Hi Denise, On Feb 27, 2011 Denise Avant wrote: my library has books through overdrive. i know these books are in protected WMA format and adobe. but i think some may be unprotected. is it possible to download these books to my mac in itunes and even transfer them to my iphone? is there an overdrive app for the iphone similar to audible? thanks.
I'll respond both to this (macvisionaries) list, and also cc: to the viphone list, since this post gives information about the OverDrive app that allows you to transfer downloadable audiobooks that you borrow from your public library directly to your iPhone. To briefly summarize, OverDrive is one of two major systems used by public libraries in the U.S. and Canada to provide electronically downloadable content for borrowers, and is the only one that allows you to transfer and play this content on an iPhone, iPod, or iPad. OverDrive is also used internationally -- in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Singapore, Taiwan, Venezuela and by a few locations in Germany, the Netherlands, and other places. International users can check their public library coverage at the OverDrive site, using the "Search Libraries by Name" category: http://search.overdrive.com/classic/ This post only covers audiobooks, and there is not, to my knowledge, any accessible means that can be used for downloaded Adobe protected eBook content. Bryan Jones has pasted in two recent posts (appended to this post) about using OverDrive, either in the Desktop version for your library's downloadable audiobooks, which can then be transferred to your iPhone either through iTunes or the OverDrive app. I am following up by forwarding a later reply about my experience with the OverDrive app that was made off list, but which was intended for general list information (thanks, Christina, for pointing this out.) That post presumes that you also have access to the desktop version of the OverDrive Media Console for Mac or PC, which allows you to both download and play audiobooks on your computer, as well as transfer them to an iPod or iPhone. The desktop software is not required if you choose to only use the free OverDrive app for downloading, but be aware that the OverDrive app will only permit direct downloads of audiobooks of the kind marked "MP3". Most libraries have both "MP3" and "WMA" versions of audiobooks. Because of the Digital Rights Management and copy protection, the larger class of "WMA" audiobooks cannot be downloaded without the additional Windows media copy protection in the computer program, which means that they can only be transferred to an iPhone or iPod through a Windows desktop version of the OverDrive program (which must be run on a PC or either a Windows installation on Bootcamp or on a virtual machine on the Mac). The app will let you borrow both types of audiobooks, since it directs you to a general web site interface, but downloading "WMA" versions and transferring to an iPhone (if permitted), would have to be done through the desktop version, then synced to the iPhone or iPod. The general site for downloading the free OverDrive desktop software is: http://www.overdrive.com/Software/OMC/accessibility.aspx The link to the OverDrive App is: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/overdrive-media-console/id366869252?mt=8 Sorry for the lengthy preface. You also must have a public library card with your local branch so that you can use the account number to check out downloadable audiobooks. I found that the most efficient way to use the OverDrive app was to browse the available collection using the web interface to my library on the computer, and place possible selections into my "cart", then to review the "cart" in the OverDrive app on my iDevice (within 30 minutes of placing the item into the cart). This is because the computer's web page allows you to go to an "Advanced Search" link that lets you filter results only for "MP3 Audiobook", and also optionally check a box to only display titles that are currently available for borrowing. This can save you browsing through 30-40 titles before you come to the first one that you can check out and download through the app. OK, I'll proceed to the pasted in reply (below my signature), which gives a tip on how to play the sound samples. This is followed by Bryan's post with the two previous list posts on the subject. Cheers, Esther > On Feb 23, 2011, at 1:51 PM, Esther wrote: > >> Hi Christina, >> >> I've tried the OverDrive app, and it is easier to download books you check >> out from the library this way. Many thanks to Bryan for bringing this app >> to the attention of the list. I only have a few comments. First, while the >> web pages for your library are easy enough to navigate in the app, I've >> found no way to filter for books that are currently available for download, >> the way that you can if you go to the same version of the site on your >> computer (where you can go to an "Advanced Search" link and run a