Well Creative are busy developing new firmware. (Apparently). Read all about it here.
You can read on page 26 how I’ve started a betting system where you can bet how many pages long the forum will be by the time they actually release the firmware.
As suggested by Butchie from here, if there is no winner by the end of this year, I will use a random number generator to determine a random winner, by linearly interpolating the random number between 0 and 1 to the time span between today and 31st December 2005.
Please place your bets below as a comment, so that we can keep this all in one area (and so we don’t get kicked out/banned from the creative forum as well!)
EDIT: I got home really late at night and read the second comment below. When I checked my email, I noticed there were a couple emails in my SPAM box which I’ve never checked – LUCKY I checked to read this!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!! Some guy, Ken, is offering a Creative Zen Touch as a prize to whoever wins this competition! As requested, I am posting his entire email here below. As requested, I will post a little teaser in the forums immediately!
ANOTHER EDIT: Well Ken is for real! He just sent another email with more details, including the serial number S2PF0990517005838L and where he bought it from, and where he lives, etc, etc, and when he gets back from a vacation that he’s just walking out the door for, he’ll send a photo of it! He’s given me his cell phone number to verify him, but I believe ya Ken! 
If anyone would like to contact him, feel free to email him: kbarnsda(at)myrealbox
YET ANOTHER EDIT: Ken has just emailed through a quick piccy he took with his Palm Pilot, below:
Click on the image above to go to the Creative page for this mp3 player.
Okay so ANOTHER EDIT: Please note everyone, I have updated the conditions of entry for this competition. You must be a registered user on the Creative forum, and have posted a message in the thread discussing the firmware, and also not entering this competition without actually knowing anything about this firmware. This is to avoid people getting their friends to enter it for them, etc, etc… I’m sure Ken should agree with this ruling update when he gets back from his Vacation. Also, I should mention that if the thread gets closed down, or something unexpected happens, Ken and I will work out an alternate way of deciding the winner.
—–
Hello Tom,
I want to have some fun.
There was a huge mixup on the forum. I wanted, as a sign of displeasure, to have them remove me from the forum…nothing more. As it was that night I made my last post, the moderator chap banned my fixed IP from the board. When I tried to login just to READ… I was not even allowed to enter the boards. Rude! 
Not to worry, I was back on in under 5 minutes, and created a new ID at a later date just because if sort of aggrivated me getting “Banned” from the board. I truly did not know what I did to get BANNED. That was what the banner said when I tried to login. I have never been banned from anything ever in my life.
Oh well…. their life as a corporation for MP3 is finished. I now will not knowingly buy anything Creative. I think the moderators, for whatever reason, get their panties/shorts in a wad. Don’t bully people. I MAINLY am speaking for their slapping of other posters if they disagree. Enough said.
Now for some fun.
I want Audible ready firmware. If this next release does not have audible ready firmware, I offer my brand new unit for donation to the winner of the contest. I bought it for that and only that reason. SO…I don’t nor will I ever listen to it for regular music ever again. I am not angry, but I choose not to and I can afford it.
I currently have my Zen Touch loaded half full of LEGAL old time western, mysteries etc off the internet. Most are 30 min. serial shows…HUNDREDS of them.
SO…to state it clearly.
1) Post this whole message… in my memory!
2) Winner pays postage. I will send UPS and postage should be around $10. I will email winner ups tracking number.
3) Unit is brand new and absolutely wonderful and half loaded with stuff. Never a problem.
4) Winner will be determinded by YOU and YOU only. That way there are no issues.
5) One and only one condition. The new software must not be Audible ready.
6) Just for fun, ….. EVEN if it IS audible ready, I will offer the unit for sale to the winner for $50.00.
I will even trust the winner to receive the unit before he/she sends me the money. Most people
are good and honest and I enjoy trusting folks….which is why Creative jacks my jaws so much.
ONLY DO THIS if you wish.
Lets have fun…Ken
PS.
I am getting ready to leave on vacation for 4 days. I leave in a couple hours.
I will not be able to respond to this till around Tues/Wed.
It is 8:20 MST now. I will check just before I leave.
—–
Hello,
One last thing.
