Creative Unveils 4GB & 8GB Zen Stone Plus MP3 Players November 26, 2007

Read more Digital Audio , Gadgets , Gizmodo UK , MP3 , Music

Creative is celebrating this week, after hitting the 25 million milestone in MP3 players sales and cementing its No. 2 status after Apple. To coincide, the company has quietly beefed up its Zen Stone Plus MP3 players, with much bigger capacities, while retaining that cute little blue OLED display. Sadly, the funky colours of the existing models have been faded to just one - black.

The old version topped out at 2GB but the new ones will come in at 4GB and 8GB, in a device that measures 53.6 x 35.4 x 12.8mm and weighs 18.5g. Battery life is rated at 15 hours and there’s now added support for AAC music files as well as an FM radio.

Technical Details
* Shapely, ergonomic design in glossy black, with subtle colour highlights
* 1GB model in black/orange stores up to 500 songs*
* 2GB model in black/green stores up to 1000 songs
* * 4GB model in black/blue stores up to 2000 songs
* * 8GB model in black/blue stores up to 4000 songs
* All models support MP3, WMA and Audible Audio
* Built-in FM radio with 32 presets
* Microphone for live voice notes
* Records from line-in direct to WMA without a PC
* Intuitive Creative interface with joystick control makes navigation through content natural and easy
* Plays video clips on the bright 1.5-inch OLED screen
* Rechargeable battery supports up to 15 hours playtime
*Assumes four-minute tracks at 64kbps in WMA.

The 4GB unit costs £70 and the 8GB version – which will be available soon – will cost £100. Let's put it this way - a 1GB iPod Shuffle with no radio, no OLED display and shorter battery life, costs £50.

You can find Amazon selling the 4GB model here.-Martin Lynch

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