search for >> all OverDrive MP3 audiobooks and check the box for "Only show titles with >> copies available"). Typically, around 90-95 per cent of the books are >> currently checked out at my library, so that's a lot of titles to check >> through individually if I want to download something now, as opposed to >> requesting a hold and email notification for when a title becomes available. >> After the fact, I think it is easiest to browse the titles on my computer, >> and put them into my "Cart", then review them from the OverDrive app >> connection to my library account and either remove titles or check out from >> there, and then download through the app. The app and the web site both >> access the same account information. >> >> A few other tips: you can play a sound sample in the app when you review the >> items in your "Cart" (which only stay there for 30 minutes after you place >> them there). Double tap on the link entry for the item to get the page of >> detailed information and description. Now, if you add "Image" to your rotor >> settings under Settings > General > Accessibility > Voiceover > Web Rotor by >> double tapping that selection, you can set the web rotor to "Image" and >> navigate to the last image link entry for that title and double tap. This >> ends up streaming a sound sample of the book. (I got this trick from Dean >> Martineau's Accessible World Tek Talk presentation.) A couple of other >> comments: there is no progress indicator that I could find when you start >> the download. The only thing I noticed was that the book I downloaded was >> in three parts, and as I flicked around the screen, there was a counter that >> changed from 3 to 2 to 1. I don't know what happens if you navigate away >> from the app in the middle of the download process, which can take a while. >> However, you don't have to download all, or even any, of the books you check >> out at once. Finally, there was no way I could find to speed up playback >> within the OverDrive app. However, you can apparently still download the >> audiobook to your computer, even though you have downloaded to your iPhone. >> The version on your computer can be sped up. You can also import into >> iTunes (or could when I did this a few months ago) and make this into an >> audiobook entry, and/or make a joined file(s) with Audiobook Builder, and >> play that file sped up in either iTunes or synced to the iPod app on your >> iPhone, but that's considerably more work. >> >> The instructions for running an advanced search were given in my (old) >> linked archive post that was referenced in an earlier thread about : >> "General Instructions on OverDrive downloadable audiobooks" >> http://www.mail-archive.com/macvisionaries%40googlegroups.com/msg05166.html >> >> HTH. Cheers, >> >> Esther On Feb 27, 2011, Bryan Jones wrote: > Hello Denise, > > Below I've pasted two recent posts regarding Overdrive: My brief post gives > some information about the Overdrive iphone App and a more detailed post from > Esther gives additional Overdrive info and links to past notes.. > > HTH, > Bryan > > Begin forwarded messages: > >> In addition to Esther's excellent post, I want to add that you might be able >> to avoid some of the hoops by using the latest version of the Overdrive App >> which allows patrons of at least some library systems to browse and download >> titles directly from the iphone, ipad and i-touch. I am able to perform the >> following functions without requiring any interaction with a Mac or PC: >> 1. Use the App's button labeled "Get Books Plus" to find my library using a >> town or zip code, or by browsing all libraries. >> 2. Login to my library's system using my library card number. >> 3. Browse iphone-compatible audiobooks, Adobe epub ebooks and public domain >> ebooks in my library's collection. >> 4. Download available audiobook titles directly to the iphone, ipad or ipod >> touch and listen to them in the Overdrive Media App, which is fully VO >> accessible. >> 5. Place a title on hold if it is currently checked out. You supply your >> email address and will be notified when the title becomes available for >> checkout. >> >> My library currently lists a "whopping" 314 iphone-compatible audiobook >> titles and 1000 Adobe epub titles. In addition, they have a few thousand of >> the public domain ebooks, all of which I'm sure are available for free from >> many sources including ibooks and kobo. I tried downloading one of the Adobe >> epub books and was prompted for an adobe ID. I didn't bother following that >> trail any further so I can't report on the accessibility of the Adobe epub >> titles. >> >> I've pasted a link to the App below. >> http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/overdrive-media-console/id366869252?mt=8 > > >> From: Esther >> Date: February 22, 2011 >> Subject: Re: downloadable audiobooks from public library questions >> >> >> Hi Christina, >> >> I think you're referring to downloading audiobooks