Creative replies to iPod Shuffle

Creative hopes that the Zen Stone MP3 player is the answer to iPod’s screenless Shuffle, but I’m afraid their effort is rendered irrelevant by excluding a display. The Zen Stone measures 2.1″ x 1.4″ x 0.5″ and comes with a standard 3.5mm headphone jack and a mini USB port. Being UMS-compliant, the Zen Stone can transfer MP3, WMA, and WMA-DRM9 tracks by simply taking the drag-and-drop route. The Zen Stone is available in only one capacity – 1GB, but it comes in black, red, pink, blue, yellow, and white colors. The main advantage it has over the Shuffle would be its $40 price tag when released this May 14th.