Creative unveils Vision:M video iPod killer

[lanka]

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.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/12/07/visionm_1.jpg

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.

[genocide]

apple pocket so gonna become thick after sueing them :D

[HiMDforMe]

so that's what happened to leftover parts from the 4th generation ipods. then they added some ugly controls because they were out of clickwheels. well, maybe not, but very different from an ipod. i like the video format capabilities, though.

[Konechiwa]

cowon get busy. When my warranty dies if they don't have a 30FPS mini PVP (like this one and 5g iPod)...sorry but i go for them.

[SouthSideHitmen]

what are you gunna do with ur x5?

[timms]

this thing is a tub-a-lard , considering that it is a new player a should be using the latest micro hardware, this thing is 19mm thick , to put that into perspective, it is thicker than the x5 at the hump, 18.3 mm compared to 19 mm, the ipod is 11 mm, that kind of engineering is unaccepatble in my opinion.

[Konechiwa]

are you sure this isn't a hoax? I checked creatives website and their is nothing. Back before the Micro Photo and vision came out, they had them on their for months before they came out.

[bhatman]

Oh, its real. Gizmodo and Engadget are both reporting on this "ipod killer". But I doubt it would arrive here in the US anytime soon, unless they start working on getting it here. 329US is pretty pricey, the ipod technically is 29$ cheaper, but it might get some attention. Were going to have to see what happens in the up comming months

[Cowon-phile]

Eww...fugly. A law suit wouldn't be farfetched (the GUI is almost spot-on iPod)...but Creative has a bargaining chip doesn't it? Didn't Creative patent the file-tree browsing system or something on DAPs? I remember reading something to that effect on these forums. Maybe I'm on crack. And the ~$29 difference is insignificant. I bought my X5 for $329 price not including shipping in August and would buy it at that price today. If you've got $300 to blow on a DAP...paying an additional $29 is nothing. With the video file format support I'd say it's well worth it.

[BoSox]

Eww...fugly. A law suit wouldn't be farfetched (the GUI is almost spot-on iPod

You are right...

I didn't notice it before, but it does look like the iPod GUI.


Didn't Creative patent the file-tree browsing system or something on DAPs?

They did patent something, to that effect. What they did was they patented having 2-3 screens of navigation before the actual song appeared.

So you are right! It now makes sense. Have a great-looking (in my opinion, the iPod GUI is the best looking in the business) GUI, and if Apple sues you for it, pull out your ace in the hole! Creative may actually be very smart.

[MoveZig]

it's on the creative Japan website. here's the link:

http://jp.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=213&subcategory=214&product=14331

[SaHO_G_]

honestly, i could care less for ipods i think they suck but........WAY TO BE ORIGINAL CREATIVE!, hell id dish out the extra $70 for the Zen Vision with a bigger screen AND a removable battery. Plus i always disliked creatives recycled firmwares on all their devices.

[NeoPhix]

You are right...

I didn't notice it before, but it does look like the iPod GUI.




They did patent something, to that effect. What they did was they patented having 2-3 screens of navigation before the actual song appeared.

So you are right! It now makes sense. Have a great-looking (in my opinion, the iPod GUI is the best looking in the business) GUI, and if Apple sues you for it, pull out your ace in the hole! Creative may actually be very smart.

I don't think it looks like an iPod that much, I think the green one is way prettier.

Here for info about the patent:http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000467056617/

[genocide]

d okeep in mind,if u look properly,u can see all of it come with white colour,which total turn offf :(

[SkamikazeKO]

I think a lot of you forget that Ipod sort of copied the original creative nomad player. This is what designers do. Take something and give it a new twist. I think the player looks great, but why green??? It sort of looks like an ugly VW bug.

[Konechiwa]

it also comes in Blue and Pink. It's on their website now.

[NoComp]

Ohhhhh myyyyy goooooood!

Creative should get rid of their design-departement as soon as possible.
First I thought the VISION:M has an exchangable Cover-front, but it's just an ugly lookin' design - it's almost half white all the time! Disgusting!
Creative should have learned from Apple by now!

It's mostly FORM (=Design) OVER FUNCTION, but at least form is a very very important argument these days IMO.

But to be honest, the screen and the technical specs are just amazing. Just the design is a big nogo!

So, now it's up to Cowon to beat all these shitty lookin' players! It doesn't matter if the new X6/X7 would cost a bit more IMO - it just has to look different combined with a high-tech approach like the X5 or A2!

[SkamikazeKO]

Cowon seems to have the right idea with all of there players. They don't really seem to rely on whats popular, but rather making there players unique. I can't wait for the latest and greatest from Cowon.

[SkamikazeKO]

For those that are interested...there is an article on CNN.com

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/12/08/creative.video/index.html

[notguilty]

I thought Creative already lost their war with Apple...

[SkamikazeKO]

Nope. Creative has the patent, but they haven't filed any lawsuits.....yet.

[Konechiwa]

yes, creative did lose the war. Their stock went from 20 dollars to 7.

[SkamikazeKO]

Well if you want to put it that way, yeah, they are losing the war, but they won the battle for the patent. Technically everyone is losing the war to apple. I live in NYC and its really sad to see everyone with headphones walking around with ipods. It's almost like people want to be branded. Almost reminds me of concentration camps. Whatever happened to a sense of individuality?

[m_memmory]

There's always the chance that _some_ people brought one as they thought it was best for their circumstances. I know that if I was recommending a MP3 player to my parents it'd probably be an iPod cause of the ease of use combined with iTunes.

Personally I didn't want to be tied to any software at all and wanted to be able to copy my music on to/off of my DAP as and when needed - hence my adorable X5 :D

[LFC_SL]

I've seen "real life" images. U-G-L-Y it ain't got no alibi! (Sorry, had to use it)

I don't understand why its so thick. Yes, Apple have pushed bar with its design...but really

And the UK price....yes we usually get ripped off...but more than the 30gb iPod?! Do Creative really think the new premium price strategy will help profits?