ZEN Krystal revealed on Creative's Hong Kong site

Apparently Creative is cooking up more than just the ZEN X-Fi as of late, according to a discovery made by anythingbutipod forum members. The crew stumbled onto the ZEN Krystal, a small MP3 player that features 4GB of storage, a blue OLED display, an FM tuner, and support for MP3 and WMA files. What really makes the device pique our curiosity, however, is the included built-in pedometer, which can track distance and speed à la Nike+, as well as the handful of games that come on-board the little guy. Right now the player is only up on Creative's Hong Kong site, and we've got no word on price or release date.

[Via anythingbutipod]

[Almadi @ Jul 17th 2008 12:09PM]

Looks like Creative are going all-or-nothing against Apple. They either gain ground or go bankrupt in 2009.

[mike @ Jul 17th 2008 12:25PM]

except that their making iPod docks now.

der.

and apparently trying to swipe the lucrative iPod shuffle market.

[Almadi @ Jul 17th 2008 3:35PM]

All this would be for nought once (or if) Apple release a widescreen Nano. But knowing Apple, that won't happen this decade.

[Anthony @ Jul 17th 2008 12:09PM]

I hope their interface is better than the Zen Stone. I bought one because it had an integrated speaker & I thought my 2 yr old would like carrying it around.

You can't play albums as they're intended- only browse. It doesn't stop when one is complete- goes right to the next on the list. & is just generally the clunkiest UI I've seen. I didn't realize Apple had made something revolutionary (since Nokia's phones work about the same way).

Wanted a Samsung w/ integrated speaker, but it doesn't play AACs (which are better quality at lower bitrates).

[Kamokazi @ Jul 17th 2008 12:18PM]

The really ironic thing about that is Apple based parts of the original iPod UI on the early Nomad UI's...kind of funny how they took some steps backward. I have a Zen and I like they way its UI is laid out (with some minor caveats about the storage card).

[helloUser @ Jul 17th 2008 12:18PM]

'You can't play albums as they're intended- only browse. It doesn't stop when one is complete- goes right to the next on the list. & is just generally the clunkiest UI I've seen. I didn't realize Apple had made something revolutionary (since Nokia's phones work about the same way).'

I havent used an iPod much, and havent owned one since the 2nd generation model (it was crap) but what youve just written looks like a load of crap. Im pretty sure you 'play' albums as theyre intended, what do u mean by only browse? As for the player going to the next album after the one played, im fairly sure ipods are guilty of this too. So what the hell are you complaining about? As for GUI, you could complain about that if it isnt your preference, however, its definitely NOT clunky.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong anywhere....

[jason @ Jul 17th 2008 12:26PM]

My zen stops or loops when you finish an album, depending on the setting. but it never goes to the next album.

[JQuilty @ Jul 17th 2008 12:35PM]

It isn't Creative's fault that you're unable to organize your files correctly. If you had actually put the albums in folders as it said in the instructions, the Zen Stone Plus would have played them that way.

[Anthony @ Jul 17th 2008 12:36PM]

@hellolUser: Consider yourself corrected.

There is no Album or Artist listing in the UI. Only Browse.

Manual entries:

Your player automatically starts playing music when it is turned on (Ed: Dumbest thing ever).

You can customize your music playback experience by naming and organizing your music according to the following guidelines:

Your player plays back music in alphanumeric order.
For example, Autumn.mp3, 02 Summer.mp3 and 01 Spring.mp3 will be played back in the following order:
01 Spring.mp3, 02 Summer.mp3, Autumn.mp3.
If there are tracks and folders in the same location, tracks will be played back first.
Your player supports up to three levels of folders from the root. For details, see Folder Structure.

-----------------------

Finally, here's the review from anythingbutipod.com & they've given great reviews to total crap because they hate Apple so much:

When comes down to it however, the Stone Plus is a bit of a disappointment—due mainly to its awkward interface and basic music browsing techniques.


Next.

[Kaiser-Machead @ Jul 17th 2008 1:17PM]

@helloUser,

The iPod doesn't go to the next album after it's finished. It will either go back to the home menu when complete, or you can set it to play it on a continuous loop from the beginning.