using the OverDrive Media >> Console software. I haven't used this for library downloads for some time >> because available titles for download seem to be limited at my library in >> recent years due to state budget cuts. I have had more success requesting >> audiobook CDs from my library, and ripping those for listening. However, >> the process is quite accessible. There are two types of OverDrive Media >> books that are carried in downloadable format. The WMA protected formats >> can only be downloaded on a Windows computer with the version of OverDrive >> Media Console for Windows, and the Windows update to support the copy >> protection scheme in effect. Of these, a subset may be transferred to the >> iPhone or iPod if the publisher permits it. Some libraries now maintain a >> separate link for for iPod-Compatible audiobooks, which includes those WMA >> titles that can be transferred to an iPod or iPhone and the MP3 titles that >> can all be transferred to an iPod or iPhone, and which all can be downloaded >> and played on a Mac, as well as on a Windows PC. >> >> Before you download an audiobook, you install the OverDrive software (and, >> in the case of Windows machines, including installations on a Bootcamp >> partition on your Mac, and I believe also through VMWare virtual machines, >> you may need to install additional copy protection software). When you >> check out a library downloadable audiobook, you download a small file with >> the name of the book and a ".odm" extension (which are the initials for >> "OverDrive Media"). This file sets the permission to play the book that you >> borrow for the fixed period in the OverDrive software. It is specific to >> your machine, and you cannot move it (or the audiobook files) to another >> machine and expect to play the files. Once you download and open this file, >> an entry for the audiobook will appear in the OverDrive Media Console, and >> you will have options in a dialog window to download any number of parts. >> (Although the files are compressed MP3 files, there will be 1 part for each >> of the original CDs). There are menu bar options, and a number of shortcuts >> for playing and navigating through the Audiobook using the OverDrive Media >> Player (a separate window). This interface is very nice, with options to >> control playback speed, set bookmarks, etc. The actual MP3 files gets >> downloaded into a folder that is created under the Documents folder of your >> account: ~/Documents/My Media/MP3 Audiobooks/ in separate folders named for >> each book. There will also be an "OverDrive Welcome" folder created in this >> location. >> >> I have always found it easiest just to add the files in these locations to >> my iTunes library with the normal Command-O selection. At that point, they >> behave just the same way as any other MP3 file in your iTunes library. >> You'll want to select them all and use Command-I ("Get Info") to go to the >> Options tab, change the "Media Kind" popup button to "Audiobook", and check >> the boxes for "Remember Playback Position" and "Skip when Shuffling" to have >> these show up as audiobooks. Alternatively, if you use a program such as >> Audiobook Builder by Splasm Software, you can join these into one or two >> audiobook files with chapter markers, and the software will automatically >> make the adjustments for Media Kind, etc. so that the book shows up under >> your "Books" library in iTunes and "Audiobooks" on the iPhone. >> >> I haven't tried adding these audiobooks to an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad >> using the OverDrive Console, although I've added such downloads to my iPod >> Nano both through the OverDrive Media Console and directly from my iTunes >> library. You will not be able to play or transfer the files through the >> OverDrive Media Console after the expiration date of your books, and the >> software will give a prompt notice to delete the files if you open it after >> the expiration date. (Obviously, this doesn't affect the files you >> transferred to the iPod or iPhone before this date, if you don't reconnect >> to your computer and sync the device. I'm not sure how it works if you use >> the OverDrive app for the iPhone, which I've never tried, and which seems to >> add an extra level of complexity.) >> >> I'll point you to an old Mail Archive list post: >> "General Instructions on OverDrive downloadable audiobooks" >> http://www.mail-archive.com/macvisionaries%40googlegroups.com/msg05166.html >> >> This gives details on how to run the search and download process through >> different library web interfaces, which seemed to be the sticking point for >> some users. Note that post is two years old, and there is no links chooser >> menu in VoiceOver under Snow Leopard -- just use item chooser menu instead >> -- you can press "l i n" first, for a link search. >> >> 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. 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