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lauramcgoff
FM Editor
Member Since:
06 Dec 2005
Posts:11
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15 Feb 2006 7:17 PM |
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Audio book
Uploaded by lauramcgoff on 2/15/2006 2:19:15 PM
The Disposable, Self-contained, Off-the-rack Audio book
This snapshot shows a "book"--the kind you listen to--that one of us encountered at a conference. Smaller than an iPod, and incredibly light, it's a book-and-player on a chip, complete with earphones and the strap you'll need if you feel like hanging it around your neck. Turns out it's called a Playaway book--the "first self-playing digital audio book," as its parent company, Findaway World, describes it. (See www.playawaydigital.com for more.) Though none of us had seen one before, it's apparently available already through Wal-Mart, Borders, and others, and it comes in some 40 titles, including books by Jack Welch, David McCullough, and Stephen Hawking. But you can't copy the file to another device (copyright issues, they say) and the price strikes us a long way from viable: the books list for $34.99 to $54.99 apiece.
Does any of this make sense? Or is this an idea that will fade (due to increased capability for audio download and play on all kinds of devices) before it can ever take hold?
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ebedell
Member Since:
16 Dec 2005
Posts:13
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10 Mar 2006 4:04 PM |
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My opinion -- a temporary fad. I agree that the price point seems excessive -- compared to those offered by digital audiobooks purveyors such as Audible.com.
Off-topic, but related -- be sure to check out LibriVox.org which offers free audiobooks from the public domain.
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Blissfulpain
Member Since:
25 Apr 2006
Posts:17
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25 Apr 2006 7:26 PM |
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Price point is the primary detractor, since you can buy a casset (CD?) or get one from a local library for much cheaper.secondly, it's 'too specific'. The future hot-technologies will be 'convergent' products, not divergent like this one, which tries to give you a single item with a single use.It would be better if:- It was a tablet PC, opened like a book and had LCD screens that showed 'pages'- Had audio capability (read it when you have a chance to sit down in a comfy chair, listen when your're low on batteries or on-the-move- 'buy' the books online. You purchase the file through Itunes (pre-existing software that is already proven as working), the purchase includes both text for the display and Audio compenents.Price of the tablet PC- 29.99- price per book (audio/text file) ~$3
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