[thedesolate1 @ Jul 17th 2008 12:13PM]

Pearls, Diamonds, and now Krystals...I see where this is going...

[James Yopp @ Jul 17th 2008 4:47PM]

Umm, if it was "Crystal", I could see your point. With the current spelling, though, I would assume the actual inspiration was an exotic dancer.

[Fred @ Jul 17th 2008 12:17PM]

Hey that looks pretty nice. As a card carrying Apple nerd I'd say that's really very cool looking.

[khtse @ Jul 17th 2008 3:47PM]

It is already available for sale here in HK. I went to a local store trying to look for a Zen X-Fi today but couldn't. Instead I saw this thing. I don't remember the pricing though.

[L @ Jul 17th 2008 12:35PM]

I hope they offer a cheap-ass 1GB version of that - I use my old Zen Stone only for jogging, so a built in pedometer would make this a very worthwhile update. Plus it looks much nicer than the Stone...

[iEye @ Jul 17th 2008 12:36PM]

That is one nice looking travel clock...

[kjb434 @ Jul 17th 2008 12:41PM]

I like it, but i've always used my WinMo phone as my MP3 player.

I know a lot of my friends that will like this because of the pedometer capabilities. Since you are going to listen to music while you run anyway, it might as well have the pedometer built in.

[Yipcanjo @ Jul 17th 2008 12:48PM]

How many MP3 players does Creative have at this point? Approximately 87, by my count.

Seriously.... "just keep tossin' them out, guys!"

[Crazylink @ Jul 17th 2008 12:49PM]

If we ever see this for less than $100, I'll be tossing my stone plus away.

[riggs @ Jul 17th 2008 1:10PM]

can u skip it on water instead? and film it btw.

[Crazylink @ Jul 17th 2008 1:15PM]

Neat idea, maybe I will.

[Anthony @ Jul 17th 2008 12:56PM]

@JQuilty:

I think your comment illustrates my point better than I could have:

Creative forces you to rip & name, organize & sort files in the manner *they* want, not what's natural or intuative. That's the sign of a bad system.

[jorvay @ Jul 17th 2008 1:42PM]

Not really. Creative players (like my zen) come with software that allows you to organize music as long as the id3 tags are accurate (just like itunes). The difference here is seems to be that the Zen stone also lets you organize your music directly as you would other computer files. I like that idea since i'm not an e-slob and I keep my files organized already. So it seems to me that this product actually gives you more options than some other players on the market...but if you want to use the more complex-but-lightweight option, you just have to know what you're doing. Kinda like windows and dos, or linux gui and terminal.

[jorvay @ Jul 17th 2008 1:44PM]

Okay, after re-reading earlier comments, I take that back. Looks like the player in question only browses by filename, not by id3 at all. That's weak...powerful weak!

[JQuilty @ Jul 17th 2008 5:05PM]

It's a UMS player that's cheap. What the hell were you expecting? Very few players in that class support ID3 browsing. If this was such a worry to you, you shouldn't have bought it.

[js @ Jul 17th 2008 1:15PM]

Does anyone know why none of these little devices have AM radio? A lot have FM, but I've never seen one with AM.

[Kaiser-Machead @ Jul 17th 2008 1:24PM]

Insufficient demand, and the fact that AM is not known for diverse choices in music content. At some point, size constraints and interference from the rest of the PMP's internals may have been a factor, but it can be done; it's just not perceived as worth doing.

[natels @ Jul 17th 2008 1:24PM]

AM transmission is hard to penetrate many surfaces (tunnels, buildings).. I don't think the mp3 players can handle the long wavelengths at low freqs. Then again I might not know what I am talking about.

[Spyvie @ Jul 17th 2008 2:21PM]

The real answer: AM radios require a larger antenna, in portables it's usually a "ferrite loop" consisting of copper wire wound around an iron core. These antennas alone are about the same size as a shuffle.

[Spyvie @ Jul 17th 2008 2:30PM]

To continue... These little devices with FM tuners generally use the headphone cord as an antenna. In order to ad an AM tuner the required antenna would double the size and weight of the device

[Jesse Dula @ Jul 17th 2008 1:12PM]

Nice, but the Sansa Clip is the best mini MP3 player I've used.

