Creative Zen Mosaic: Mondrian MP3 Monstrosity

The iPod's design is so iconic, so ineffably tangled with consumer's notions of what an MP3 player should look like, that every competing DAP — desperate not to look like a touchwheel also-ran — ends up looking weird, like a mutant humanoid imagined from a cellular silicon structure. Creative's new Zen Mosaic looks odder than most, though: a Mondrian monstrosity, its branding accurate only if mosaics can be comprised entirely of 20 cheap rubber buttons... only nine of which are functional! A shame, since if that front grid was a single conjoined mosaic of brushed metal, I think this would probably look rather striking.

Features are typical: 1.8-inch display, 2 - 8GB capacities, FM tuner, MP3 / WAV/ WMA / AUdible support. It also apparently includes built-in speakers, which is rather nice. Currently only slated for Singapore, they should creep to American shores at some point, without topping $200.

Creative Zen Mosaic [Creative via Epicenter]

[#1 posted by mistervega , July 25, 2008 8:54 AM]

um, appears more tetris-like and less mondrian-ish.

[#2 posted by John Brownlee , July 25, 2008 9:06 AM]

It doesn't at all.

[#3 posted by scartol , July 25, 2008 9:43 AM]

I actually think it looks rather nifty. External speakers are a plus.

[#4 posted by arkizzle , July 25, 2008 9:44 AM]

#2 agreed, but wish I was as flamboyantly succinct as you :)

[#5 posted by Daemon , July 25, 2008 10:51 AM]

ipod design = overrated