Squaring up to Apple (Creative Zen Mozaic 16 GB)

Member Name: 1st2thebar

Product:	Creative Zen Mozaic 16 GB
Date:	06/05/09 (262 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: 16GB of storage

Disadvantages: The squares are not good design

CREATIVE ZEN - Mosaic -
Dated: 06/05/2009
Storage Capacity: 16GB
Titled: Squaring up to Apple
-----------------------------------------
Manufacturer by Creative Hong Kong The company brand is known in the UK as Creative UK, even though it is headed under the Europe labs which was formed in 1993.

Creative branch networks are - America labs- Asia labs- Europe labs. They're available in three corners of the globe.

-Product > CREATIVES ZEN Mosaic MP3 Portable Media Player - 16GB
Comes in all colours - Available RRP date: 10/2008 - Skins available on purchase

Squaring up to Apple

The Zen or rather the mosaic zen series have squared up to Apples iPod MP3 market evolutionary takeover. Whether a squared MP3 player will takeover the world as the iPod has I favor not. It lacks a recognizable simplistic navigation that all can relate to. Instead the squares complex viewing and they're supposed to be aesthetic, which is rather like saying we don't know what to fill the navigation area with and here are a few squares. The main reason why Apple has a large market comparison to Creative is due to the interface model, Apple brings down the user visuals and Creative does the opposite. The basic MP3 model is held the same as does its soft touch and smell. So it all comes down to user-friendliness and aesthetics. Creatives route is predominantly creating a style which doesn't actually need to be created in my opinion; however, through Apples' domineering brand, I've felt the Creative Zen Mosaic series is all about re-branding and re-inventing itself; which could be a losing battle against the main player the iPod. I review the Zen products because I like to see how model brands respond to main product dominance. It is more interesting to see how Creatives production team can hit out and capture a MP3 market that continues to expand in technology and performance and has been leaning towards Apples iPod for getting on for a decade. What else is in Creatives teams 'think-tank? I'm tough to win over.

The MP3 wars are probably the most competitive out in the market-place. Many designs have fallen by the way-side, by creative as they search for the ultimate design; comparing it to Apple there has been only one recognizable slick MP3 design we all know of. Why play on a successful model that is well known world-wide? Creative reveals many stark odd or delinquent designs to the table but I question whether any have been as beautifully crafted. Creative may have a secure market in the Mozaic brand and in some journals it has a good write-up, but never a raving one.

The Mosaic's component packages never changes as does the interface, whether it's a standard screen model, or whether it is HD quality or touch-screen quality. One thing to note on this one is the OLED screen is slightly clearer; maybe the visual area is a little bit smaller squared than the Creative Zen V series model. The Mosaic is snappier than the V series generally, but that is probably on the fact the 16GB storage is the main reason. This comes to the fact that the bigger the size of storage, the more likely the MP3 player will not cease on you when playing your favorite track; something to think about when purchasing a smaller storage facility.

Squaring up to Creative Zen's Mosaic

The jury is still out when it comes to the Mosaic, in the open market. In my opinion it does not answer the brief to contest the richly contested Portable Media Player market place. Creative have obviously gone back to the drawing board and tried to capture Creatives brand by imploring state of the square design instead. On a professional hearing I do wander whether it is worth buying. It may become a talking point for those of you who collect Kitsch styled memorabilia, or just maybe this MP3 Player could be a collector's item in 40 years time. Personally, I feel Creative have tried to recaptured their own corporate branding with the Mosaic. The PMP quality is no different to the V series, but it has likeability qualities. However, if you are just after MP3 quality, go for the V series it does the job just as well and has a conservative interface to fit the bill.

The Mosaic is a smaller MP3 player overall with no notable features that would make all gadget lovers wet their lips with envy, but what it does do is simple and solves the problem if your in need of a cracking MP3 player that has second to none sound quality. For storage and MP3 capabilities it is purely what the 'audio-bility' is. Navigation and speediness of getting to a particular track in my opinion plays a close second fiddle. Basically, all audible digital players have neon supreme quality that is unsurpassed in other mediums, so the Mosaic doesn't do anything more different than most MP3 Players, but it would have been a different story if Creative had unleashed this checkerboard design concept in 2004, when storage facilities were less able than today, it would now been talk of the town, but alas the market place are now littered with mega MP3 Players with extreme storage facilities that would imitate a PC 4 years ago. Overall we are harder to please, partly due to the number of choices of MP3 Players there are, including their over featured gadgetry-ness; that many have and now become part of the furniture of what we the UK public kind of expects now.

The Mosaic is just a MP3 Player with a FM Radio and a self-record voice recorder, (for those who like the sound of their own voice) The 1.8 inch (Squared) screen is deceptive of a slightly higher HD quality than the V series but that could just be a figment of my imagination, or it just maybe the smaller the screen the more focused the graphics appear. Nevertheless, it is worth a mention and may just be a selling point to the 'sharp eyed tech-design savvy' audience.

16GB of Mosaic storage

The storage space is more than able to play over 80000 MP3 audio tracks. The transfer rates are quicker due to the fast USB transfer fast - track Windows music browser software. The Creative lacks the number of downloads that we the MP3 public have been getting use to. Hence, that there are not so many features available as the iPod. Creative will be improving this conundrum I'm sure by next year as the demand for downloadable data will become even more apparent, giving more options for users and of course better wireless connectivity.

Available online from www.amazon.com - 119.00 GBP - For even great offers checkout a cash-back offer before buying this product as you can save up to 20.00 GBP - Worth checking out online for these deals. Or you can order it directly from the Creative Labs online www.creative.com

The Mosaic has also devised a number of useful add-ons when purchasing this MP3 Player - including a Docking Speaker System, a soft pouch with a clip, an armband and the set of all three skins that is also available individually.

Overall statistics for Creative Zen's Mosaic Portable Media Player

Sound and Graphics - 17.35 out of 20.00
Storage - 17.25 out of 20.00
Features - 14.62 out of 20.00
Design and Navigation - 12.77 out of 20.00
Originality - 16.00 out of 20.00
OVERALL SCORE - 77.99 out of 100

Thank you for reading this Mosaic review, I hope you have found it helpful.

Copyright 1st2thebar 05-2009
Dooyoo - Review

Summary: Creative Zen Mosaic - 16GB Guide

Processing/Quality:
Reliability:
Ease of use:
Features:
Sound quality:
Download speed: