08-04-2003, 04:00 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Listen to Books & News: Get One Month of Audible Free
Audible has a promotion on now that lets you get one month free, and we've signed up as an affiliate with them. If you sign up and stay signed up for more than two months, Pocket PC Thoughts will get a % of your subscription as a one-time payment. Audible has some cool content! I've never really listened to a book before, but I just heard a sample portion from a book and was quite entranced. It's somehow soothing to listen to a book rather than reading it...
"With Audible, you can hear the most entertaining, informative and engaging digital audiobooks and content using your PocketPC. And just for PocketPC users, join and get a month of Audible service FREE. Receive two audio programs each month. Listen as often as you like � it�s yours forever. No commitment, cancel anytime!"
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08-04-2003, 04:41 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 65
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I year or so back, I tried out Audible. I love their content, but was highly disappointed with the quality of their software. Since then, I've seen the same type of response from others. Has their software improved? If not, that's a deal breaker. Otherwise, I'd probably see if I can re-download the stuff I purchased and start listening again. It's great in the car on long drives.
Rob
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08-04-2003, 04:57 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 485
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I have listened to a number of titles on my iPod and really enjoyed doing so. I stopped listening because they stopped selling all their titles to non-US residents - a policy they have now relaxed a little.
So I am now listening again, and all the titles I previously purchased are still available for me to download if I wish. I agree that their software is pretty flaky, but once the file is downloaded the iPod takes over and works very well.
I haven't tried listening on the PPC, because the iPod works and has oodles of storage space, but also because the PPC doesn't support the highest quality bitrate (Audible Format 4). There are some uncomfortable threads detailing the difficulties people have had making the Audible software work on PPC, and now the recent MS Reader update appears to have further upset things (you can listen to Audible titles in Reader, or could before the update).
If you can make it work for you, Audible is a good way to enjoy books!
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08-04-2003, 05:00 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 204
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i had my ayes on audible for some time and i thought it would be nice to give it a try know and see if i like this. I did register just now and i found a title i liked "Getting Things Done" but i could not add it to my cart saying that "ALERT: Audible.com is not authorized to sell this title to your geographic location." Well what is that all about??? grrrrrrr
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08-04-2003, 05:07 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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No, there software stinks. (sorry but you asked) I use MS Reader and find it is much better, and it recognizes Audible. Plus you don't even have to activate it. You only need to activate your PPC with Audible.
The cost of audio books is quite high. If you are one who thinks that ebooks are expensive you better sit down and turn on your pacemaker before you check the prices. There is a lot of extra expense in producing an audio book, and they are also chosen by a slim market which makes them quite expensive. Buying a membership does bring the cost down considerably.
Dave
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08-04-2003, 05:47 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 204
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how can you use MS reader to play these files?
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08-04-2003, 06:02 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23
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paris - I transfer the files to the PPC using the Audible desktop software and then open Reader. The books show in the library. Just tap and listen.
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08-04-2003, 06:25 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 111
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Well, I just signed up and installed all their crazy software. It looked ok, but now each time I open MS Reader it crashes. The Audible install made me shut down Reader so I know it's their fault. :evil:
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08-04-2003, 06:44 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 204
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ok,i got it to show now on my library, somehow ms reader version 2.2.1 would start and not 2.2.2. Now the new version starts and shows the audible title in the library as well. Wish it had biger controls thought
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08-04-2003, 07:29 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 15
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I've been an Audible user for years. I personally can't live without it anymore. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but listening to books somehow makes an hour in Atlanta traffic seem much more bearble. My coworkers appreciate my better moods. :wink:
I currently use it with my iPod with iTunes, which is absolutely wonderful. I have used it with a PPC with much less luck. I haven't tried it recently, though. The main problem I had was that if you switched away from the program without actually closing it, it could take quite some time (many seconds to a minute or more, depending on the size of the file being played) to switch back. Closing it and opening it didn't have the same issue, which meant you just had to be careful to close Audible after each use. Not sure why. Just poor programming, I suppose. I had the same problem listening to it through MS Reader, which IMO was a more difficult interface to use anyway. As for incompatibilities with MS Reader, I really didn't have any problems, but I didn't try it with PPC 2002 or 2003. Just 2000. Sound quality is good to excellent at level 3 and 4. Stay away from lower quality recordings unless you want to be annoyed by a tinny voice for 8+ hours. I think the PPC player only supported levels 2 and 3, so go for 3.
As for cost, it isn't that bad at all, unless you compare it to checking out books at the public library (or perhaps exchanging/renting them at audio book exchanges, which may be a little bit less). I pay less because I'm grandfathered, but now it essentially it works out to $10 per book. Compare this to Barnes & Noble prices, and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. If you don't want to compare, it works out to between a 60 and 80 percent savings. Since I used to buy my books, this is a major relief on my pocketbook. Note that their full prices are the same as those found in the bookstores, so I don't think that there is any markup based on the cost of digitizing.
Oh, and don't forget to look at subscriptions. There's nothing quite like listening to the latest edition of the Wall Street Journal on your commute!
Anyway, I'm sure it isn't for everyone, but for me, it has been a wonderful experience.
Paul
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Linear Mode
