News
Creative to continue selling Zen players; iPod gear will not be iPod-only
By LC Angell
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Friday, August 25, 2006
News Category: iPod Accessories
Creative Technology has confirmed to iLounge that it has no plans to stop selling its line of Zen media players, despite this week’s news that the company has joined the “Made for iPod” program as part of a settlement with Apple. A Creative spokesperson also said the iPod accessories that the company will soon develop will not be iPod-only and will work with its Zen devices as well as other brands of digital music players. While no specifics were given, it can be assumed that the iPod add-ons will use auxiliary inputs for universal compatibility instead of, or in addition to, an iPod Dock Connector. Creative currently sells a wide range of Zen players alongside its cheaper MuVo line and a number of accessories—from speaker systems to silicone cases. According to the latest numbers from the NPD Group, Creative holds 4.3% of the U.S. digital music player market, behind Apple with 75.6% and SanDisk with 9.7%.
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1
“iPod accessories that the company will soon develop will not be iPod-only and will work with its Zen devices as well as other brands of digital music players”
About freakin’ time! Maybe this will finally give Creative a much needed kick in the pants to start making accessories for ZENs.
Posted by Chahk on August 25, 2006 at 9:12 AM (PDT)
2
So Apple is going to be making money off of accessories that aren’t specific to it’s product?
They’re going to make that money back so quickly…
Posted by Brad on August 25, 2006 at 10:47 AM (PDT)
3
creative’s zen vision:m outdoes the ipod on so many levels, it’s laughable. ZVM’s screen is literally 5 times more colorful, it can play video formats other than .mov and “.h223653464” or whatever that apple format is, it comes with converting software, has a legitimate equalizer, has a microphone and FM radio, and has countless other quirks that set it above the ipod. The problem is, microsoft’s zune is better than both of them.
Posted by jpk on November 2, 2006 at 4:05 PM (PDT)