on e-bay or just keep it and wait for
I-tunes to work with my type of creative zen.

thank you very much if you read this and are going to respond.

Marissa
[e-mail]

P.S.
If you contact me via e-mail make the subject something like CREATIVE ZEN INFO or something telling me what you are saying. This is just so I do not delete your e-mails thinking that you are sending me spam. Please Please Please! e-mail me answering all my questions. Is that too much to ask?

[Sukhsham @ Aug 28th 2007 1:39AM]

i ve creative zen v series 4gb ipod....and it has encountered a problem...it is not shutting down.
can sumbody plzzzzz help me..
i ve bought it just few months before....
plz plz sumbody help me.