There has been some preliminary buzz about the Zen Stone music player, made by Creative. It is said to have similar specs as the iPod Shuffle, but costs a bit less.

How will it fare? Who knows. I just know the iPod Shuffle is not going to be knocked off it’s pedestal anytime soon. And why should it? It’s an innovation, and as with most innovations the Shuffle puts itself into a class of its own. So even if another product came along with similar qualities to “take on” the iPod Shuffle, it’s still just a sincere form of flattery … I mean mimicry.