Downloading Disgust

More than once I have mentioned the fact that I am an audiobook junkie. Some audiobooks come out as Podcasts (www.Podiobooks.com ) or iTunes are great ways to get those. Then there are downloads from various commercial enterprises which includes, again, iTunes but also Audible, Amazon, AudiobooksDL and a host of other sites.

What all of these sites require is either enough bandwidth allocation to download said file in something less than a lifetime and sometimes specialized software. The government does not allow us to download MP3 files on gov computers, so that particular option is a non-starter.

Even those people here paying the $100 a month for the high connect satellite feed say that moving large files often requires multiple restarts and a lot of frustration. Without it, the only other option is the WiFi at the USO. The connect speeds there are set so that no one gets a large share at the expense of others. The result is an average of 4 minutes per MEG downloaded. Obviously, they are successful in encouraging people to use the network for basic browsing and email while discouraging the rest of us from hanging out for hours in a vain attempt to get much desired book content.

I am fussing today more than others because one of my favorite Podiobook Authors – Nathan Lowell – has started the release of the last book in his Share series. It took more time than I want to admit over the last week, but I managed to secure Episodes 1-9. 10 will not download. Not from iTunes, and not from Podiobooks; keeps telling me that I don’t have permission. The same thing happens with Episode 12. I did grab Episode 11.

Listen to me whine. Sheesh, you would think that I don’t have enough books here. Of course, this is not including the fact that I can buy on Audible but not download at all (bandwidth at the USO and the software issue on gov computers).

I think tonight after services I am just going to curl up with a real book for a change! 

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3 Responses to Downloading Disgust

  1. Carmen says:

    OK – first I will be sympathetic. That’s craptastic, especially since you are missing those episodes. Dang!

    Next, I ask whether you would like me to download something and cut you a CD.

    And, then I will ponder what the heck we do about the big, big part of the world whose access to the web is now an will be for a long time – craptastic. We should be able to deliver textbooks to kids in little villages in Africa/Afghanistan/Arkansas on smart phones.

    (PS: Is a book so big because of all the protective encryptishness they put on it? It should be/could be in smaller bites or not so big. Files of text do not need to be big.)

  2. Holly says:

    Actually, the file size has to do with quality audio and how many MEGs it takes to cover, oh lets say 10-12 hours. Audible normally, even with the lowest quality, doesn’t have file sizes below 22MEG. Owner’s Share is in 45 minute increments; at high quality they run in the 25-25 MEG size. That is hours at a slow dowload speed.

  3. Mary says:

    You have every right to complain re the challenges of obtaining audiobks or, for that matter, anything at all!!

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