A steop-by-step guide, from opening up your account to downloading the software and listening to your adible content
In the January 2001 issue we took a look at a number of multimedia applications and resources for the Pocket PC, including Audible.com. The Audible Web site (www.audible.com) provides books, magazines, news and other content in Audible's proprietary audio format. This article refers to this as "Audible content" and sometimes "audio
programs." Audible.com (see Screen 1) carries more than 15,000 audio programs with more than 26,000 hours of Audible content spread across categories including fiction and nonfiction, comedy, education, business information, speeches, spirituality, public radio programs, and audio versions of the best newspapers and magazines.
Screen 1: Audible.com carries over 19,000 hours of Audible content, all downloadable to Pocket and Palm-size PCs.
The following is a detailed tutorial on how to set up an Audible.com account, download the necessary software, and start listening to audio books and more on your Pocket or Palm-size PC.
Setting up your desktop and Pocket PC
To listen to any content from Audible.com, you need to download two pieces of software. They are the AudibleManager and Audible Player
Software. The AudibleManager software installs on your Desktop PC. This software downloads Audible content from the Audible.com Web site for playback on your desktop. It also organizes your audio programs and manages the transfer of this audio from your PC to an AudibleReady mobile audio device. The Audible Player installs on your Windows Powered device and actually plays the mobile content that you downloaded. Follow these steps:
- Before you can download these software programs, you have to register as an Audible.com user. Go to www.audible.com and click on the "Register" icon at the top of the screen (see Screen 1). Fill out the requested information and they set you up with an account. It's quick and free.
- After you've logged in, click on the "Download Software" option in the left hand "Essentials" menu.
- Click on the option button labeled "Download Audible Manager 2.5", and then on the "Next" button.
- You are asked to select the Pocket or Palm-size PC you own. Click on the appropriate option button and then "Next."
- The final screen in this sequence prompts you to download Audible Manager for your desktop PC (~ 6Mb) and Audible Player for your Pocket or Palm-size PC (~ 2Mb).
- You can download both programs at the same time, but you need to install Audible-Manager for your desktop PC first, before installing the Audible Player software on your Pocket or Palm-size PC.
- To install AudibleManager, double-click on the file you downloaded (it should be named "AudibleManager.exe" or a variation of that). An Installation Wizard will walk you through the steps and ask you to re-boot your desktop PC to complete the installation.
- To install Audible Player, connect your Pocket or Palm-size PC to your desktop PC and double-click on the other file you downloaded (it should be named "AudiblePlayer.exe" or a variation of that). Again, the Installation Wizard will walk you through the process.
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