1 GB Creative Zen Stone for $39,99: "That Doesn't Impress Me Much!"

Here's another desperate move that intends to take Apple by surprise. Creative just released its latest solution to handling the iPod Shuffle issue: the Zen Stone. I'm pretty sure you read all the rumors about the under $50 Creative's Zen Stone imminent launch.

Well, watch out! Creative throws the Zen Stone hoping they'll gun down the one-eyed 80$ 2nd G iPod shuffle (what a creative move). It's their first completely screenless flash player actually. And it's not even selling for a cent short of $50, but somewhere under $40. It's actually priced at 39,99$.

The main ingredients are: an already familiar softly rounded plastic case, USB 2.0, 1 GB storage space and two AA batteries that will run a 20 hours long guitar solo playback (250 songs). Since it's a USB Mass Storage-Class (MSC) device, it allows you to drag and drop files without any software.

You can stuff the Stone with MP3, WMA, WAV files and Audible formats 2 and 3. Stuff music in a screenless Stone, that's a first alright! Will it sink faster than an apple? Maybe.

Apparently, the price list for the accessories explains the 40 bucks chief ingredient. Here it goes: a clip ($9,99), a keychain ($12,99) and an armband ($15,99). You could also choose the TravelSound Zen Stone docking solution for $39,99 (available starting this July). So, the clip costs ¼ the price of the Stone? Nice pricing strategy. Very creative indeed!

The 1 GB Creative Zen Stone flash player will be available starting from the 14th of May in six colors: black, white, red, blue, green and, er, pink.

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