Audible mobile player
Written: Sep 08 '99 (Updated Nov 15 '99)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Convenience, clear sound, interesting content
Cons: Initial purchase of Audible hardware. Computer required.
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| tigerjim's Full Review: Audible Mobile Player |
The AUDIBLE MOBILE PLAYER is my choice for listening to portable speech.
I use it as a commuter, bike rider, and walker.
I recommend it also to a person with impaired vision.
The player itself is sturdy and comes with a protective case with a clip for attachment to your belt. Its small size at 4.5 x 2 3/4 x 3/4 inches can fit into your pocket. Its convenient push button controls include FF, rewind, next section, bookmarks, and volume.
The digital sound is clear with no static or fade.
I bought and recommend the Player Plus that gives a duration up to 7 hours, although a 2 hour version is available. The battery handles more than 7 hours and recharges in a small dock which also serves for transmission of the spoken content from your computer. An extra battery comes with Player Plus.
HOW DO I GET THE CONTENT?
The books, newspapers, magazines, interviews, and letters for listening are downloaded, via your computer, to the player while it is in the dock.
At the website, audible.com, the audio narrator's sound can be sampled. Most are distinct and interesting.
Website navigation is simple. It can be searched by Titles, Authors, Type, or Key Words.
The Audible manager provides scheduled or immediate download, and arranging of content on mobile player
Here are the ways to listen to Audible content
· Streaming audio with real player or windows media player
· Internet downloads of spoken audio content for playback on pc
· Data transfer to docked mobile device. Listen with earphones or via plug-in to speakers.
· Transmission without plug-in from mobile device to home or automobile FM radio. While driving or sometimes at home I like to listen to the spoken words through the FM radio and its sound system rather than earphone use.
WHAT HARDWARE DO I NEED?
The Audio Player (2 hours play) costs $199 or the Player Plus (7 hours play) costs $299.
You can purchase content and listen to it on your computer's sound system without the player, but you lose the advantage of mobile play with a small device that can be hand-held, put into your pocket, or clipped to a belt.
CONTENT I HAVE CHOSEN
I like subscriptions - Todd Mundt $50 per year for 1 hour every weekday, To Best of Our knowledge $16 per year for 3 hours per week.
WSJ, Slate Economist, and others are available.
I have listened to books "The Testament", "Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin", "Into Thin Air" by John Krakauer.
Audible states it has 16,000 hours of audio reading available
CHARGES
Once you have the hardware, the pricing of the content is up to 60% less than buying cassette tapes. .
By advance payment of $65 you can get $100 of content. Billing can be handled onsite by credit card. The details of purchase of the hardware and content are available at www.audible.com
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
tigerjim
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Member: James A. Fallows
Location: Redlands, California
Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 11 members
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