iPod Creative Video iPod Killer (again)

[tutubibi]

Creative is making another attempt to create "iPod Killer" .
This time it is direct run on new video iPods.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/12/07/creative_vision-m/

I am getting tired of every new device being called "iPod Killer" but I actually think this Creative Vision:M is promising device. Not iPod killer but worthy competitor, at least on the hardware front. While it does not have iTunes infrastructure to support it, Vision:M does support DivX/XviD which is a big plus in my eyes. If they only priced this thing somewhat cheaper than iPod, I would consider it.

 

[liketom]

yeah i read that on engadget this morning , that interface looks the same as another well known brand

 

[freeny]

yeah i read that on engadget this morning , that interface looks the same as another well known brand

GREEN! WOW i'm switching!

really, I now want a green ipod!

I doubt it will be a "killer" but they will certainly grab some bidness from apple if the price is right. it supports more video codec, perhaps apple will update this on the ipod to keep pace??

 

[Jovian9]

This is a lot thicker than the iPod and looks almost like something made by Fisher Price....with iPod style inspiration. I'm sure it will do okay, but not an iPod killer.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Creative took pains to copy the iPod's style and interface as much as possible whilst at the same time deftly dancing around legal issues.

 

[maddav]

Creative took pains to copy the iPod's styl and interface as much as possible whilst at the same time deftly dancing around legal issues

A technique used all the time, quite often in music on TV shows, they change it enough so they don't have to pay royalties

 

[Lacero]

Yep, definitely déjà vu.

 

[Ubuntu]

Damn.

I actually thought Creative was going somewhere with design. The Nomad looked like a retro tape player, the Zen Touch looked okay... I really liked the Zen Sleek look-wise. Not as good as my black iPod video, but certainly not bad.

Now they've just screwed up again.

 

[Bern]

I doubt these guys have an original idea in their heads. They keep touting they are major competitors to Apple's iPod yet they rip off the concept and design and produce something cheap and nasty that really doesn't deliver as well as promised in any case.

Maybe blatant copying of other people's hard work and devotion to technology should be punishable in Singapore? Seems the only language they understand over there, anyone have a noose handy?

 

[crazyjoeda]

It looks like a thicker iPod with awkward controles and less sytle. On the plus it looks like it will have a longer battery life for video and does support divx.

 

[ITASOR]

WOW, look at that battery meter/menu design! STUNNING!

 

[Scruge]

This is a lot thicker than the iPod and looks almost like something made by Fisher Price....with iPod style inspiration. I'm sure it will do okay, but not an iPod killer.

this is absolutely hideous to look at. seriously how can you walk around with something like that.
no way ill buy anything this huge.
its like standing in the subway with ur nano and looking over and seeing someone holding this thing:

creative fails again

 

[.Andy]

I doubt these guys have an original idea in their heads. They keep touting they are major competitors to Apple's iPod yet they rip off the concept and design and produce something cheap and nasty that really doesn't deliver as well as promised in any case.

All from a company with the moniker "Creative"...

 

[Chundles]

Pug Fugly.

Too thick, too heavy, the interface is a shambles. Buttons everywhere.

What is it with Creative, Sony, iRiver et al? They just keep making these players with a thousand buttons, big clunky things that remind me of how thick the first iPod was. I mean this new Creative is 2cm thick - compared to the 30GB iPod's 1.1 it looks like a brick. Why can Apple cram all the technology into a space half as thick but these guys can't?

Sorry Creative. Must. Try. Harder.

 

[iJon]

Too bad the iPod can't play some of those DivX files. Creative has them beat on that in my opinion.

jon

 

[camomac]

yes, those are ugly, but that might also mean that more revenue for apple selling video to these players too (well mpeg4 anyways)... just a thought.

 

[mojohanna]

uuuuuummmmmmm greeeeeeennnnnnn

*turns head and vomits*

 

[Spock]

This is going to kill the iPod after Kia kills BMW

 

[Bubbasteve]

IMO the iPod is much better looking... I can't understand why people would want that instead of the iPod video. Is there a significant price difference or what?

 

[iHateWindows]

The green one is hot

 

[Counterfit]

A technique used all the time, quite often in music on TV shows, they change it enough so they don't have to pay royalties

It happens very often in music, because you can't copyright chord changes. Moanin' (Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers) became So What (Miles Davis), Charlie Parker's KoKo (or was that Scrapple from the Apple?) was based on the chords from another song.

 

[1rottenapple]

Apple NEEDs a serious competitor imo. I hope it is successful so that it can push apple to add more ****, ie gapless playback, more features, more inovations, more format supports.

 

[Bern]

Apple NEEDs a serious competitor imo. I hope it is successful so that it can push apple to add more ****, ie gapless playback, more features, more inovations, more format supports.

I don't think we could call Creative a serious competitor when they rip off the technology and design. Now if they could actually think for themselves over there and come up with something new well maybe then we could discuss the serious competitor idea.

 

[Benjamin]

IMO the iPod is much better looking... I can't understand why people would want that instead of the iPod video. Is there a significant price difference or what?

yeah the iPod is currently $31 cheaper for 30GB. well see what happens when they release in the US, but the exchange rate marks this player at $329.

 

[steve_hill4]

Ah, but for that $31 you get an AC adapter included, (great for marketing it to those who are less computer literate I find), and you can play back more video types on the machine, (great for those illegally downloading).

Wait a minute, "great for those illegally downloading", until we get an equivalent iTMS for other types of video, there isn't vast amounts you could legally put onto one of these things. Perhaps someone might clampdown and accuse Creative of encouraging illegal downloading. I doubt they include ripping software, (for your DVDs), that adds copy protection into it. They could be shooting themselves in the foot if they aren't careful.