Zen Vision:M firmware update disables FM recording

After heavily promoting its FM radio recording feature as an advantage over Apple's iPod line, Creative has been forced to disable the feature in its Zen Vision:M music players, according to owners. Members of Creative's official discussion forums report that a recent firmware update removes FM recording as an option, limiting the player's FM support to listening only and the recording to a microphone. The decision was made "due to licensing," says one user who contacted technical support, indicating that Creative has bowed to pressure from the music industry. The RIAA and other major music label organizations have regularly considered recording radio broadcasts as a copyright violation. Creative has since pulled the firmware update (version 1.50.02) but doesn't list FM recording as a feature on the Vision:M product page.