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From what I have read of the coming Zune, most analysts doubt it's an iPod killer .... But Zune will turn out to be Zen killer instead - to take over the No. 2 spot in the MP3 market.
I don't think the market is reacting well to Creative having the Zune as competition. Its come out quite clear in the charts that Creative is on downtrend again.
Just saw the article, very similar to ipod and Zen. I wonder what user interface they are using? I think Creative will be one of the first to buy and check it out!!
MSFT's Zune unveiled today .....
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Microsoft steps into digital-media player fray
Software giant unveils hotly awaited Zune device, service
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Story.aspx?guid=%7B3601D379%2D8AD3%2D42B1%2DA71F%2D509A0C830531%7D&siteid=
Came out today's paper too .... Creative is dead meat now! Its down 50 cents now.
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Toshiba teams with Microsoft for Zune
Last Update: 8:40 PM ET Aug 25, 2006
REDMOND, Wash., Aug 25, 2006 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Japan's Toshiba Corp. will make an FM tuner and wireless network capacity for the Zune, Microsoft Corp.'s rival to the popular iPod music player.
The Zune, which Microsoft aims to release before the Christmas holidays, will let users receive and share photographs as well as music, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
Also, the device will allow users to stream music to up to four other nearby devices.
Motley Fool Double Take: Apple Juices SanDisk
By
Here we go again -- another challenger to Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) seemingly impenetrable iPod franchise.
On Monday, SanDisk (Nasdaq: SNDK) unveiled a new eight-gigabyte music player for roughly $250, while lowering prices on other models. That's a potentially serious blow to Apple, whose iPod nano carries a maximum four gigabytes of storage and sells for $249.
Apple investors leaned on the sell button after reading the news, as the shares closed down roughly 2%. Perhaps these Chicken Little wannabes think that SanDisk has permanently altered the economics of the music-player business? Or that the upstart might prevent Apple from ever again attaining meaningful margins in its highest-growth business?
Well, they could be right. SanDisk is no chump. It's a world leader in NAND flash memory, the slim, sturdy storage inside devices like the iPod nano. Being a supplier, it can cut costs from the supply chain and pass savings to consumers. In addition, SanDisk's innovations in flash memory have produced meaningful cash flow from royalties, which should help fund any price war that ensues.
But "price war" is the operative phrase here. SanDisk's assault on the market has thus far earned it a 10% share of the music-player market, according to press reports. Cost advantages could increase its share, but I doubt many gains will come from Apple. SanDisk hasn't eliminated the iPod maker's core advantage: the seamless tie between the iPod and iTunes.
iTunes is, in fact, essential. Other devices can't access the store for downloading; its unique content provides a moat around the iPod, funded by Apple's blossoming free cash flow. Expect Apple's advantage to increase even further if the Mac maker finds a way to license movies for downloading, which I expect it will.
SanDisk's new player is undeniably cool, and it's doubtlessly going to win some converts. Music-store partners Yahoo! (Nasdaq: YHOO), Napster (Nasdaq: NAPS), and RealNetworks (Nasdaq: RNWK) are also likely to be thrilled to have another device for which to sell songs. But none of this means a new battle for the soul of the digital music business has begun. It hasn't and won't until old rival Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) finally whistles a new tune. Wake me then.
By
Here we go again -- another challenger to Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) seemingly impenetrable iPod franchise.
On Monday, SanDisk (Nasdaq: SNDK) unveiled a new eight-gigabyte music player for roughly $250, while lowering prices on other models. That's a potentially serious blow to Apple, whose iPod nano carries a maximum four gigabytes of storage and sells for $249.
Apple investors leaned on the sell button after reading the news, as the shares closed down roughly 2%. Perhaps these Chicken Little wannabes think that SanDisk has permanently altered the economics of the music-player business? Or that the upstart might prevent Apple from ever again attaining meaningful margins in its highest-growth business?
Well, they could be right. SanDisk is no chump. It's a world leader in NAND flash memory, the slim, sturdy storage inside devices like the iPod nano. Being a supplier, it can cut costs from the supply chain and pass savings to consumers. In addition, SanDisk's innovations in flash memory have produced meaningful cash flow from royalties, which should help fund any price war that ensues.
But "price war" is the operative phrase here. SanDisk's assault on the market has thus far earned it a 10% share of the music-player market, according to press reports. Cost advantages could increase its share, but I doubt many gains will come from Apple. SanDisk hasn't eliminated the iPod maker's core advantage: the seamless tie between the iPod and iTunes.
iTunes is, in fact, essential. Other devices can't access the store for downloading; its unique content provides a moat around the iPod, funded by Apple's blossoming free cash flow. Expect Apple's advantage to increase even further if the Mac maker finds a way to license movies for downloading, which I expect it will.
SanDisk's new player is undeniably cool, and it's doubtlessly going to win some converts. Music-store partners Yahoo! (Nasdaq: YHOO), Napster (Nasdaq: NAPS), and RealNetworks (Nasdaq: RNWK) are also likely to be thrilled to have another device for which to sell songs. But none of this means a new battle for the soul of the digital music business has begun. It hasn't and won't until old rival Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) finally whistles a new tune. Wake me then.
Today's paper reported this new MP3 competition .... another blow to Creative! MSFT's Zune MP3 launching this year end too. Wonder if Creative already has something up (or down) its sleeve?
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SanDisk lifts competitive stakes vs. Apple iPod: WSJ
By Robert Daniel
Last Update: 3:38 AM ET Aug 21, 2006
Creative has a PE ratio of 855.0 !!!!
Its at the top of the list of High PE stocks!
Its at the top of the list of High PE stocks!
This looks like a sinking ship. Go in now is only for those who are brave.
Still falling... good time to go in? Now near 52 week low
Creative is in deep trouble... I wonder how they're going to fight this uphill battle now.
Microsoft looks to take on Apple's iPod
Software giant plans release products under new 'Zune' brand this year
By Michael Paige, MarketWatch
Last Update: 5:01 PM ET Jul 21, 2006