Creative Technologies recently anounced new MP3 player with video playback capabilities. Its alternative to Apple’s video iPod.

The new MP3 player, called Vision:M, has music, video and photo capabilities. Vision:M packs a 30GB hard drive and a large, 2.5in, 262,144-colour, 320 x 240 LCD screen into its diminutive 10.4 x 6.2 x 1.9cm proportions and weighs about 166g. Black, white or green colours available.

Rechargeable battery can play video for 4 hours (Apple’s iPod - 2 hours only) and music for 14 hours. It’s audio support MP3 , Windows Media Audio (WMA) and WAV audio, DRM-protected tracks are also supported. The new MP3 player Vision:M play MPEG 1, 2 and 4, WMV 9, Motion JPEG, DivX 4 and 5, and XviD video files and display photos saved in the JPEG format only.

The Vision:M will go on sale in Japan at Christmas-time and will cost $329. It will come in either black white or green.