ipod

12/08/2005, 8:45am, EST

Thursday, December 8th

Creative launches iPod video knockoff

Creative today launched its iPod video knockoff, offering a virtually identical look and feel of the iPod video with a few more features and longer battery life. Creative's new Zen Vision:M player sports a virtually identical footprint to the iPod video and a nearly indentical visual interface; it includes a 30GB drive, rechargeable battery that claims a 4-hour life for video playback and a 14-hour life for music playback; the player supports MP3, Windows Media Audio (WMA, DRM) and WAV audio formats. For video, it supports MPEG-1, MPEG-2/4, WMV 9, Motion JPEG, DivX 4/5, and XviD video files. It also supports sync of Outlook calendars and To-Do lists. The player features a connector to allow third-parties to develop accessories for the product. The Vision:M is expected to ship in either black, white or green later this month for $330. At the launch, Creative's CEO said it would aggressively pursue other companies, including Apple, that had duplicated its patented interface. [site not updated]


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Call the Lawyers!
0
12/08, 9:13am, EST
I'm no fan of litigation, but how long will it be before Apple sicks their lawyers on "Creative" to cease and desist?

How long before "Creative" tanks?

Creative, funny name for a rip-off company.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Oct 1999
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rok
creative... yeah, right
0
12/08, 9:20am, EST
"well, we're losing badly to the ipod, so now we're going to resort to figure out a way to litigate to get back into the race, while also pretty much copying the ipod video form factor in almost every way except the click wheel (which apple does have a patent for)"
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who's lawyers?
0
12/08, 9:20am, EST
As the final sentence indicates, Creative could sue Apple for copying their user interface. Apple disputed the patent but lost. This was headline news a month or two ago. Looks like they might be come to an 'arrangement'.
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Who's lawyers?
0
12/08, 9:23am, EST
I'm a Mac fan as much as the next guy, but at least get your facts straight. As the final sentence in the article indicates, Creative could be suing Apple right now for ripping off their user interface. Apple challenged the patent and lost. This was headline news a month or two ago.
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MacNN buggy!
0
12/08, 9:25am, EST
Sorry for the double post, evidently posting a comment here does not work in Win IE. At least it doesn't seem to work. Only after launching Firefox did I see my double post.

PS The fonts are also screwed up in Firefox PC 1.0.7 (serif, instead of sans-serif).
Fresh-Faced Recruit
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Searched Creative's site
0
12/08, 9:27am, EST
for "iPod ripoff" but the search came up empty... :-

This is a surprisingly blatant clone of Apple's industrial design. Nothing Creative has produced prior to this has even come close in aesthetics.

The interface looks nice and it might be a good choice for non-iTunes fans.

The xVid support is nice too.

Nothing Creative previously produced in this niche has made much of a splash. We'll see I suppose.
Mac Enthusiast
Joined Jan 2001
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Cool New Player
0
12/08, 9:43am, EST
I am enjoying my iPod Video (30gb), but the battery life is poor. Actually I may have gone with the 60gb unit, if I had known it was better on the battery.

But, anyway, it still has problems..it's not great on ff and rewind, and quite frankly, the click wheel isn't that good. I much prefer the iPod 1g, with its physical sliding wheel, rather than this touch one, which just plain doesn't allow for precise control.

The good thing about Creative, is that its another choice. Basically I just want a good video player for my language learning, and if Creative comes in with one that finally looks good, and runs better than the Apple offerings, all the better.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
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Hmmm..
0
12/08, 9:45am, EST
I wonder how they can get 2x the video playback.. Maybe its because wmv decoding is easier..
Mac Enthusiast
Joined May 2001
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cfd
Buy It Where????
0
12/08, 9:58am, EST
Currently, the caption below the Creative image states " Buy It From The Apple Store"
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Dec 2005
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Choices
0
12/08, 11:00am, EST
Are good. now only if it supported AAC. Still, it looks good and if it performs well, then cool. Click wheel shmick wheel. That's like saying, "Don't use a play button because I invented it." Everyone's using them, move on! Just make something that works good and last long.
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