Archive for the ‘Audiobooks’ Category
Audiobooks come to a cloud near you no comments
Audiobooks.com announced today the launch of a cloud-based audiobook subscription service. For $24.95 per month you get unlimited access to over 10,000 audiobooks that can be listened to on any PC, iOS or Android device that is connected to the Internet. Support for Blackberry and Windows Mobile is said to be on the way.
I subscribe to Audible.com, which offers over 100,000 titles and costs $14.95 per month for one credit (most of the audiobooks cost one credit). With Audible you own the audiobooks you purchase with your credits (you can also purchase additional titles and Audible has frequent sales). Your library at Audible will remain accessible to you even if you cancel your membership. Audible’s titles are downloaded to an authorized device and can be played on that device anywhere, anytime.
For me Audible works best as I listen to audiobooks while I’m driving, but if one listens from a device that always has an Internet connection and especially if one goes through multiple audiobooks per month, Audiobooks.com’s cloud-based service might be worth looking at.
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Library audiobooks will work on the Kindle too no comments
Besides ebooks, OverDrive also supplies audiobooks, video and music to public libraries. Several ereaders that have audio capabilities are listed by OverDrive as being compatible with audiobooks borrowed from the library, including the original Nook, Nook Color and several of the Sony ereaders. When Amazon announced a couple of weeks ago that Kindle ereaders could now check out ebooks from the library no mention was made of audiobooks, although audiobooks from Audible.com will work fine on the Kindle ereaders — except for the $79 Kindle 4, which does not do audio.
Just to see if it would work, I tried sideloading an audiobook I checked out from the library to my Kindle using OverDrive Media Console (there should be a link at your library to get Media Console, or you can download it from OverDrive.com). It did work — after a bit of hassle. Media Console recognized my Kindle and downloaded the files (MP3 format) of the audiobook onto the ereader with no problems.
Media Console just dropped the audiobook files into the root directory of my Kindle 3, so I had to manually move them to the ereader’s Music folder before disconnecting the USB. The Kindle’s experimental music player only plays files that it finds in this folder. If you have not used the music player on your Kindle, you get to it in the Experimental folder found in the Menu on the Kindle’s home page.
The audiobook plays, although listening to it is hampered by the limitations of the Kindle’s music player. The player only plays files in the order they were loaded onto the Kindle. The only controls available are Play, Pause and Skip to the next file.
Typically library audiobooks are broken up into several MP3 files, each one usually corresponding to a physical CD. When I first tried to play the audiobook I had just loaded onto my Kindle it started on the last file, as that was the last file loaded onto the Kindle by Media Console and thus is played first by the Kindle music player.
To fix this you will need to remove the audiobook files from your Kindle and drop them onto your desktop or somewhere you won’t loose track of them. Then, starting with the last file of the audiobook and counting down sequentially to the first file (they are numbered), load each file back into your Kindle’s Music folder in reverse order. The first file should be the last one onto the ereader, proceeded by the second file, and so on. The files should now play in their correct order.
It would be simpler to just copy the files directly from the folder in which Media Console stores them on your computer, but when I tried this the audiobook
would not play from the beginning, no matter in what order I loaded it onto the Kindle. Probably a DRM thing. Moving the files directly from the root folder of the Kindle where Media Console dropped them to the Music folder does not work either.
The Kindle ereader is not the ideal device to listen to audiobooks checked out from the library, but it can be done. Keep in mind that if you get distracted while listening the Kindle music player won’t let you rewind and listen again. Amazon has made listening to audiobooks from Audible much easier, which is understandable since Amazon owns Audible. Audiobooks from Audible.com show up in your Kindle library and have a nice player with a full set of controls. Maybe someday we’ll get there with library audiobooks as well.
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OverDrive to Support Android, Release Integrated Application no comments
In a press announcement today OverDrive says that support for Android based devices is finally coming. Once this is in place you will be able to read ebooks with Adobe DRM and borrow library ebooks to read on your Android device. The Android app is the first of a series of new apps that will integrate ebooks, audiobooks, and interactive and multimedia into one application.
From the press release:
OverDrive (www.overdrive.com), a leading distributor of eBooks, audiobooks, and digital content for libraries, schools, and retailers, announced that it will release a series of apps that will combine eBooks, audiobooks, and interactive and multimedia content into one user-friendly application. The apps will be available for both mobile and desktop operating systems, including Windows®, Mac®, iPhone®, iPad®, Android™, Windows Mobile®, and BlackBerry®. Millions of end users will benefit from a single software solution for all OverDrive-supplied content, as well as on-the-go access to eBooks from OverDrive-powered library and retail catalogs.
"The significant investments that libraries and retailers are making in premium eBook collections will have even greater value when users can access titles on their mobile devices," said David Burleigh, director of marketing for OverDrive. "Existing eBook collections, as well as upcoming interactive and multimedia content in a variety of genres, will be compatible with apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, and other mobile operating systems."
Android devices will be the first to experience OverDrive’s app with integrated eBook reading features. The app will enable wireless downloads of premium, copy-protected eBooks, as well as enhanced accessibility and usability features such as text-to-speech. This and other mobile apps are being developed under a license agreement with Adobe® and using the Adobe Reader Mobile 9 SDK. All OverDrive apps will support EPUB, PDF, and eBook content protection functionality, including library lending and expiration.
Amazon announced an upcoming Kindle app for Android a few days ago, and today the Financial Times is reporting that in the first quarter of 2010 Android based smartphones outsold those based on Microsoft Windows Mobile for the first time ever.
