Books on MP3

[SpiderWiz]

I picked up a copy of Handheld Computing (basically I saw the Axim on the cover). I read an article about about the iPod, Audible.com recently announced support for the iPod.

Has any one tried playing audiobooks on the Axim? Would be nice to have the option of listening to a nice book while I get my walk in for the day.


***EDIT***

After reviewing the website, it seems that they don't store the files in mp3 format. So, my thought of simply downloading them to my SD card and playing on mp3 player is out the window.

***EDIT***

[delradie]

Hi Spider

I haven't actually got my Axim yet, but have already enquired about Audibleplayer on the Axim in a thread (in Newbies if I remember correctly)

I've been using Audible for quite a while for my desktop/laptop, and from the response I got on here, the Axim will be getting it installed pretty much immediately.

Audible uses an encrypted form of mp3 which numous players can handle. There is their own player downloadable from audible.com, aswell as MSREader. I'm not sure if PocketPC WMP supports them.

Your best bet is to go to audible.com and have a read of the docs there. I'm sure there probably are other e-audiobook systems out there but in the 2+ years I've been using Audible I've never found a reason to go looking. Their prices are reasonable (from a UK perspective) and their customer support is usually excellent

Hope this helps

Mark

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P.S. Found the original thread
http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showt...&threadid=2700
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[mtb]

It's me again!

Axim and Audible were made for each other. Between my wife and I, we subscribe for 4 books per month. I always have at least two books loaded (on CF and/or SD). The PocketPC supports Format 2 & 3 -- I use 3).

There is a downloadable Audible player for the PocketPC (you register it just like any other portable device).

I often use the Microsoft Reader to listen (it opens the Audible player as a plug-in), because it doesn't enable as many buttons (such as the scroll button on the side of the Axim). Each Audiobook shows up in your MS Reader library.

Also, if you have more than one book on your Axim, the Audible player will automatically start the next one in it's list when the current one is finished. If you fall asleep listening (like I do), this can drain your battery. MS Reader stops when the current selection is finished (6 hours of listening is no problem).

One hint for both Audible player and MS Reader. Stop the play before you power off the Axim. Otherwise, when you restart, your player will be in a loop that will require you to completely exit/close the application.

If you have any specific questions, send me an email.

[phoelwin]

mtb how do you get the large format 3 files to load to your SD card? I've selected storage card in the mobile device setting, but "Contents" button only shows main memory. Did this happen to you?

[djlong]

I checked out the site..

While there's a lot of interesting stuff there, I just can't get into the idea of paying more than twice the cost of a paperback book for an electronic version. And that's for a downloadable version! There are no packaging, manufacturing, distribution or middleman costs involved!

Another source you might want to look into is recording your own from Sonic Theater on XM Radio. XM costs $9.99/month and Sonic Theater is one of 102 channels (they also have Radio Classics if you're into old-time radio). Granted you're limited to what their schedule has, but they recap a lot of stuff on the weekends (during the week they'll play a chapter or two per day, on Saturday or Sunday you get the whole thing) and they publish a schedule.

I have it piped into my computer so I can record what I want and save for later as an MP3.

[mtb]

Storing to SD and CF:

When you first select the PocketPC as the active device, the only available storage choice is Main Memory. As soon as the Audible software starts "Reading the Pocket PC", the storage choice becomes a dropdown which will show all of your options, including: Main Memory, Built-in Storage, SD Card (if present) and CF Card (if present).

[Quorlan]

Originally posted by djlong
While there's a lot of interesting stuff there, I just can't get into the idea of paying more than twice the cost of a paperback book for an electronic version. And that's for a downloadable version! There are no packaging, manufacturing, distribution or middleman costs involved!

While paying full price at Audible.com can be expensive there are other ways of using the service that will help you save some money. Also, Audible is actually CHEAP compared to the price of the same books on CD/Tape from a retail outlet. So they may be more expensive than a print paperback, but then again production costs for an audio program are significantly higher than production costs of a mass produced paperback book. Also, audible.com offers subscriptions to their service that can get you 2 audio book downloads a month (regardless of listed audible.com price) for I think $20/month. Personally, I've been an audible.com member since I think 1999 and joined their Serious Listener program (no longer available) for $30/month for 5 audiobooks and unlimited access to all subscription content. This deal was too good to pass up, however I think the program cost them dearly as they eliminated that plan within 6-12 months of stating it. Fortunately for me, they allowed anyone who was a memeber of that program to remain a member, still getting 5/month for $30 (note: I just received an email from audible.com informing me that my serious listener program will be going up in price to $40/month starting in June - still a bargain considering that I download at minimum $150/month worth of audio books - based on audible.com prices, not retail cd/tape prices). Anyway, if you spend a lot of time in the car and enjoy reading, I HIGHLY recommend subscribing to audible.com.

Q

Check out alt.binaries.mp3.audiobooks

[david_mald]

do you need a special sound card to input the live audio transmissions into the pc? Any special software nessary? Thanks, Dave

Originally posted by djlong
I checked out the site..

While there's a lot of interesting stuff there, I just can't get into the idea of paying more than twice the cost of a paperback book for an electronic version. And that's for a downloadable version! There are no packaging, manufacturing, distribution or middleman costs involved!

Another source you might want to look into is recording your own from Sonic Theater on XM Radio. XM costs $9.99/month and Sonic Theater is one of 102 channels (they also have Radio Classics if you're into old-time radio). Granted you're limited to what their schedule has, but they recap a lot of stuff on the weekends (during the week they'll play a chapter or two per day, on Saturday or Sunday you get the whole thing) and they publish a schedule.

I have it piped into my computer so I can record what I want and save for later as an MP3.

[brian_b_ward]

Quorlan-

You sound like a seasoned audio book reader. Do you use MS Reader or the Audible program that nobody seems to like?

-Brian

[Quorlan]

Originally posted by brian_b_ward
Quorlan-

You sound like a seasoned audio book reader. Do you use MS Reader or the Audible program that nobody seems to like?

-Brian

I have been a fan of audiobooks since I began living in a big city and commuting to work, so going on a decade now. I've been an audible member since they were still a very young company. To be honest, I hated both MS Reader and AudiblePlayer for the Axim as a tool for listening to Audible.com content. Both have some major drawbacks with regard to control and both are incredibly slow. I finally caved and bought an iPod for Audible and portable music needs and now use my Axim for everything else (productivity toos, eBook reading, portable gaming and aven some wireless network testing) and keep the audio-based stuff reserved for the iPod.

Q

I often use the Microsoft Reader to listen (it opens the Audible player as a plug-in), because it doesn't enable as many buttons (such as the scroll button on the side of the Axim). Each Audiobook shows up in your MS Reader library.

I always get an error when I try to open audible files in MS Reader. Is that only on the desktop or is there a plugin that is necessary?

Axim and Audible were made for each other. Between my wife and I, we subscribe for 4 books per month. I always have at least two books loaded (on CF and/or SD). The PocketPC supports Format 2 & 3 -- I use 3).

Is there a way to share books between the two accounts? Can you load enable two accounts on one device?