Creative releases iPod look-alike
Creative, a leader in non-iPod digital music players, has announced the release of a player which is in many respects nearly identical to the 5th generation iPod. (Click the link to see a translation of Creative's Japanese press release, with photos.)
The Zen Vision: M's advantages over the iPod include an FM tuner and voice recorder. Disadvantages are the lack of a click-wheel (though they did their best to copy it), a higher price tag, and a substantially bulkier and heavier unit. And like all other non-iPod players, it plays formats that the iPod will not, though it won't play songs from the iTunes Music Store.
Many Mac sites are ridiculing the player, calling it a blatant iPod knockoff, and predicting the demise of the player, and perhaps Creative itself. Looking at the unit, it seems clear that this must be intended to be an iPod copy. It would certainly be easy to confuse the two.
However, Creative's motivation might be more complex than it appears on the surface. Creative has alleged that the iPod's navigation software infringes on one of their patents, and BBC reported today that Creative boss Sim Wong Hoo plans to "pursue aggressively" their patent rights. Creative seems to be using the new player to unabashedly thumb their nose at Apple, who they see as the aggressor. However, FreeiPodGuy's humble opinion is that while it is possible that Apple is using Creative's patented technology, Creative almost certainly stooped to that level by copying Apple's design. I haven't done the research, but surely Apple has a design patent on the iPod.
As of yet, the Zen Vision: M has been announced only in Japan.
The Zen Vision: M's advantages over the iPod include an FM tuner and voice recorder. Disadvantages are the lack of a click-wheel (though they did their best to copy it), a higher price tag, and a substantially bulkier and heavier unit. And like all other non-iPod players, it plays formats that the iPod will not, though it won't play songs from the iTunes Music Store.
Many Mac sites are ridiculing the player, calling it a blatant iPod knockoff, and predicting the demise of the player, and perhaps Creative itself. Looking at the unit, it seems clear that this must be intended to be an iPod copy. It would certainly be easy to confuse the two.
However, Creative's motivation might be more complex than it appears on the surface. Creative has alleged that the iPod's navigation software infringes on one of their patents, and BBC reported today that Creative boss Sim Wong Hoo plans to "pursue aggressively" their patent rights. Creative seems to be using the new player to unabashedly thumb their nose at Apple, who they see as the aggressor. However, FreeiPodGuy's humble opinion is that while it is possible that Apple is using Creative's patented technology, Creative almost certainly stooped to that level by copying Apple's design. I haven't done the research, but surely Apple has a design patent on the iPod.
As of yet, the Zen Vision: M has been announced only in Japan.