Shouldn't Apple be territorial when it benefits its customers?

[Freeþinker]

My beef:
I visit my public library's web site through OverDrive Media, which offers many mp3 audiobooks and other media available for checkout through an Internet log-in. I love using this, and as a local taxpayer, I'm eager to continue supporting it. The problem is that there are so many WMA titles that can only be downloaded through the OverDrive Media Console if you have Windows. Yes, I'm aware of being able to convert formats, but you can't even download the file unless you have a Windows OS. But get this--they freely boast that the files are iPod playable. This is where I WANT Apple to be a bit of a corporate bully and insist that OverDrive Media make its materials available to all iPod users, regardless of the platform. The alternative is to accept that we Mac users have subsidized the development of a device that we can't actually use for as many files even though parasitic PC users can. Apple is on the verge of achieving dominant market share in the US, and it has the right to make a few demands on behalf of its loyal customers.

 

[thelatinist]

I have no idea what you are talking about. You make no sense.

 

[daihard]

My beef:
I visit my public library's web site through OverDrive Media, which offers many mp3 audiobooks and other media available for checkout through an Internet log-in. I love using this, and as a local taxpayer, I'm eager to continue supporting it. The problem is that there are so many WMA titles that can only be downloaded through the OverDrive Media Console if you have Windows. Yes, I'm aware of being able to convert formats, but you can't even download the file unless you have a Windows OS. But get this--they freely boast that the files are iPod playable. This is where I WANT Apple to be a bit of a corporate bully and insist that OverDrive Media make its materials available to all iPod users, regardless of the platform. The alternative is to accept that we Mac users have subsidized the development of a device that we can't actually use for as many files even though parasitic PC users can. Apple is on the verge of achieving dominant market share in the US, and it has the right to make a few demands on behalf of its loyal customers.

If Apple were to demand anything from that OverDrive Media Console group, it would be that they make its materials available in AAC format in addition to (or instead of) WMA.

 

[CocoaPuffs]

So you're saying that Apple should demand every little company to support their file format, because one of their customers happen to be accessing this company's data?

You should be emailing this particular company, not asking Apple to flex their corporate muscle.

 

[IronLogik]

So you're saying that Apple should demand every little company to support their file format, because one of their customers happen to be accessing this company's data?

You should be emailing this particular company, not asking Apple to flex their corporate muscle.

No. He's saying that the company should make the files accessible to Mac computers. It currently will not let you download the files on a mac. You have to be on windows to even access the files.

 

[Flhusky]

The OP should be complaining to OverDrive Media not begging for help. This is a content provider issue.

 

[renewed]

No. He's saying that the company should make the files accessible to Mac computers. It currently will not let you download the files on a mac. You have to be on windows to even access the files.

+1. I dont see how The OP was confusing guys lol

It'd be like a company having media playable for the Zune but only accessible via Macs. Makes sense.

 

[dccorona]

My beef:
I visit my public library's web site through OverDrive Media, which offers many mp3 audiobooks and other media available for checkout through an Internet log-in. I love using this, and as a local taxpayer, I'm eager to continue supporting it. The problem is that there are so many WMA titles that can only be downloaded through the OverDrive Media Console if you have Windows. Yes, I'm aware of being able to convert formats, but you can't even download the file unless you have a Windows OS. But get this--they freely boast that the files are iPod playable. This is where I WANT Apple to be a bit of a corporate bully and insist that OverDrive Media make its materials available to all iPod users, regardless of the platform. The alternative is to accept that we Mac users have subsidized the development of a device that we can't actually use for as many files even though parasitic PC users can. Apple is on the verge of achieving dominant market share in the US, and it has the right to make a few demands on behalf of its loyal customers.

my mom works at a library, and they use overdrive. They just updated it so that it works perfectly on a mac and i just helped her download an audiobook right to her iPhone from our iMac. So im not sure what you're complaining about

 

[mkrishnan]

my mom works at a library, and they use overdrive. They just updated it so that it works perfectly on a mac and i just helped her download an audiobook right to her iPhone from our iMac. So im not sure what you're complaining about

Perhaps the OP's library needs to update their overdrive implementation, and then all will be well? Without some digging, sometimes it is not at all clear to whom one should address one's yelling!

 

[dccorona]

Perhaps the OP's library needs to update their overdrive implementation, and then all will be well? Without some digging, sometimes it is not at all clear to whom one should address one's yelling!

im not entirely sure how it works, but i was under the impression that the library has the subscription, and anyone can download whichever software version they need. So its just a matter of finding the mac software.

Although now that i think of it, perhaps her library switched to another, similar service that is mac compatiable. I never checked to see if it was indeed overdrive we were using

EDIT: just looked it up, and there is a mac version of the software here http://www.overdrive.com/software/omc/
you can use your libraries website to download the books, which you then put into that software to be completely downloaded (its similar to torrents), and from there you can put the files onto an iPod or iPhone

 

[labman]

Look what happened when I searched

went to there web site

http://www.overdrive.com/resources/drc/

http://www.overdrive.com/resources/drc/#apple

http://virtualnotes.wordpress.com/2...de-for-ipod-iphone-itouch-ipod-nano-and-zune/

I would contact your Library sounds like they have catching up to do!

also amazing what you can find though google in 30 seconds!

 

[Interstella5555]

My beef:
I visit my public library's web site through OverDrive Media, which offers many mp3 audiobooks and other media available for checkout through an Internet log-in. I love using this, and as a local taxpayer, I'm eager to continue supporting it. The problem is that there are so many WMA titles that can only be downloaded through the OverDrive Media Console if you have Windows. Yes, I'm aware of being able to convert formats, but you can't even download the file unless you have a Windows OS. But get this--they freely boast that the files are iPod playable. This is where I WANT Apple to be a bit of a corporate bully and insist that OverDrive Media make its materials available to all iPod users, regardless of the platform.

You do realize that it's more than just Apple flexing it's corporate muscles, right? Netflix watch instantly took a while to come to Macs, you can't use a Zune on them and there's a TON of applications that are Windows only. Should Apple track down all software devs and demand cross-OS compatibility? In this case, it's a moot point as you can't play WMA on an iPod, regardless of OS.

The alternative is to accept that we Mac users have subsidized the development of a device that we can't actually use for as many files even though parasitic PC users can.

I'm not really sure I follow you here. I guess you could say that Mac users "subsidized" the iPod since it was Mac only for a while, but that's a stretch. If it's a huge deal to you, buy Windows and use bootcamp.[/Quote]

Apple is on the verge of achieving dominant market share in the US, and it has the right to make a few demands on behalf of its loyal customers.

Dominant share in what? iPods have been 70% of the market share for years on the MP3 player side, and it's going to be a LONG time before their current 10% (generous) share of the OS market transfers into dominance. I know it's frustrating, but as others have said, your beef is with OverDrive Media, not Apple. Should I go bitch to Sony because I can't watch Hulu on my PS3? No, because it's not their issue, it's Hulu's. Same applies here.