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OverDrive Releases Audiobook App for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch no comments
OverDrive announced the release today of of their free audiobook app which will let you borrow titles from public libraries and listen to them on an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. From the press release:
OverDrive (www.overdrive.com), the leading global distributor of audiobooks and eBooks to libraries and retailers, today announced the availability of OverDrive’s free audiobook application for iPhone®, iPadTM, and iPod touch®. With OverDrive® Media ConsoleTM for iPhone, users can now wirelessly download MP3 audiobooks from OverDrive-powered library and retail websites to their Apple® device. Audiobooks for over-the-air download are available from more than 10,000 libraries worldwide, as well as major retailers such as BarnesAndNoble.com, BooksOnBoard.com, Borders.com, and WHSmith.co.uk.
- The free audiobook app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch can be accessed in iTunes® and on the Apple App Store (http://bit.ly/OverDriveiPhone).
- To find libraries and retailers that offer MP3 audiobook downloads, visit http://search.overdrive.com.
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OverDrive Audiobook App Available for Android 3 comments
Overdrive has released its audiobook app for Android. Owners of Android based devices can use this new app to borrow or purchase audiobooks from their local libraries and other sources. Audiobooks borrowed from public libraries will automatically expire and are removed from the device when the loan period is over.
OverDrive Audiobook App Now Available in Android™ Market
Android app enables wireless audiobook downloads from libraries and booksellers
(Cleveland, OH) – February 11, 2010 – OverDrive (www.overdrive.com), the leading global distributor of audiobooks and eBooks to libraries and retailers, announced that its audiobook app for AndroidTM is now out of beta and available as a full release. OverDrive’s audiobook app for Android enables users to wirelessly download MP3 audiobooks from more than 10,000 libraries and major online retailers, including Barnesandnoble.com, BooksOnBoard.com, and Borders.com. Major devices, including DROIDTM by Motorola®, DROID ErisTM, and Nexus OneTM, can now be used to access OverDrive-supplied MP3 audiobooks on the go. To install OverDrive® Media ConsoleTM for Android v1.0, visit the Android Market on your device or download directly from http://overdrive.com/software/omc.
Android users can visit http://search.overdrive.com on their devices to find libraries that offer MP3 audiobook downloads. With the zip code search, users can find a local library’s mobile-optimized download website. Using the ‘Advanced Search’ feature, they can browse for audiobooks in the MP3 format. Users will then be able to check out an available title with their library card and download directly to their Android device with OverDrive’s audiobook app.
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Books on Your GPS no comments
Okay, so this is a bit off topic. But maybe not so much; you can’t, or at least you shouldn’t be using your ereader while you are driving.
I have to spend a lot of time in my car, and for years I’ve been listening to unabridged audiobooks while driving between appointments. Recently I needed to get a new GPS and while doing my research I found a number of these that are Audible Ready. This means that the device is compatible with Audible.com’s DRM format. If you are a subscriber of Audible.com you can transfer their downloaded audiobooks from your computer to the GPS unit which will then transmit them over your vehicle’s FM radio. This is pretty cool – listen to a good book while not getting lost.
I find downloading audiobooks much better than swapping out CD’s while driving, though it is not perfect. On my device at least, it is not so easy to rewind if you missed something; you must go back to the beginning of the current chapter. But on the whole I prefer handling the audiobooks as a file rather than with CD’s.
Audible.com (which is owned by Amazon) maintains an on-line, in the cloud library of your purchased audiobooks, and they say that even if you cancel your membership you can still access your library and re-download your audiobooks. You can also keep backup copies on your computer.
There are a number of Audible Ready GPS systems for you to choose from; I will just list a few below:
A lot of the Garmin navigators seem to require you to buy an optional FM receiver, but the two listed above include one.
Of course, you can also use a lot of other devices to listen to Audible.com’s books. Kindles are compatible, as are iPods and many other MP3 players (unfortunately my Archos is not ). You can find a list of compatible devices at Audible.com. If you want your device to transmit over your FM radio you will need an FM transmitter
Besides Audible.com where else can you download audiobooks? I’ve only found a couple of other subscription services for audiobook downloads. These require a monthly subscription payment in exchange for one or two credits per month. Most audiobooks cost one credit.
Audiobook Subscription Services:
- Emusic.com: Emusic.com was one of the pioneers of DRM-free music, and they are doing the same with audiobooks. The audiobooks you download from Emusic are in MP3 format and should work in any device that plays audio files. Subscription rates are $9.99 per month for 1 credit and $19.99 for 2 credits per month.
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Simplyaudiobooks.ca: Has 10,000 downloadable audiobooks as well as an audiobooks on cd rental service. Pricing is $14.95 per month for 1 credit, and $24.95 for 2 credits.
Free Audiobook Downloads:
- Check out your local library. If it is part of the Overdrive system, they should have some audiobooks available from Overdrive. You will need to have a compatible device – your library should have a list or you can find out at Overdrive’s site. While many libraries don’t have very many ebooks to check out yet, you should find a better selection of audiobooks. The Los Angeles County library system for example has about 2,000 audiobooks. This compares to only 350 ebooks – which is up from about 230 the last time I checked by the way.
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LibriVox.org: Public domain titles read by volunteers.
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AudioBooksForFree.com: Public domain titles as well as some indie authors.
Though this post is about downloading audiobooks, I’ll also list a few providers of audiobooks on CD.
Audiobooks on CD Subscription and Rental Services:
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Audiotogo.com: Netflix style subscription. $16.99 for one title or $24.99 for two titles out at a time.
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Recorded Books.com: Rental audiobooks on a per book basis.
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Booksfree.com: Netflix style subscription. $22.49 per month for one title or $27.49 for 2 titles at a time.
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Audiobookworm.com: Netflix style subscription. $17.95 per month for one title and $27.95 for two titles per month.
Again, check out your local library. Mine has many titles available as audiobooks on CD (or cassette for older titles) which I can browse and place holds on online. The system sends an email to notify me when my audiobook is ready for pickup at my local branch.
£149.00
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