New Sound Blaster EVO Zx Firmware (version 130618)

Creative released a new firmware for the Sound Blaster EVO Zx today, a product which it started shipping about 2 weeks ago. Here are some of the fixes the firmware will bring about to your EVO Zx:

• Improved Bluetooth connectivity for NFC pairing
• Fixed an intermittent issue where headset hanged while power up
• Fixed LED and reboot issues when performing a factory reset

This firmware update is only for the PC. You may download it here. 

ZEN X-Fi2 Firmware 1.10.04 - now with Colored Icons, Auto photo rotation & Sudoku Game!

[Download firmware 1.10.04]

Creative ZEN Mozaic EZ Series Firmware

This download contains an improved version of the firmware found on your Creative ZEN® Mozaic EZ player. It ensures smooth music playback when your player is locked. For more details, read the rest of this Web release note.

Fixes:
Ensures smooth music playback when your player is locked.
Improves the language support for certain non-English characters.

[DOWNLOAD]

Creative learns from Vista, releases new Sound Blaster drivers for Windows 7

When Windows Vista was introduced, Microsoft has decided to remove the Hardware Abstraction Layer for DirectSound and DirectSound3D which rendered most of the functions of Creative's sound cards useless. Many of the sound cards at that time wasn't fully compatible with Vista and Creative was criticised for its slowness in creating a fix for Vista. This time round, Creative seem to have learnt it lesson well. When the beta version of Windows 7 was out, Creative also had its set of beta Sound Blaster drivers (although not immediately). Today, it releases a whole new beta set of drivers for the Creative Sound Blaster®, Audigy® and X-Fi® sound cards. Currently, the Creative ZEN series of MP3 players, Vado Pocket Video Cams and Live! webcams are already supported by Windows 7. Drivers for the older Creative products are expected at a later date. Creative has even created a unique URL for everything Windows 7 (http://support.creative.com/Windows7/). If you are still running on the beta version of Windows 7, do give these drivers a try and share with us your experience.

[PRESS RELEASE]

[WINDOWS 7 SUPPORT]

Creative Vado HD Firmware v1220

Fixes:

• Rectifies jerky video playback for videos recorded while transitioning from totally dark to very bright lighting conditions.
• Changes in USB connectivity and battery charging icon indicators.

[DOWNLOAD HERE]

Creative ALchemy 1.25.10

Creative ALchemy
Creative ALchemy restores 3D audio and EAX® effects for certain DirectSound®3D games in Windows Vista. With Creative ALchemy, you can:
-enable the DirectSound3D game audio to be processed by your Sound Blaster audio device to deliver EAX effects, 3D audio spatialization, sample rate conversion and hardware audio mixing. Without this, most DirectSound3D games will be reduced to stereo output without any EAX effects.
-improve 3D audio processing for host-based Sound Blaster audio devices.

[DOWNLOAD Creative ALchemy 1.25.10]

Creative Console Launcher 2.61.09

This download supports the following devices only:
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty® Champion Series
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Professional Audio
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium
Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series
Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series
Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic
Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer
Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum
Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty
Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro
Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1
Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Karaoke
Sound Blaster X-Fi

Added Features or Enhancements:
Added Microphone Reverb effect.
Added controls for Silencer settings (for certain audio devices only).
Improved controls for Wireless Music settings (for certain audio devices only).

Fixes:Resolves the following issues:
-Display for X-Fi CMSS-3D settings is not synchronized.
-Display for mixer settings is not synchronized.
-Custom EQ option does not appear when adjusting EQ values.
-Text is truncated in certain menus.
-Error message does not appear when hot-plugging a 'Plug and Play' device.
-Error in VoiceFX presets selection.
-Unable to restore default volume settings.
-Unable to select the external decoder option automatically while Dolby Digital Live or DTS -Connect is enabled in the encoder settings.
-Noise can be heard when enabling 'Use Built-in Decoder' and 'Dolby Digital Live' or 'DTS Connect'.

[DOWNLOAD Creative Console Launcher 2.61.09]

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Driver 2.17.0006

This download supports the following audio devices only:
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty® Champion Series
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Professional Audio
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium

Added Features or Enhancements:
Enables the 'What U Hear' recording device for Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium in Windows Vista.

