Catastrophic battery life is still present ...

This is simply a disaster camera. Despite the latest firmware the battery is a 3-minute video recording empty. Quality assurance, it seems no longer give Canon. Too bad, because the camera would otherwise have the makings of a bestseller! But so ????

Addendum of 19/09/2013
Once I had to send back two more cameras of the same type with the same mistakes again, now realizing how the battery drama can be avoided. The now present my 3rd camera has no battery life problems!

How come?
The digit on the 6th place of the serial number (below the camera) gives information on whether there may be battery life problems.
If there appears a number greater than 2, it is a recent delivery. In these cameras no new firmware is necessary because already implemented. These cameras appear to have no more problems with the battery runtime. My test with a non-stop video recording I stopped after 20 minutes of continuous recording and the battery still was not empty. After 10 minutes, though came the warning "red flashing battery", but the recording was another 10 minutes until my stop and after 20 minutes ended the recording. This is an absolutely acceptable term for a long video.

Battery problems are apparently available for devices with a
2 or lower in the sixth position of the serial number [2 ***** ******], [***** ****** 1], [0 ***** **** **].
For these cameras, there is a new firmware for Canon. My two first cameras were affected and the firmware update brought no improvement!

How can I avoid getting an "old" first model with the said serial number?
My first two cameras I bought from Amazon because of the price under the "used". As a rule, it is redemption. Why these were returned, is now obvious (Battery Problems). The camera 3. I have a new camera (!) Bought on Amazon (the price was now almost equal).

Conclusion: The Amazon offered new cameras obviously come from recent supplies of Canon and have no battery problems more.

15/07/2014 Addendum after nearly 10 months of use:
The battery problem is now but just as present as it is described by many users. It is simply a baseless impertinence, the "Canon" it does not react with and arrogant nose will not solve the problem or can. So ... can not as a customer and I will never buy a Canon again.