Creative's Zen MP3 players haven't proved to be iPod killers, but the line has amassed a healthy following as the most visible Apple alternative. Today, Creative announced its iPod shuffle competitor, the Zen Stone — only eight months after the second-generation iPod shuffle!

The Stone is a 1-gigabyte player with a drag-and-drop interface that retails for a refreshingly inexpensive $40, or the price of some iPod cases. It works with MP3, WMA and WAV files, and some Audible formats. It doesn't have a built-in clip like the iPod shuffle does (it would take away from the stone shape, we suppose), but accessories are on their way, including, of course, a shirt clip. And It seems to be shipping now from Creative's website, but only in black. White, red, blue, pink and green stones should be coming soon. — S.E. Kramer

Zen Stone, via Gizmodo