Exactly. The files from Overdrive are in WMA format but with digital
rights management encryption.
At 05:00 PM 8/29/2005, you wrote:
From the limited material I have had a chance to read on this, I believe the files are encrypted rather like they are on book port. It's not the same encryption, but it serves the same ends. In some cases, when the due date of the book is reached, the files will no longer play. Neal
-----Original Message----- From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Sandy Licht Sent: Monday, August 29, 2005 4:29 PM To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [bookport] Re: Libraries Offering Audiobook Downloads
You could convert the WMA files, couldn't you?
At 01:21 PM 8/29/2005, you wrote: >Thanks, Neal. > >Our local library offers this service but I haven't yet tried it. > >My understanding is that Overdrive, the required software for this >audiobook service, is Windows Media Player based. Given that Bookport
>doesn't (yet) work with WMA files, I'm guessing Bookport users will not be >able to access audiobooks from this source. Can this be confirmed by >anyone knowledgeable about this? > >Also, our library offers ebook downloads in the Adobe Reader format. >Can >these be made accessible to Bookport? > >Below is information for our local library site, in case that may help. > >Digital books are the digital versions of print books, and include >downloadable audio books for listening and eBooks for on-screen reading. >Both digital audio books and eBooks can be used on a variety of devices >such as PCs, laptops, and supported PDAs. This site offers digital audio >books in the OverDrive Media Console(tm) format, and eBooks in the AdobeR >ReaderR format > >To use OverDrive Media Console, you will need to have Windows Media >Player >(9 Series or newer). OverDrive Media Console takes advantage of Windows >Media Player support for burning audio books to CD and transferring files >to supported portable devices. ><http://www.playsforsure.com/FindPortableDevices.aspx>To review a complete >and current list of supported portable devices, click here. > > ><http://www.overdrive.com/partners/redirects.asp?product=adobereader> Fo >r >the latest information on Adobe Reader, click here to visit the Adobe
>Reader product page at Adobe.com. > >Thanks for any help. > > >---------- >From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] >On Behalf Of Neal Ewers >Sent: Monday, August 29, 2005 10:27 AM >To: Bookport >Subject: [bookport] Libraries Offering Audiobook Downloads > > >Libraries Offering Audiobook Downloads > >Associated Press > >Aug 25, 2005 2:35 PM (ET) > >By MICHAEL HILL > ><http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050825/D8C70V582.html>http://apnew s. >myway.com//article/20050825/D8C70V582.html > > > >GUILDERLAND, N.Y. (AP) - A new way to borrow audiobooks from the >library > >involves no CDs, no car trips, no fines and no risk of being shushed. > >Rather, public libraries from New York City to Alameda, Calif., are >letting > >patrons download Tom Clancy techno-thrillers, Arabic tutorials and >other > >titles to which they can listen on their computers or portable music > >players - all without leaving home. > >Librarians say such offerings help libraries stay relevant in the >digital age. > >Barbara Nichols Randall, director of the Guilderland Public Library in > >suburban Albany, said the library considered the needs of younger >readers > >and those too busy to visit. > >"This is a way for us to have library access 24/7," she said. > >(AP) Visitors to the audiobook section of the Guilderland Public >Library in > >Guilderland, N.Y., on... > >Full Image > >There's still one big hitch, though: The leading library services offer > >Windows-friendly audiobook files that can't be played on Apple Computer > >Inc. (AAPL)'s massively popular iPod player. > >Vendors such as OverDrive Inc. and OCLC Online Computer Library Center > >Inc.'s NetLibrary have licensing deals with publishers and provide >digital > >books using Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)'s Windows Media Audio format, which > >includes copyright protections designed to help audiobooks stand apart >from > >the often lawless world of song swapping. > >A patron with a valid library card visits a library Web site to borrow >a > >title for, say, three weeks. When the audiobook is due, the patron must > >renew it or find it automatically "returned" in a virtual sense: The >file > >still sits on the patron's computer, but encryption makes it unplayable > >beyond the borrowing period. > >"The patron doesn't have to do anything after the lending period," said > >Steve Potash, chief