[vicsireland] Re: Audio books from South Dublin Libraries

MessageHi Tim
The e-mail address you gave for Siobhan doesn't seem to be working.  is 
sbirmingham@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx correct?



Thanks
Joan Ann.
From: Tim Culhane 
  To: vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 11:48 AM
  Subject: [vicsireland] Re: Audio books from South Dublin Libraries


  Hi,

  You  can contact Siobhán Birmingham  in sout dublin Libraries  and  she'll 
sort out a library number for you. 


  her  email address is:



  sbirmingham@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx



  As robbie  says,  these books  won't work  with Rockbox,   since rockbox  
does not supportWMA files, and also  will not play books   using DRM (digital 
rights management) software.   It is DRM which  prevents you copying the audio 
files and playing them on any device you like.



  One possible way around this is to use the original firmware with your player 
 when listening to the audio books  you get  from south Dublin library,  but 
you'll have to do it  without the help  of rockbox.



  Personally  for me,  this seems like a bit too much hassle.



  Tim



    -----Original Message-----
    From: vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Sandberg, Robert
    Sent: 04 December 2007 11:40
    To: vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
    Subject: [vicsireland] Audio books from South Dublin Libraries


    Hi folks!
    I've downloaded several books from the South Dublin Libraries website since 
it was introduced at the VICS Open Day. They have a good assortment of audio 
books and, importantly, many new releases.
    The process of downloading books is quite simple, once the OverDrive Media 
Console has been downloaded and installed. This software is necessary to manage 
the downloaded books. It looks a bit like the Windows explorer. In the tree 
view you can select a title for instance and when you tab down to the list view 
you will find the actual audio files.
    The software uses Windows Media player to play the files and it requires 
you to install a security update for the media player, without which you won't 
be able to play them. This is done automatically after the OverDrive Media 
Console is installed. You just need to confirm that you want this to happen.
    It's possible to play the files in Winamp, but only on the same computer, 
due to the copy right protection. And here we come to a wee crux. You can't 
copy the audio files to another device using the Windows Explorer. That is, you 
can, but they won't play. You need to do it in the OverDrive Media Console 
using ctrl.t for Transfer. The software then searches for portable media 
players plugged into the computer. Only it doesn't recognise Rockbox as a media 
player. I reckon this is because Rockbox replaces the original firmwhere and 
consequently the device is not identified as a portable media player by the 
OverDrive Media Console. For Rockbox users this means you can't listen on the 
move. 
    Apart from this little set-back I'm quite happy with the program and the 
download process. The OverDrive Media Console is accessible and has easy to 
remember key strokes for play and pause, transfer and burn ETC. Once it is 
installed you just click on "Listen, Read, Digital Books" and use the 
categories on the website to locate a book you want and click on "Add to my 
basket". You can then either click on "proceed to check-out" or on "Continue 
browsing". If you proceed to check-out the books are listed in individual 
tables with a button for download underneath each book. When clicking on 
"Download" you first need to confirm the target folder. Then the OverDrive 
Media Console opens and you need to select which parts of the book you want to 
download. The parts are simply the individual audio files. You can tab down to 
the "Check All" button and press enter, then tab further to OK. 
    Note that if you have checked out a book, it appears in the "My Loans" 
section and the 3 weeks count-down begins, even if you haven't yet downloaded 
it.
    You can find detailed installation instructions for the OverDrive Media 
Console at the following URL.
    www.overdrive.com/software/omc/download.asp
    The URL for the library website is:
    www.SouthDublinLibraries.ie
    For those of you from the outer regions who weren't at the Open Day, you 
don't have to be from Dublin to join. You just need to obtain a library 
membership number and a PIN. The trouble is I couldn't find an email address 
for either of the 2 ladies who attended the Open Day. Can the committee help 
there?
    Cheers,
    Robbie Sandberg

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