Creative Disables FM Recording In Zen

Read the fine print alert. If you don't read the fine print on the latest firmware update for your Creative Zen music player you may be surprised that you are losing features rather than enhancing or fixing them. The Zen plays music files, has an FM tuner and a record feature. You can even record from the radio. But apparently this was too much for the music industry who have hated the word record since LP's were replaced by CD's. I admit I know a little about downloading free music files but I have never come across an uploaded song recorded from the radio. That was something straight from the tape days of the eighties. The radio recording feature seems like personal use to me and no assurance that an illegal activity is being committed. It reminds me of the VCR recording arguments of old. This is why people detest the RIAA and DRM. It doesn't hinder pirates. It annoys legitimate users and if I was a Zen user and had this feature disabled, I would be on the phone with Creative. If you do call just remember to tell them you own the copyright to your speech and they aren't allowed to record the call.

Creative Disables FM Recording In Zen
By: Aalaap Ghag

The latest firmware update for the Zen Vision:M sneaks in a “feature update” that’s sure to tick off most of its users who decided upon buying the device due to its FM tuning and recording capability. The update disables recording, so even though you can listen to FM radio on your Zen Vision:M, you can’t record it anymore.

The removal of the FM recording feature is a result of potential violation of copyright. Queries to tech support were replied to by saying that the “FM recording feature is removed due to licensing issues.”

Is this the first domino to fall in a series that could probably wipe out the existence of big name products that record media such as DVD recorders, hard disk drive-based PVRs, and even cassette recorders, if anyone still buys those?