All 50,000 of Audible’s Audiobooks can now be downloaded onto the latest Kindle, over Wi-Fi. Alternatively, those who own other models can continue side-loading by USB. [Audible]
Paul Thurrott of Microsoft loving fame got a confirmation email from Zune tech support that says Audible compatibility is coming soon. Hurray for people who love listening to words. Here’s what the email said:
It seems like a cozy fit: Amazon.com, the beloved mega bookseller, plans to by Audible.com, the biggest (only?) digital distributor of audiobooks. The news release itself describes the terms of the deal (US$300 million in cash) but doesn’t really outline Amazon’s ultimate plans. Amazon does, notably, take this opportunity to plug the Kindle, giving us an idea that any refresh to the Kindle’s OS will involve a more full-featured audio player. No word, however, on whether or not Amazon will insist its new subsidiary distribute files in DRM-free MP3. Wouldn’t that be nice? [Amazon PR]
