[Web4lib] Downloadable audiobooks - Windows Media Player for theMacintosh?

[Michele Hampshire]

I'd be VERY interested to know if Mac (OS Leopard?) users could run
Windows Media Player and listen to downloadable eAudiobook since one of
my biggest peeves with our libraries is paying for something that
doesn't work with a majority of our patrons' technology of choice.  The
platform wars are killing me.

For those California Libraries that are CALIFA members, I heard on good
authority that some eAudiobook solution for Mac/iPod users is not far
down the pike.

Best, Michele

Michele Hampshire, MLIS
Web Librarian
Mill Valley Public Library
375 Throckmorton Ave.
Mill Valley, CA 94941
415-389-4292 x107
http://millvalleylibrary.org 

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Bret Parker
Sent: Monday, August 06, 2007 4:08 PM
To: Web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Web4lib] Downloadable audiobooks - Windows Media Player for
theMacintosh?


We get complaints from time to time about Mac users not being able to
use downloadable audiobooks on their Macs or iPods.

I realize the issue is Digital Rights Management and that NetLibrary and
Audible.com use a format that works with Windows Media Player and is not
part of the Mac or iPod world. But...

What if the Mac users ran leveraged the new technology that allows them
to run Windows programs?

Would anyone download  audiobooks from NetLibrary using Windows Media
Player on the Windows side of the Mac? Seems like that would be adequate
to at least listen. Maybe they could even transfer the file to a
compatible MP3 player (not an iPod). Has anyone got an insider's view of
this operation?

Bret Parker, Senior Applications Programmer Analyst (MLIS) Stockton-San
Joaquin County Public Library 605 N. El Dorado St Stockton, CA 95202
bret.parker at ci.stockton.ca.us
(209) 937-7148

http://www.stockton.lib.ca.us
Stockton Reads!


_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4lib at webjunction.org
http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/