Thursday, May 3rd 2007

Creative Introduces the ZEN Stone

SINGAPORE - May 3, 2007 - Creative (NASDAQ: CREAF), a worldwide leader in digital entertainment products, today introduced the Creative ZEN Stone, the tiny, featherweight 1GB MP3 player priced at only S$69.00, available by May 4.

The Creative ZEN Stone features a smooth contoured design, so it feels naturally comfortable in your hand. It is so light that at first, you might not believe it is an MP3 player. The Creative ZEN Stone allows you to rock in color; pick your favorites from black, white, red, blue, pink and green, to fit any mood or fashion.

Just drag and drop up to 500 songs* to the Creative ZEN Stone. Choose "Play" or "Random" and listen to up to 10 hours of your favorite songs from a single charge of the rechargeable, built-in battery. You can also skip between folders containing favorite artists or playlists. The Creative ZEN Stone is so simple to use that it does not even need a screen; just skip through tracks or albums while you are on the go, or simply play all the songs randomly in the shuffle mode.

"The Creative ZEN Stone, at just $69, opens up a huge new market for MP3 players," said Sim Wong Hoo, chairman and CEO of Creative. "This is an incredible price for everyone to get a superior quality MP3 player capable of holding up to 500 songs. Whether it is your only player or a second player to take with you anywhere, the low price lets you think of MP3 players in a whole new way. You can loan it to a friend just like you would a CD or a mix tape and not have to worry about it, but you'll like it so much that you'll want another so you always have one with you."

You can personalize the Creative ZEN Stone with attractive translucent skins that include a clip and are available in five matching colors, a sporty armband that comes with a skin, and even a fashionable keychain with a tiny case that carries the player.

The Creative ZEN Stone will even have its own unique docking speaker system, the Creative TravelSound ZEN Stone, which will be available in black or white in July. Using micro drivers, this versatile and perfectly portable speaker system provides crystal clear sound for more than 20 hours of great entertainment anywhere you go, powered by just two AAA alkaline batteries. Also priced at only $69.00, the Creative TravelSound ZEN Stone docks the player to make a complete portable sound system that you can hold comfortably in your palm, all for just $138.

Pricing and Availability
The Creative ZEN Stone MP3 player is available in Singapore at a suggested retail price of $69.00. Black color will be available from 4 May 2007 onwards at authorized dealers, The CREATIVE Stores at Marina Square, Plaza Singapura and International Business Park and the online store at sg.store.creative.com. The player in different colors will be available from mid May onwards.

The Creative ZEN Stone accessories will be available in mid May 2007 at the following suggested retail prices:

* Creative ZEN Stone Skin is available for S$15.00.
* Creative ZEN Stone Armband and Skin (black color) is available for S$29.00.
* Creative ZEN Stone Keychain Case is available for S$25.00.

For more information about the Creative ZEN Stone and the Creative TravelSound ZEN Stone, please visit www.asia.creative.com.
*Based on WMA songs encoded at 64kbps; the ZEN Stone can also hold up to 250 MP3 songs encoded at 128kbps.
Source: Creative
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19 Comments on Creative Introduces the ZEN Stone

#1
GJSNeptune
Only 250 (128kb) songs? Ugh. Guess it'd be nice for exercising, although people tend to strap them to their arm.

Kinda neat looking. Cool name.
Posted on Reply
#2
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
Agree with neptune, plus i like the 'mood' settings.

and 250 songs aint so bad, i've got a 2GB player and barely listen to 20 of them. Unless you've got a very easy to use interface, the space just gets wasted as users cant be arsed skipping 500 times to get the song they want :D
Posted on Reply
#3
Gian-Pa
nice! :p
when it will come in Europe maybe I will give it a try
Posted on Reply
#4
WarEagleAU
Bird of Prey
That reminds me of the, uhm, motorola pebble is it? A phone shaped like a pebble stone.
Posted on Reply
#6
WeStSiDePLaYa
MusselsAgree with neptune, plus i like the 'mood' settings.
what "mood" settings, neither the news article, or creatives article makes any mention of such a thing.
Posted on Reply
#7
GJSNeptune
Maybe this?
The Creative ZEN Stone allows you to rock in color; pick your favorites from black, white, red, blue, pink and green, to fit any mood or fashion.
Posted on Reply
#8
Wile E
Power User
So this is basically Creative's answer to the iPod Shuffle?
Posted on Reply
#9
GJSNeptune
Every company ought to respond to Apple's stuff.

"Oh my god, Apple has something new out! Let's all get it!....oh wait, there are other brands of electronics?"
Posted on Reply
#10
Wile E
Power User
No. other companies ought to try to innovate more. But I see your point.
Posted on Reply
#11
Sky
it looks ugly imo
Posted on Reply
#12
GJSNeptune
Wile ENo. other companies ought to try to innovate more. But I see your point.
A response isn't an imitation. Well that's not what I meant at least.
Posted on Reply
#13
WeStSiDePLaYa
GJSNeptuneMaybe this?
thats not any sort of setting.

Thats you being able to pick you colour, which you can do with any mp3 player.
Posted on Reply
#14
GJSNeptune
The only thing I could find about mood. :p
Posted on Reply
#15
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
I thought it was a playlist chooser, based on the colors. AKA pink is crappy emo songs, black is rock, whatever.

Perhaps i read it wrong.
Posted on Reply
#16
TXcharger
dude come out with a X-Fi version zen already i want one so bad, it would be so amazing
Posted on Reply
#17
FreedomEclipse
~Technological Technocrat~
TXchargerdude come out with a X-Fi version zen already i want one so bad, it would be so amazing
now ^THAT^ would be awesome!!! since theyve already come out with a XFi adaptor which plugs into a USB port on your laptop then connects up to your speakers to give u XFi sound & features, like Crystalisation, CMSS-3D etc

IMO this is really a waste of time, sure its cool to run around with something dinky but how bout a ultra slim version of a Creative Zen/Zen Micro???? Im running a Creative Zen Micro & ive had it for nearly 2 years & the battries fragged to shit, getting upto 5hrs play time with it would be a miracle. I would get a new batt but their way to expensive & for that kinda money I might as well slap some more cash ontop & get a brand new player!

Seems to me that Creative dont know where their priorities lie. forget micro sizing things, make a 'slim' high capacity player!! Sony have done it! iPod have done it! so have most of the other manufacturers! get your head out of your ass & make something that people would ACTUALLY want!
Posted on Reply
#18
Ketxxx
Heedless Psychic
Its amazing how creative can give something a name and their marketing department makes it look like something totally new and radical :rolleyes: I can go and pick up a 1GB MP3 that has up to 12hrs playback (2hrs better battery life already) chuck on 600+ songs @ a bitrate of around 128-160, have all the features this zen POS is trying to big up as new like different led colours, have the added convenience of an actual LCD screen, have stuff like a alkaline battery, pretty good headphone and USB cable included, a built in equalizer, random, repeat, loop etc functions, and the thing wont be over 30 grams in weight all for £25. Take THAT creative.
Posted on Reply
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