Creative launches Creative ZEN Stone to take on Apple iPod Shuffle

Creative has launched their latest digital music player device to take on Apple. Creative launched ZEN Stone which has been targeted to directly take on Apple iPod Shuffle.

The company has decided not to take on the Shuffle by launching a product with more features. Instead, they are trying to play on price difference. They have priced the Zen Stone at around $39.99 which is around half the price of iPod Shuffle.

Creative also launched an accompanying speaker system, the TravelSound ZEN Stone which also retails for the same price.

The Creative Zen Stone is available in black, white, red, blue, pink and green colors. Incidentally, Apple is also selling their shuffle in a variety of color options.

The company claims that the 1GB capacity would let the owner store up to 250 songs encoded in MP3 format at 128kbps, or 500 WMA songs encoded at 64kbps. Creative further said that the built in rechargeable battery lasts up to 10 hours on a single charge.

Creative chairman and CEO Sim Wong Hoo spoke about the Zen Stone: “Whether it’s 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.”

The company is also offering accessories such as translucent skins with color-coordinated clips or armbands, and a keychain with a small case for the Zen Stone.