[Web4lib] RE: Overdrive

[HAZEL Margaret E]

Yes, this is what they told us - Apple won't release the license to use
on non-iPods, nor will they let users do .wmf files on iPods.

-Margaret
 Eugene PL, OR

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Karen Coyle
Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 10:26 AM
To: Tracey.Reed at myClearwater.com
Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] RE: Overdrive

The lack of support for iPods is something I'm curious about, and will
ask about at the Overdrive booth at ALA. I suspect that Apple is
unwilling to license its DRM ("Fairplay") for use on non-Apple players,
and is not able or willing to add the Windows Media File capability to
the iPod. This seems to be somewhat typical of Apple, this bundling of
their hardware and software -- after all, they always refused to create
a license-able version of their operating system, even though there was
some evidence that there was a market for it. So my guess is that
Overdrive would be happy to be delivering files in iTunes format, since
it would probably increase their business, but that Apple won't let a
third party use their software.

I'll ask, and will report back. But if anyone already knows for sure,
please post.
kc

Tracey.Reed at myClearwater.com wrote:
> Thanks to all who responded about Overdrive.  I have some of the same
concerns and questions, so there's no definitive answer to what we're
doing yet.  
>
> We seem to have a high theft rate of our CDs, so the audio seems more
interesting to us at the moment.  One of my major concerns is the hoops
that must be jumped through (conversion of files, etc.) to get them to
play on iPods.  Granted, we have the same problems now with Overdrive's
audiobooks (we seem to have more patrons with iPods than with regular
mp3 players), and I'm not sure adding to it by adding an additional
format would be beneficial at the moment.  Especially when our public
PCs don't have iTunes installed so that people can put them on iPods.
>
> I really appreciate your insight.
>
> -t
> -----
> Tracey Reed
> Clearwater Public Library System
> tracey.reed at myclearwater.com
> 727.562.4970 x5188
> www.myclearwater.com/cpl
> "If the eyes are the windows of the soul, then words are the doorbells

> of the mind." -Josh Wilson, Australian journalist, The Weekend 
> Australian, 2002
>
> _______________________________________________
> Web4lib mailing list
> Web4lib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
>
>
>   

--
-----------------------------------
Karen Coyle / Digital Library Consultant kcoyle at kcoyle.net
http://www.kcoyle.net
ph.: 510-540-7596
fx.: 510-848-3913
mo.: 510-435-8234
------------------------------------

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