executive of OverDrive. "The file expires. It >checks > >itself back into the collection. There's no parts to lose. It's never > >damaged. It can never be late." > >Potash said about 1,000 libraries have signed up for OverDrive's >audiobook > >service since its debut late last year. NetLibrary, teaming up with > >Recorded Books, launched a similar service in January and counts 200 > >library customers. > >Libraries offering audiobook downloads range from large institutions in >New > >York and Los Angeles to smaller ones for Cleveland, Ohio, Maricopa >County, > >Ariz., North Little Rock, Ark. and Omaha, Neb. The Hawaii State Public > >Library System signed up earlier this month. > >Guilderland pays NetLibrary about $6,000 a year for more than 850 >titles. > >Randall considers that a good deal, noting that a single audiobook can >cost > >the library up to $80 when bought on CD. > >Under the NetLibrary program, Guilderland gets a set number of >downloads > >for all titles each year, and a single title can be borrowed by >multiple > >patrons simultaneously as long as the cap hasn't been reached. >Downloads > >over the cap cost extra. Patrons must provide their own audio players, > >although they may listen on their home computers if they do not have >one. > >Other libraries make different arrangements. OverDrive, for example, > >generally takes a more traditional approach. When a copy is checked >out, no > >other patron may download it until the borrowing period ends. > >It's still unclear what impact such services will have on audiobook > >download sales from companies such as Audible Inc. (ADBL), although one > >analyst suggested it could inspire more sales as patrons buy for keeps >a > >title they had borrowed. > >"It's certainly smart for the publishers to do this," said Phil Leigh, >a > >senior analyst with Inside Digital Media. > >Digital downloads are a part of a natural progression for libraries, >which > >have evolved from lending books to cassettes and videotapes to CDs and > >DVDs. OverDrive recently launched a video download service for >libraries. > >Librarians say they had little interest in audiobook downloads just a
>few > >years ago, but they have since noticed what everyone else has: the >ubiquity > >of people sporting earbuds on streets, buses and malls. > >Nearly 28 million portable audio players were sold last year, according >to > >In-Stat, a technology research company. With more than 21 million sold, >the > >iPod remains the signature portable player. But it uses the Advanced >Audio > >Coding format with FairPlay, its own digital rights management system
>and > >one incompatible with Windows' technology. > >Just as the lack of a standard digital audio format has fragmented the > >music download market, it affects audiobooks. > >Users of iPods can still listen to books purchased through sources such >as > >audible.com or Apple's own iTunes Music Store, but the library >services, > >for now, are geared toward computers and devices that support Windows
>Media > >Audio files. OverDrive files can be burned to CDs and converted to iPod > >friendly formats, but NetLibrary's cannot. > >Marge Gammon of NetLibrary said that despite iPod's cache, the company > >wanted a product that could be played on a range of devices. >OverDrive's > >Potash notes there's a growing market of portable audio players, some > >priced lower then $50 (Regular iPod models start at $299, though the >Minis > >start at $199 and Shuffles at $99). > >Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris said the company has no plans to >change > >its copy-protection formats and would not comment on the >incompatibility >issue. > >Librarians say they have heard complaints from iPod users, but there's > >little they can do beyond waiting for the industry to sort out its >differences. > >One California library shunned the download services completely, >largely > >because of iPod's popularity. Instead, Newport Beach Public Library >bought > >15 iPod Shuffles and loaded them up with audiobooks from iTunes to loan > >out. Patrons are liable for any loss or damage, though librarian >Genesis > >Hansen said there's been no problems so far. > >--- > >On the Net: > >OverDrive's library service: <http://dlrinc.com/>http://dlrinc.com > >NetLibrary: <http://netlibrary.com/>http://netlibrary.com > > >Neal Ewers >Trace Research and Development Center >608-263-5485 >ewers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ><http://www.trace.wisc.edu/>http://www.trace.wisc.edu >
Sandy Licht Phone: 409-898-8218 Jeremiah 29:11 - 14A 11For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. 14I will be found by you," says the LORD...