The sound quality on the clip is amazing. Seriously.

[skyfox @ Jul 17th 2008 1:18PM]

Is it just me or is that just a cross between a chubby iPod nano and an iPod touch?
Not that that would be a bad design...

[natels @ Jul 17th 2008 1:25PM]

Krystal Steel?

[Anthony @ Jul 17th 2008 6:18PM]

That chick is totally hot. I've seen all her movies.

[granny down east @ Jul 17th 2008 1:33PM]

Screw Creative. I will never forgive them for
1. Making crappy Muvo players that broke, and
2. Refusing to support expensive legacy hardware.

There.

[Niz @ Jul 17th 2008 1:57PM]

definitely needs a clip or its no competition to the shuffle, i currently use it for the gym but i only have like 50 songs on the shuffles ince i cant navigate through more songs and i cant go through playlists, if this has a clip, sized about the shuffle, and priced about £40-£50 i would consider it.

[Eric @ Jul 17th 2008 2:08PM]

This isnt to replace the stone. They always go in order, this is to replace the Zen V. They already said they were gonan replace the Zen V with new models. The Zen V came out in summer 06. Stone in summer 07, Zen in Fall 07. They just replaced the Zen with the X-Fi, now there replacing the Zen V, and next to come, you'll probably see a model of it later this year or begining next year for the Stone. The stoen with the speaker sounds really, good, they should put a speaker in all they make. You'll probably see a plus version to this, maybe with more storage, who knows. Not sure what that looks like up there either a wheel or just buttons in shape of a wheel. I got a Zen V Plus 2 GB, and i need more space soon, very soon, i mean i have 15 GB of music, and I need somethign for my whole collection, also for extra backup. I was hoping they release a 64GB Zen X-Fi, but that doesnt look promising, so im waiting to see what archos is gonna come out with, they should be due for a 606 model sometime soon. Im just liking the flash based, but thats gonna be hard right now. but this looks pretty nice.

[Al @ Jul 17th 2008 5:05PM]

You know the Zen V comes in 4gb and the Zen V+ maxes out at 16gb, so unless this comes out at 16gb then it is not replacing the Zen V series. This is actually more in line the Stone+ as it also has the pedometer.

[Baines93 @ Jul 17th 2008 2:14PM]

I guess this is because they realise the stone couldnt compete with the Sansa Clip...

IMO even the Stone is better than the shuffle.

[Hides from flying objects]

[NuttyBars @ Jul 17th 2008 3:06PM]

Nike+ is the SHIZ.

As much as Apple support cheeses me off (their support forums? NO responses from Apple -- but they WILL delete criticisms of Apple not responding -- try it if you don't believe me), the Nike+ feature is awesome. It totally got me hooked on running every day and lead me to increase my runs like nothing else.

Not sure that a pedometer would work as well as the in-shoe device that works with Nike. If Nike made Nike+ for other devices, I'd bolt in a New York minute.

[lance @ Jul 17th 2008 3:08PM]

I like it. Something that almost everything in the gadget world is missing is a feature called simplicity. what a novel concept.

[eckre @ Jul 17th 2008 4:07PM]

Creative is still using the old USB 1.1 (yes, even though it says USB 2.0) which means you will spend hours transferring stuff, literally HOURS, to this mp3 player. Until creative fixes this, go elsewhere.

[Ricardo @ Jul 17th 2008 4:13PM]

This is nice looking! If its better than my clip it will have to be replaced, but im very happy with my sansa clip as of right now

[tobias @ Jul 17th 2008 6:36PM]

they have handily put a speaker right on the front of this thing...

[khtse @ Jul 18th 2008 2:30AM]

I checked the price. It is selling for HK$498, which is about US$64.

[Down @ Jul 18th 2008 5:53AM]

No it doesn't. It sells for HK $698, you idiot. Which is about US $90

[F. @ Jul 18th 2008 5:59AM]

I own and use both Apple and Creative players.
I love my Zen Stone Plus w/speaker (ealthough the UI needs some improvements) and look forward to see the Zen Krystal as it looks so nice.