Fixes:
Resolves the following issues:
-Unable to launch Audio Control Panel after installing drivers on a system using Windows XP Service Pack 3.
-X-Fi Crystalizer resets to the default value after restarting system.
-X-Fi Crystalizer resets to the default value in all modes instead of the current selected mode only after pressing the default button.
-No sound output occasionally while Dolby® Digital Live is enabled.
-BSOD when disabling audio drivers on certain systems.
-Game Mode LED on X-Fi I/O Drive does not light up when Game Mode was the current selected mode after system has awakened from hibernation.

[DOWNLOAD Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Driver 2.17.0006]

Creative Gaming Headset Driver 01.01.0003

This download supports the following devices only:
Creative Digital Wireless Gaming Headset HS-1200
Creative Fatal1ty® USB Gaming Headset HS-1000
Creative USB Gaming Headset HS-950

Fixes:
Resolves microphone related issues when using the above USB headsets with certain voice communication applications and games under Windows Vista® and Windows® XP. These include:

-Low microphone volume level when used in voice communications applications
-Audio distortion when microphone monitoring and X-Fi™ CMSS®-3D are enabled.
-Restoring microphone default volume level.
-Relative difference in volume level when USB Headset is plugged into different USB ports.
-Installation issues that include Creative drivers not being installed when the USB Headset is plugged into another USB port, other than the port used during installation.

[DOWNLOAD]

New Firmwares

Creative Vado HD Pocket Video Cam Firmware v1180
-Improves user experience when videos from your Vado HD are viewed on your television.
[DOWNLOAD]

Creative ZEN Firmware 1.21.03
-Ensures smooth operation of your player's FM Radio.
[DOWNLOAD]

Creative ZEN Mozaic Firmware 1.06.01
-Improves the battery charging process.
-Enhances the playback pattern for the shuffle playmode.
[DOWNLOAD]

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi series Driver 2.18.0008

This download supports the following audio devices only:
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty® Professional Series
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi

Added Features:
For systems using Windows Vista
-Dolby® Digital and DTS® decode re-established for sound cards that included decoding in their Windows XP drivers (Not applicable for products that included a 3rd party software DVD player license in the package).
-DVD-Audio playback re-established for sound cards that included the application in their Windows XP software suite (For Windows Vista 32-bit only).Requires the latest Creative MediaSource DVD-Audio Player software. Click here to download.

Fixes:
-Resolves issue of audio popping when playing AC-3 Wave files or using Dolby Digital Live via the digital output on Windows Vista.
-Resolves Audio Control Panel issue of incorrect X-Fi CMSS®-3D behavior while using Audio Creation Mode.

[DOWNLOAD]

Creative ZEN Stone Plus series Firmware

>ZEN Stone Plus (w built-in Speaker) Firmware 1.03.02
-Increases the fast forward or fast rewind speed of an audio track when you press and hold the respective button.
[DOWNLOAD]

>ZEN Stone Plus Firmware 1.03.01

-Improves the performance of channel scanning for FM Radio.
-Improves battery charging when Creative Media Lite is used.
-Improves the readability of messages in Portuguese.
-Adds the option to enable or disable the player's date and time.
-Displays the player battery level correctly in Creative Media Lite.
-Ensures smooth playback when large number of tracks is played.
-Ensures Idle Shutdown do not turn off when the Radio is in use.

[DOWNLOAD]

Creative ZEN X-Fi Firmware 1.03.01

The new firmware manages your player's audio enhancements to give you the optimum X-Fi listening experience. Apparently, the new firmware makes the X-Fi effect less dramatic.

**DO NOT INSTALL THIS FIRMWARE IF YOU LIKE YOUR CURRENT X-FI SETTINGS**

[Download]

Creative Vado Central v1.01.06

The new firmware adds a direct upload service to box.net via the Creative Vado Central. It also helps the Vado to reduce flicker and control exposure.

The Creative Vado is now available in Japan. We also have an upcoming review of the Vado, do look out for it. :)
[Download]

Creative ZEN X-Fi Firmware 1.02.01

Creative released a second ZEN X-Fi firmware in one week. The new firmware promises to improve the X-Fi audio performances on the player and provide full language support for all the different menu languages available on the player.

[Download]

Creative ZEN X-Fi Firmware 1.01.02

Added features and Enhancements:
-Now provides full language support for all the different menu languages available on your player.

Fixes:
-Improves your player’s response in case you enter an incorrect login name or password while importing your Microsoft Live Messenger contacts.

[Download]