Posted on 04/16/2005 12:09:08 AM PDT by Swordmaker
Windows-Based Program for New Audiobooks Does Not Work With Industry-Leading iPod
County library officials eagerly offered patrons a new service in February: For no charge, readers could download more than 700 digital audiobooks to listen to on their computers and portable players.
Such books, library director Edwin S. Clay III said, "allow you to take your reading anywhere."
But the library system inadvertently was caught in a clash of competing software that has left many patrons unhappy because they cannot use the service. Owners of the top-selling digital player, the iPod made by Apple Computer, cannot download books off the library's Web site because the county's service is incompatible with Apple's proprietary software.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
"I was taken aback by the vehemence with which iPod users reacted," said library spokeswoman Lois Kirkpatrick.
If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.
The proprietary software here is WMA. If they used MP3, it would work on everything.
BINGO! You win! Pick any prize from the bottom row...
Now imagine that Hillary is President and she's gotten her way with Hillary Healthscare®. That's what this is about: control without accountability to the market.
I've tried converting the files to CDA and burning them on CD but that format makes for a very large file and requires many CDs for even a normal size novel/recording.
Cassette tape is still the best format in that regard. Unless someone here has overcome this barrier. Anyone?
Ms. Kirkpatrick needs to get out of that library more...
If you had an iPod, and not some random pile of circuits, you wouldn't have that problem. If you pause and sleep an iPod, it picks back up right where it left off when you wake it up.
Solution: Get an iPod.
Confusing formats ping!
bump
AAC
By the way, this is the type of librarian that insists on changing as little as possible in how the library runs. If they are forced to change, they invariably choose the most arcane, bizzare, or unusable product, service, or format just to torment the people that made them change.
A good example is just how many libraries out there still only have Gopher for an online interface.
"the library's Web site because the county's service is incompatible with Apple's proprietary software"
s/b
"the library's 'service' uses proprietary software from MicroSoft, graciously donated by the Gates Foundation."
Well put.
What is the big deal here? Yea, it would be nice if everyone used MP3. But just because someone has something in WMA or AAC doesn't mean I cannot listen to it on my iPod. There is a plethora of solutions for conversion purposes that may be used. It's not going to stop me.
Welcome to a world where Microsoft isn't the monopoly, and organizations and businesses can't just go their usual Microsoft-only route unless they want to piss off customers.
Oxymoron.
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