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Creative Zen Players Lose FM Recording

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

October 17, 2006, 1:45 PM

Creative has apparently bowed to RIAA pressure, issuing a firmware update for two of its players that removes the FM recording feature. In the past, the music industry has argued that recording from radio broadcasts hurt music sales, and has most recently attempted to stop satellite radio services from implementing similar features.

Specifically, the firmware change affects the company's Zen MicroPhoto and Zen Vision:M players. In the release notes, Creative gives no reasoning for the change other than saying "this firmware removes your player's FM recording feature."

The change overshadows other enhancements, including support for Audible Type 4 tracks, the addition of a volume restriction feature, and enhancements to the user interface and usability. But many customers may be less apt to apply the update in order to save the FM recording functionality.

The RIAA has made moves to prevent recording in other devices, most notably in portable players from the satellite radio providers. The group sued XM in May, with RIAA accusing XM of "massive wholesale infringement" of copyrights by allowing users to save songs heard on the service to the device.

Requests for comment from Creative were not answered as of press time.

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By Joco

posted Oct 18, 2006 - 10:38 AM

The audio quality from FM Radio is low in anyway. IMO, it is not a big loss. Creative must improve their firmware to support other audio formats. I have almost bought a Creative Zen Vision:M but finally decided not to because it doesn't play OGG format. OGG is free, no royalty, no DRM, smaller size than MP3 for same quality.

Score: 0

By slinkys_delsol

posted Oct 18, 2006 - 10:01 AM

I remember back in 1980 when I got my first true "Boombox" and it had a "Cassette Recorder" on it. I was thrilled. Finally, I was able to record something off the radio. My Brother got one too, we "Engineered" a way to copy tapes (We put my Radio in front of his, one played the tape, the other recorded it)

Foundations of Music and the way people heard it was because we were able to record these sounds from the radio. The Grateful Dead used to URGE their fans to bring recording devices to shows. Back in the 80's Metallica Release a home video, they gave props to all the people that "Bootlegged their shows to make this Tape Possible"

The problem the RIAA has with it is not the fact that you are recording it, it is the way you are recording it. What I mean by that is, when I got that Radio / Deck back in the 80's, it was an "ANALOG SOURCE". It was NOT a perfect recording. Now with MP3 Players and devices that give the ability to record music, you are now giving the home user the ability to record something "Digitally" and in their eyes "PERFECT".

The same thing happened basically when Sony released the BETA-MAX VCR. The Movie industry went ape-s***.

The Music Industry and the RIAA have a bill set before congress (When I find the Link again, I will post it) that will make ANY Home recording of Radio completely Illegal.

We have all this other trouble in the world:

* War in Iraq
* School Shootings
* Nuclear Buildup in Korea
* People in New Orleans STILL without help

And Congress is getting hit up with this.

What the RIAA and the Recording industry needs to do is rather then shun the technology, they need to embrace it. CD's are almost a thing of the past. Tower Record this past week announced that it is closing.

Honestly, I don't need the CD or it's case, I can live with the purchase of an album online when I have to download the tracks.

If you need Music, you should try: http://www.allofmp3.com. You still have to pay, but they only charge like $0.10 - $0.20 a track. Entire Albums for $2.00.

Score: 0

By aredo

edited Oct 18, 2006 - 6:43 AM

This is crazy. The RIAA must be banned, it must be outlawed. They are against customers, they oblige manufacturers to make the hardware defective and limit users freedom.

Score: 0

By justinb

posted Oct 17, 2006 - 11:37 PM

lame :/ i wonder when they will hit iRiver

Score: 0

By OPaul

edited Oct 18, 2006 - 12:12 AM

What about the Zen Micro? Did it escape this feature removal?

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Oct 17, 2006 - 5:16 PM

Yet more BS from the RIAA. That's ok because I haven't bought a CD in years and don't plan on starting now. I will stick to the radio thank you. But since it's free they will probably cut that off next.

Score: 0

By Galway

posted Oct 17, 2006 - 6:09 PM

Naa .. just make sure you cant record it.

Score: 0

By saint.alpha

posted Oct 17, 2006 - 7:17 PM

Time to pull out the vintage cassette recorders and go buy some blank tapes before they're outlawed too for the FM radio recordings (most of which aren't worth the time & money it'd take to record in the first place).
At least upgrading firmware is optional, and most people that have an mp3 player wouldn't have the first clue on how to upgrade it anyway..

Score: 0

By Galway

edited Oct 17, 2006 - 6:08 PM

Firmware mod to enable it again for those whom want to record ... I think so.

This lame action against recording radio is not an issue in the UK, or in europe. Is the EU responsible for this ... no It appears the RIAA is once again showing who really pulls the strings in the US of A.

I bet you guys are really proud of their efforts.

Score: 0

By cousinkix1953

edited Oct 17, 2006 - 7:25 PM

The whole thing is frigging ridiculous. Millions of people have recorded off the radio for decades. Many of us used tapes and recorders privided by a RIAA member company called SONY. Screw the RIAA hypocrites.

It used to be a problem in the U.K. EMI bought pirated tapes of those 1960's BEATLES on the BBC radio broadcasts; from pirates who recorded them illegally in the first place. Some Bob Dylan releases were culminated from live bootleg tapes in the 90's too. and thr RIAA idiots sold homebrew recording for blood $$$$$$.

The law was changed because it was both stupid and not enforceable in the U.K. A corrupt U.S. Congress is going in the wrong direction. You wanna bet that most of them have recorded off the AM or FM radio stations?