If you think you can do it without getting nailed!!!! LOL
Post my offeron the creative board as a tickler to get them to go to your blog.
If not, no problem.
Offer still stands.
It will give me something fun to watch.
PLUS…if anyone gives you any issues, I will send to you to hold.
This should be fun and send a message to Creative.
They have done wrong and know it, IMHO, I feel.
Regards,
Ken
My only advice is to do it fast…before they fold that division.
I really am curious why they are behaving this way.
There really must be something we don’t know.
I worked for a company that went from 1-3 million the first 2 years.
I joined the company.
Sales continued to improve… 3-200 million during the next 5 years.
Cust support was told to give “lip service” unless sales were impacted
to the tune of >1.5 – 2 million.
This was a VERY customer support oriented compaly.
I left the company shortly after this. The founders left the company also.
4 years later they were going downhill. 2 more years later they were
belly up.
Customer support matters. Responses like are on the Creative forum would have resulted in immediate termination….. REALLY.
THe company would work with any problem of employees…drug abuse, incompentent accidents, etc. Rude customer support resulted in security showing up at your desk, your badge being electronically revoked, and you being escorted off the property…with 3 months severance pay.
It WAS a good company…till customer support went down the tubes.
Oh well….. I am starting to sound like “Butchie” LOL
Ken
Nice one Ken!!!
I wrote an email to Creative today:
I’ve been trying to phone the Australian Customer Support for a few days now, but I keep getting some sort of voice box that is “unavailable” or something.
Basically, I’m wanting to return my Zen Xtra for a full refund. There are a number of reasons for this.
1) The Creative website claims:
“And the NOMAD Jukebox Zen Xtra doubles up as an external hard drive for storing all your documents such as photos, documents and other data files.”
Reference: http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=213&subcategory=214&product=9288
This is the main reason I bought the player. It does not function as an external hard drive. An external hard drive, by definition, has a drive letter, as do all MSC (Mass Storage Class) devices. I cannot run my synchronisation software (Syncback) with this device as expected.
2) Also on that webpage, it claims that there is an ultrafast USB2.0/1.1 connector. Regardless of whether it is “ultrafast” or not, it runs really slow. I even purchased 3rd party software (Notmad) to see if this helped, but it didn’t.
3) The support forum about the new firmware that is supposed to be coming out, is totally out of control. Cat will not reply to my queries about what stage the firmware is at, and whether or not the firmware will even support MTP.
4) The whole broken promise about the release date of the firmware has dissappointed me.
5) I am upset that the device doesn’t actually support PFS like Creative/Microsoft have suggested, and that another product has been released since, which now supports it witha firmware update after the promise was made to release this firmware.
6) I am upset that I purchased the device on the secondary basis that 98dB SNR is so good, considering that I found out recently a CD is only recorded at 96dB SNR. (I might as well have bought a different brand that supports a drive letter).
7) I can’t believe how dodgy the earphones are that came with the Xtra. What is the point in having such a good device with such dodgy and uncomfortable earphones?
9) The battery life remaining indicator is very unhelpful, it would be better as a percentage remaining, so you actually know to a reasonable degree how much is left. You never seem to get any warning about when it is going to die.
10) The belt clip case that came with it is good – in fact it’s great, I love it, but it protects everything except the LCD screen!
11) Also, one final thing is this box is really irritating to write into.
I could easily come up with more suggestions if you like, just let me know.
I believe I am still within the 28 day period of a full return, as I only received the device via courier delivery more than a week after payment to the online store of purchase, and that I have previously tried to contact support about this full refund via phone.
Thanks for reading this far. Where do we go from here to arrange a full refund? Do I send the device directly to Creative, or do I send it back to the online store I purchased it from?
Regards,
Tom Bammann
Tom,
This is pathetic.
You have done your part.
Here is what I want to do.
I will send the unit to you.
You have total control.
It is my wish that you personally have the unit.
NO ONE ELSE seems to really want it.
PM me with your address again.
I am not familiar with Australia and I did not understand it.
Take a photo of the package when it arrives.
Reimuburse me for the postage. I will send USPS for around $20.
This is air mail but should take a couple weeks .
Take a photo of your new unit and post it.
I truly need closure.
