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]
Kindle now supports downloading audiobooks – Wi-Fi only, as well as traditional USB syncs – straight to the device. Even though e-ink readability is Kindle’s main sell, people still use it for audiobooks during the times when they don’t like to visually ingest words. Imagine how hardcore you look if you were jogging with a Kindle. [Kindle]
Normally, we couldn’t think of anything more thrilling than a song dedicated to you by Stevie Wonder. Unless you’re the World Intellectual Property Organisation and your policies are making it harder for the disabled to access and appreciate information.
Enjoying an audiobook may traditionally be a sign that you’re past your prime, but if you’ve got enough technical nous to stream audiobooks on a PC, Mac or phone then it’s not time to start buying incontinence pads just yet.
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]
