in one of my earlier posts - i had written about my experience using Queens Library's mobi pocket reader to download audio books to my computer and the rewards and difficulties inherent therein...
here i'd like to detail my experience trying to get an audiobook, mp3 song file, wav movie file and e-book to one of the ubiquitous apple ipod/itouch devices...
i am using the apple i-touch 3rd generation and as 1943 other people have commented - it rocks in terms of what it can do...
unless you're trying to do it for FREE though - in which case the "rock" is what you beat your head against as you try and squeeze functionality from it...
for the ipod - the software you need to download is the Overdrive Media Console. so.. ok - sure, just go to the App store and download and then ... but wait!! you need to have system software 4.2.1 to download overdrive... no problem just... WAIT! you need Itunes 10.1.1.4 or whatever because you havent been downloading Itunes latest version every 3 weeks like a good pod person...
so... downloaded itunes 10.1.1.4, downloaded the ipod touch system software 4.2.1, downloaded Overdrive Media Console version whatever... and was ready for anything!
Queens Library really tries when it comes to offering titles in multiple formats - but until you go through all the pain - its tough to know what downloads and what doesn't to an itouch. basically - nothing from windows media is ever downloadable to an itouch from library land. you can download audiobooks in mp3 format and you can download e-books in adobe's epub format (i believe the same format supported by the Nook ...
but that's about it... you cant download songs for free from library land, because, Steve Jobbs forbid, you don't pay for your music through the itunes store... oh and downloadable movies are a no-go as well, for probably the same reasons... so while Apple and Microsoft battle it out for our dollars - we must continue to wait for the single audo, video, and ebook platforms that wait for us in the promised land...
as for getting one of those adobe e-pub editions to the ipod... that wasn't as cut and dry as could be either... here's the site where the magic happens and that magic includes having to sign up for an Adobe ID so that you can use their digital editions software, registering your device and then going back to Queens Library with all your authorizations, security clearances, vaccinations, and hall passes so you can try and beg for an e-book (providing you haven't given up by this point)...
only to find out that there is a huge waiting period for most e-titles in Queens Library and most of the good stuff is out... so a big plus is the advance search option (for the digital media page) and for the advanced search page...
here we see the drop-down menus for formats
adobe epub (ipod friendly)
adobe pdf (sorry ipod)
mobipocket ebook (sorry again)
overdrive mp3 audiobook (youre in luck ipod)
overdrive wma audiobook (nope)
overdrive music (try itunes, buddy)
overdrive video (you hard of hearing?!)
like the old meatloaf song goes... don't be sad - cause 2 out 7 ain't bad...
so - what you'd want to do is select your format and here's the important one - select search available titles only, if you don't want to wait (and honestly who does?)... in their defense, if you have an email registered with Queens, they will notify you when your e-title becomes available so that you can come back and download it from your Digital Account.
oh and dont believe them when they say you have to download it from a computer outside the library - i downloaded my titles in house with the itouch... they just dont want you hogging their bandwith with your pesky downloads... can't make it too user friendly or else everyone would be at the library :P
Queens Library has its own crosses it makes us bear when it comes to accessibility and ease of use for their website in trying to find these titles - but that's another creature altogether...
