eBook Publishers Phase Out DRM On Audio Books

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/business/media/03audiobook.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/business/media/03audiobook.html</a><br /><br /><i>"Some of the largest book publishers in the world are stripping away the anticopying software on digital downloads of audio books. The trend will allow consumers who download audio books to freely transfer these digital files between devices like their computers, iPods and cellphones — and conceivably share them with others. Dropping copying restrictions could also allow a variety of online retailers to start to sell audio book downloads."</i><br /><br />I sure hope Audible follows suit. Their library is fantastic, but their software is the worst <a href="http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/index.php/Evar">EVAR</a>!

[DaleReeck]

You forgot this part in the article ;)

"unless retail partners or authors specified otherwise."

I'll believe it when I see it. Lots of promises to get rid of copy protection from music, books, etc, but little action.

[BevHoward]

I sure hope Audible follows suit. Their library is fantastic, but their software is the worst EVAR!

Agreed... however, it took one horrendous tech support saga to find out that where newer versions of the ppc audible software have appeared, installing the oldest version maintains the ability to use MSReader as the player for audible content, and MSReader is an acceptable player as long as you assure that no file exceeds 14mb.

The pc's audible manager will allow subdivision of large audio files into smaller chunks.

hth,
Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

[barky81]

Well, maybe it now makes sense to me that Microsoft DIDN'T buy Audible, after all!

And if the book publisher is willing to drop DRM, I wonder how they will feel about DRM'ed book rentals through Zune? Actually, I think they might like that strategy, if you think about it.

[jickbahtech]

Hopefully this will extend to regular E-Books. I might have to get a Kindle or something if it does...

[PPCRules]

DRM is definitely one barrier to acceptance. Pricing is the other; publishers can't seem to figure that out.

[martin_ayton]

I sure hope Audible follows suit. Their library is fantastic, but their software is the worst EVAR (http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/index.php/Evar)!


Hey, Ed! Read your own citation: You might just get away with "worst" in that sentence, though it wouldn't have been too hard to use the more correct form of "worstest." Also, and I believe that the Encyclopedia Dramatica would back me up here, "EVAR" should always be followed by at least three exclamation marks. What were you thinking with that paltry single shriek? Honestly, the standard of written english on these pages...

:twisted:

[Ed Hansberry]

Hey, Ed! Read your own citation: You might just get away with "worst" in that sentence, though it wouldn't have been too hard to use the more correct form of "worstest." Also, and I believe that the Encyclopedia Dramatica would back me up here, "EVAR" should always be followed by at least three exclamation marks. What were you thinking with that paltry single shriek? Honestly, the standard of written english on these pages...

:twisted:

You are right! "...but their software is the worstest EVAR!!!!!!" looks and sounds so much better. :lol:

[Brad Adrian]

Audible's software is why I use iTunes and my iPod to listen to Audible content (which I've loved for more than six years). You still have to go (almost seamlessly) through Audible's download agent, but at least you don't have to use their synch software.

Oh, and the comment about "worstest..." Does that remind anybody else of the South Park Lines.

"Look closely."
"No, look closelier."
"No, look MORE closelier..."