Creative is introducing their new Zen Vision:M, an answer to Apple's 5G iPod, and what an answer it is. We know it gets old hearing every new player get compared to Apple's flagship offering, but can you seriously blame us here? The specs are vaguely familiar, with a 2.5-inch screen at 320x240 resolution and a 30GB hard drive, though thankfully Creative squeezed in 4 hours of video playback, doubling Apple's endurance on at least video. (The audio playback conks out at 11 hours.) The size of the two players is virtually identical, with the Zen Vision:M only changing it up on thickness — at about twice the iPod's 0.43-inches. They're also forging their own path on button placement, sporting a layout similar to that of their Zen Micro Photo, and including a vertical scroll pad. Creative did add their usual FM tuner and voice recording niceties, and they have a decent list of video format support, including MPEG-4, WMV, Motion JPEG, DivX, and XviD, so this $330 player could turn out to be a worthy candidate for video capable commuting buddy — if Apple's lawyers don't have something to say about it first. Check out some closeups of interface, erm, borrowing after the jump.

Wow.  I'm surprised Apple isn't suing for copyright infringement or something.

Creative Zen Vision? Sounds like it should be the Cheap Knockoff Zen Vision.

Well they can't... They have no grounds for a lawsuit.

it looks like they are just copying the ipod. if they are gonna make a new one at least be creative..

Actually, the iPod's interface uses one of creative's patents.

Of course, the majority of people that own iPods probably don't know that, and I know many people will accuse creative of copying apple...

Psh. Let's be honest--the iPod used the UI first, but due to legal maneuvering, Creative managed to get the patent filed before Apple. So yes, legally Creative came out with it first, but let's be honest about where the idea came from.

Apple is clearly one target, but it's by no means the only one, and while the UI described by Creative's patent is best-known through the iPod's remarkably similar user-interface, Creative launched such a system first, back in September 2000.

The iPod appeared in November 2001, and Apple's significant lead over Creative in the digital music market shows it's not just the UI that has brought market-leadership to one company and not the other.

If Creative had the patent for so long, why'd they wait so long to file?

Psh. Let's be honest--the iPod used the UI first, but due to legal maneuvering, Creative managed to get the patent filed before Apple. So yes, legally Creative came out with it first, but let's be honest about where the idea came from.

samsung > creative > apple

imo

H, and just a correction. Its IPOD with VIDEO, not ipod Video. happy.gif A true Ipod VIDEO is rumored to be slated for 2006 release. (no idea what a "true" ipod video would entail.. but there we go.)

Argh. $330 is too much for my wallet. But the design looks like it would go nicely with the Nintendo Revolution.

And no, the vision after the iPod.

Creative's mp3 player was voted best in show at the CES.

Only thing is, no one is going to know about it. The only one with an advertising campaign is apple.

After the iPod with video?

I don't think so

There are a million iPod killers floating around. Some feature more capapcity, some feature more gizmos, and some feature lower price points. None of the iPod killers are actually doing any iPod killing because they’re too busy trying to be more iPodish than the iPod.

Even with the consistent lack of success the iPod wannabees have had, there are still plenty of companies willing to make iPod knockoffs. Some of the manufacturers labor under the delusion that the next iteration of their player will dethrone Apple. The more rational mp3 player producers are intent on scooping up the lion’s share of the crumbs left by the market dominating iPod. For all the bluster and imitation the competition has consistently failed to dent the iTunes/iPod stranglehold, few expect that to change. Why has every attempt failed so miserably? Because if you are truly desirous to do to the iPod what Windows did to the command line there’s only one company who can pull it off. Their name is Microsoft and it is only a matter of time until they make a serious effort.

An article about "iPod killers":

It's cause they also can't get a dent in the US market. THe iPod has more then 75% of the US mp3/PMP/PVP market.