Score: 0

By aredo

posted Oct 18, 2006 - 6:46 AM

"corrupt U.S. Congress" ? Your hatred against the Bush administration and the Right Wing in general is out of context here. Did you know that RIAA and MPAA are controlled by US Democratic party electors which are as much anti-Bush as you ?
Well, then, think twice before spitting your hatred.

Score: 0

By Grazer

posted Oct 17, 2006 - 4:51 PM

I bet you guys are really proud of there efforts.

where?

Score: 0

By Galway

edited Oct 17, 2006 - 6:11 PM

"bet you guys are really proud of there efforts.

where?"

New paragraph .. no capital ? tut tut :P

Score: 0

By Galway

posted Oct 17, 2006 - 6:08 PM

Understand it now :P

Score: 0

By Paul Skinner

posted Oct 17, 2006 - 6:07 PM

*Chuckle* Nice.

You can take your pedant hat off now.

Score: 0

By id242

edited Oct 17, 2006 - 3:44 PM

how the heck are people to record their morning talk-shows suppose to record them now?

on my way into work, i listen to the morning talk show that had been recorded prior to it (first 6am-8:30am) being repeated during the second hours (repeat at 8:30am-11am). I can then play it back from the beginning of the show on my way to work (by metro-train) and FF through all the boring dialog & each several 15 minutes commercial breaks.

There is no music there - nothing that the RIAA should be concerned about.

I purchased my creative for exactly this feature - now I wont be able to use the player/recorder for exactly that. I guess it's time to write creative, demanding a $$$ refund since the player/recorder was falsely advertised on the package.

Score: 0

By cousinkix1953

posted Oct 17, 2006 - 7:28 PM

Then you can contact the C CRANE Company in California. They sell a radio/recorder pecially designed for talk radio. They don't Bull$hit with customers like CREATIVE did for that damned RIAA...

Score: 0

By GCoder

posted Oct 17, 2006 - 3:38 PM

Creative being brown-nosers for the RIAA? Thats a shock (SARCASM)

Score: 0

By skimore

posted Oct 17, 2006 - 3:11 PM

Very nice it's really part of the WAR!!

Another reason to understand what the firmware is going to do before updating your gear!!

Score: 0

By seier

posted Oct 17, 2006 - 2:37 PM

That is totally lame. I think Creative's customers should sue Creative for releasing such firmware, the only problem is there's not a lot of grounds for the suit. I don't understand why they sold out though.

Score: 0

By drumcat

posted Oct 17, 2006 - 2:32 PM

How in the HELL is that illegal? That's preposterous! I can route my kick-ass FM radio, in fact, my HD radio, and send it into my sound card, optically, and record to my heart's content. Or my XM/Sirius. And people have been recording off the radio for time in memoriam.

I don't blame Creative; they're broke as is. Hugo Chavez had it wrong... when he walked into the UN, the sulfur he smelled was the RIAA all the way from Los Angeles. They stink that bad, and most definitely are the embodiment of the anti-christ.

Score: 0

By cousinkix1953

posted Oct 17, 2006 - 7:33 PM

It was easy to install 3rd party software. I had no trouble recording from XM satellite radio channels. Those stupid RIAA imbeciles are much like the fools who believe in the enforcement of 1920s Prohibition, a failed war on drugs and Adolf Hitler's idea of gun laws. GET OVER IT you fascists. We aren't listening...

Score: 0

By Skyfrog

posted Oct 17, 2006 - 2:27 PM

Oh like everyone hasn't been able to record off the radio since time began. Didn't the courts say it was legal for people to do so? Seriously, the RIAA can go straight to hell.

Score: 0

By cousinkix1953

edited Oct 17, 2006 - 7:35 PM

RCA and SONY even provoided us with the means to record off of radio and TV. Let the RIAA/MPAA mafia clean up the corruption in their own house...

Score: 0

By billweh

posted Oct 17, 2006 - 2:14 PM

I think every person should boycott every recording label on the planet that the RIAA has under their dominion.

How many years have people been recording off of the radio onto cassettes?

These people are such greedy SOBs, if everyone refused to buy any of their crap for a whole month - and even better yet, turned off every radio as well - I bet the radio stations would be all over them because their advertising dollars would go down the drain.

Score: 0

By cousinkix1953

posted Oct 17, 2006 - 7:42 PM

"even better yet, turn off every radio as well - I bet the radio stations would be all over them because their advertising dollars would go down the drain."

at least we can turn on the SPORTs or TALK stastions which only play snippets of the RIAA's frigging music.

In fact, several AM stations have pulled the Air America syndicated programs in recent weeks. They were unable to sell any local advertising. No commercials. No programs... Boycotts do work...

Score: 0

By Cweb

edited Oct 17, 2006 - 4:13 PM

Everyone should boycott the music industry for the month of December. Let's see how they like not being able to sell anything during the holidays. Maybe that will show them.

At first they were just annoying, now they are getting Creative to cave in, it's time to stop them.

Score: 0

By cousinkix1953

posted Oct 17, 2006 - 7:43 PM

Merry X-Mas you RIAA @ssholes...

Score: 0

By callanish

posted Oct 17, 2006 - 6:22 PM

Why should anyone bother upgrading the firmware anyway. Other than screwing the consumer what major fixes does the new firmware bring to the table and why isn't this just an issue of ignore the firmware, continue the recording?

As for new products being introduced that have this feature removed; just vote with your pocket books. Don't buy the product!

Score: 0

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