Hi, I read recently that if you're using the Windows version of Overdrive Media console, you can now transfer some protected WMA books to an iPod or a third generation iPod Shuffle if the iPod is set to manually manage music. I guess Overdrive Media Console converts the books to protected AAC. Ironic that this works only with the Windows version, but I guess that's the version that can handle protected WMA.
Best, Anna On Jul 22, 2009, at 4:44 PM, Esther wrote: > > Hi Jenny, > > Jenny Kennedy (Howard) wrote: > >> >> Hi guys, >> I was listening to a podcast episode of the assistive technology show >> and the thing being talked about were audiobooks and where to find >> them. >> I have access to audible and NLS not bookshare though. I have known >> about overdrive audiobooks for two years but haven't listened to any >> sense getting my Mac because at that time they weren't playable. >> >> Well on the podcast it was said that overdrive offers Mp3 audiobooks >> and some of these are useable with the mac. > > You can read the list archives for November 2008 for some discussion > of using OverDrive on the Mac to read downloadable audiobooks from > your public library. I'll post a link to that discussion at the end of > my message, but here are some general notes on what I've found to be > the easiest way to navigate and find books at most sites. You may find > it easier to use DOM mode for navigating the OverDrive pages. > > • You can check whether your library offers OverDrive from the > OverDrive media locator search page: > http://search.overdrive.com/ > Use item chooser menu and look for "Search libraries". In the U.S. > and Canada it is easiest to search by zip code. You can also search > libraries by name and then VO-Space on the links for country and then > by state or other region. I think UK participation with OverDrive is > restricted to downloadable ebooks, which are DRM-locked and not > accessible, but places like Australia and New Zealand might carry > audiobooks. > > • Download the software from: > http://overdrive.com/software/omc > at the link for "Download OverDrive Media Console" > • At your library page use the links chooser menu to navigate to the > "Advanced Search" menu for digital media. You can run searches from > that page. Set the popup button for format to "OverDrive MP3 > Audiobook" > I set the results per page popup button to the maximum of "25" to > minimize the number of pages I need to check. > You can check the box to "Only show titles with copies available" to > display titles currently available for checkout. > > After you run the search, you can use item chooser menu to navigate to > "Search results:" > > Make sure you select the MP3 version of an available title before you > add to cart. You can VO-right to hear the options for playing, > burning, etc. > > • When you try to check out, you'll be prompted to enter your library > card number. You can also select the "My Account" link on the > results page to log in. Books that you've checked out show up in "My > Bookshelf". Books that you've requested that are not yet available > show up in "My Holds". On the "My Bookshelf" page there is a > "Download" button for each digital book you've checked out. Pressing > (VO-space) this button will download your temporary subscription > license for the book as a file with the title name and a ".odm" > extension (shows up as an OverDrive Media document when you QuickLook > it). Double-click this file to launch the OverDrive Media Console. > You can run this, and the player (OverDrive Media Explorer) with > shortcut keys: Command-P to play, Command-T to transfer to iPod, > Command-B to burn to CD (if this is allowed); and similarly there are > shortcut keys for navigation, playback speed and bookmarking in the > Explorer playing window (listed on the menu bar). > > You might want to set up preferences (Command-P) so that playback > always resumes at the farthest played position, instead of at the > beginning of the book. > > • You can transfer the OverDrive mp3 audiobook tracks to your iPod and > play them; if they are transferred an iPod with speech enabled, like > the Nano 4G, they will be announced. > • I've heard that you can play the DRM-protected WMA audiobooks if you > run their Windows software on a Virtual Machine. (These will only > play on the computer or on a player that is certified to handle > downloadable WMA DRM -- note that this is a separate, more restrictive > category than devices that handle regular WMA DRM or subscription WMA > DRM, and you also have to have the necessary software updates to > player that will allow this to be used.) > • OverDrive developed support for the mp3 formats to supplement the > WMA files so that downloadable audiobook files sold through sources > like Borders and W.H. Smith could be played on portable players, > according to this Teleread article: > http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/11/18/mac-owners-overdrive-media-console-version-released-for-library-audiobooks/ > Most of this post is modified from off-list email exchanges, but I > think there may be a few more points covered in the discussion > thread. Use Control-N (with Safari) to read down to the next post in > the thread and Control-P to back up to the previous post. I'm > starting at the beginning of the thread: > http://www.mail-archive.com/discuss%40macvisionaries.com/msg46099.html > (Fwd: MacDailyNews - Mac software introduced for digital audiobook > downloads from public libraries) > HTH > Cheers, > Esther > > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
