FLASH! at last I have the empirical answer. I think I have solved the problem. The problem is bitrate. The Zip works off very high quality bitrate. If a file is anything less than a set rate it will protest by blips and skips. To “Splat”, if you have downloaded material for podcast, it may be of inferior quality and that is the reason its failing.
But most of all, To Sandisk! 
Please, I beg on my four knees make update for a new firmware which can solve the problem to what is a superbly designed and well executed budget player called ZIP! The size is great ands the artwork feature is the best around and I would gladly buy another and recommend to others BUT, not the way it is at the moment. Please, please, please solve this bitrate problem. It would make a good priced player perfect in its final evolution and a winner
I here wait in prayer and hope 