Every time I look at the Creative boards and the replies
I get hot all over again.
I want to quit happy. I think you would be a good owner.
Sincerely,
Ken
Tom,
One of the original conditions :
4) Winner will be determinded by YOU and YOU only. That way there are no issues. ( I want to discuss this in a minute )
This means YOU can change the rules, game, contest etc.
I am stumped why there are no more takers.
You and I know this is a new, FREE, unit…not one of the SPAM type “free” units. The only glitch so far was customs when I tried to send to your continent!.
I would like to add a REQUEST for you TOm. You have put a lot of work into this. I am going to give you a challenge. Do your best to get 50 discrete entries. I trust your integrity. Make it easier for someone to win.
If you do not get 50 entries…. THE UNIT IS YOURS.
Your last post alone was worth it. That was great! I really laughed. The VITAE of the year award is yours!!
Please GO ahead and remove all the negative things I said above. I no longer am irritated at Creative, Jeremy, or Cat. I just don’t want any of their toys!
This is really hard to believe, I cannot give this away.
ONE CAVEAT… To send to Australia via UPS was $65 per pound. The touch itself weighs, with a box close to that. I checked today and could send Air Mail USPS and that would be $15 and take a couple weeks. I could only send the unit as the cost to send the power supply was more than the supply cost from Radio Shack.
However, if in the USA, I can ship for under $10.00 as the shipper here only charges me the actual cost to him.
BE CREATIVE…FIGURE OUT HOW TO GIVE THIS AWAY.
If you do, I may have a surprise for you Tom… Trust me !! LOL
Ken
Hello everyone,
I am back. I was originally kbarnsda on the Creative forum as well.
I just sent message to TOM offering to send the unit, case, and power supply to him to hold. I will send UPS tracking number and it can be posted if he wishes showing he received it.
I wish it were easier for all contest people to get a message to Tom so I am giving Tom full authority to change the rules as he wishes to make this easier for him.
My one goal is to have fun. My ideal wish would be for the unit to go to someone who really had the “business” done to them by this company.
Once again, this unit works perfectly and is really nice.
It has hundreds of hours of 30 minute/ 1hour old westerns, suspense, mystery shows on it. It has worked perfectly from day one.
Why do I want to give away? Have you ever dated a girl/guy that lied to you just one time too many? I’m through.
I have even changed my mind about the $50. I don’t want it. Just pay postage and it is yours. Make a donation to Red Cross for $50. for New Orleans. That would truly please me! Something good would come out of this. I give Tom permision to work out the details.
Cheers!
Like i said on the creative fourms,
They are never going to relase them becasue they want us to buy the new players that already support the drm10.
I say page 65
Please note everyone, I have updated the conditions of entry for this competition. You must be a registered user on the Creative forum, and have posted a message in the thread discussing the firmware, and also not entering this competition without actually knowing anything about this firmware. This is to avoid people getting their friends to enter it for them, etc, etc… I’m sure Ken should agree with this ruling update when he gets back from his Vacation. Also, I should mention that if the thread gets closed down, or something unexpected happens, Ken and I will work out an alternate way of deciding the winner.
Hi there everyone,
Nice idea, to keep us busy.
I bet on page 37, to be the hurrah page.
keep up the good spirit.
AtRi
One last post before I leave on vacation.
I want no money for this for myself
If any money should be generated…please donate to New Orleans releif fund.
Why am I doing this… Real simple.
I feel like I found out the the girl I love is sleeping with half the football team and she is promising never to do it again. This is good, but the love will never be the same, even if I forgive her.
My Touch will never be the same and I would rather let it find a new home.
I was upset with the perceived arrogance of the MP3 board and lack of response of the folks in product development/eng.
No bad feelings whatsoever….I just want to move on and this is good closure for me.
Flammobammo, I will put up a reward.
I will PM you with it to get your opinion.
EXCELLENT IDEA.
It would take some of the unnecessary “heat” out of the forum.
harikari has placed $10 on the mid 40′s, like 43-47 pages long by the time the FWs are released. Not including the thank-yous, about-freakin-times, and aw-crap-it-broke-my-player-a-year-out-of-warrantys.
AceK13 is betting on page 52.