Inaccessible Web Design

This is what a bad website looks like after I have set the font sizes so that I can read them. This is from Audible.com.

[Audible]

Second Success with Unabridged Audible.com Releases

As you can read in earlier posts, here and here, I have been waging a one-person campaign to see more unabridged audiobooks on Audible.com. I had a first success with Ron Rosenbaum's Explaining Hitler. Just a few weeks ago, I saw that Doris Kearns Goodwin had released the unabridged version of Team of Rivals on Audible.com. I had emailed Ms. Goodwin several months ago about doing just this. I can not be sure that this was not coincidence, but hopefully this counts as a second battle won.

Portable Player Portal Main Page

Here is a nice review of iPods, other digital music players and related software from an accessible perspective: Portable Player Portal Main Page. I am interested in Rockbox, which has a voice-based interface, but it does not allow for Audible.com playback.

Medialoper » That’s What I Like: Audible.com

I have to second this opinion: Medialoper » That’s What I Like: Audible.com. Listening to audiobooks while working out gives me the opportunity and discipline to listen to those long books that can't be listened to while going to sleep. I recently made it through Jenkins' biography of Churchill [Churchill: A Biography] and now am finishing the second volume of Foote's history of the Civil War [The Civil War: A Narrative (3 Vol. Set)].

First success with "More Unabridged Auiobooks!"

I have had my first success with my grass root campaign for more unabridged audio. I received an email this week from Ron Rosenbaum, the author of Explaining Hitler. I read this book a few years ago on cassette, but could not find it on Audible.com. I emailed Mr. Rosenbaum, who was kind enough to see that his book will be published on Audible.

From the email:

It took a while but we've made arrangements for books on tape to make the Hitler book available on audible.com. I'm not sure when it will become available (just signed the paperwork) but thought I'd let you know it's happening. Best, ron rosenbaum

Thank you, Mr. Rosenbaum.

Aldo on Audiobooks « Aldo on Audiobooks

Here is a great site about audiobooks, Aldo on Audiobooks « Aldo on Audiobooks. It is worth a look.

Update on "More Unabridged Auiobooks!"

I have heard back from one more publisher in my mini-crusade for more digital unabridged audiobooks. ________________________________________

From: @tantor.com Date: Mar 27, 2006 11:49 AM Subject: Re: Releasing more unabridged books on Audible.com

Thank you for your interest in Tantor Media. I am thrilled to hear you have enjoying our selection of titles. We are in the process of renegotiating our contract with Audible and I'm sure we will continue to release our titles available for download with Audible.

We do not have any current plans to release another William Gibson novel on audio, but will keep your suggestion in mind and certainly appreciate your input.

Sincerely, Tantor Media 114 Mill Rock Rd E Old Saybrook, CT 06475 877-782-6867x24 www.tantor.com

Tantor

More Unabridged Auiobooks!

I have begun a personal campaign to get more unabridged audiobooks released, especially on Audible.com or iTunes. I have contacted several publishers, including Highbridge, Tantor and Basic Books among others, and several authors, including Peter Bernstein, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jagdish Bhagwati, Joseph Stiglitz, Simon Singh, and Ron Rosenbaum among others. Some have even gotten back to me.

I have collected and attached all of the responses that I have collected so far. I stripped off the contact information, so, if you are inclined to contact the same people, drop me an email and I can share those with you.

Does anyone know how to contact the big publishing houses like HarperAudio, Simon & Schuster or Random House?

Some have argued that distribution costs for audiobooks, especially unabridged versions of longer books, are too high. I would think that this is true for distrubitng books via CD or cassette, but not electronically via Audible.com or iTunes. I know some authors are worried about DRM (illegal file sharing), but my impression is that most illegal copies are from CDs or cassettes and not pirated from iTunes or Audible.com.

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From: perseusbooks.com Subject: RE: Releasing audiobooks via Audible.com

Hello - Wonderful to hear of your interest in the Basic Books list.

Unfortunately, since we do not produce our own audiobooks, it would be up to audible to sub-license those titles from us.

It would be appreciated if you would let them know of your interest. If Audible then feels there is a wider market for these books they would contact us and let us regarding licensing.

Again, thanks for your interest in our publications. It's always a good thing to hear directly of a reader's interest.

Best, Bill Smith Domestic Rights Manager The Perseus Books Group

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Subject: FW: Question for Daniel Yergin about releasing his books on Audible.com

Hi,

I work in Dr. Yergin's office--thank you for your inquiry. Do you know how Audible.com works? I can't find anything on their website. Do they just take an existing audio tape or do they sometimes make their own versions?

Any info you have would be appreciated and we will look into it.

Best regards, Amy Kipp Executive Assistant to Daniel Yergin

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Subject: Re: DORISKEARNSGOODWIN.COM

One of the great joys of writing is receiving reactions like yours. I am glad you are enjoying my book on LBJ.

Right now, the unabridged version of Team of Rivals is only available in libraries. I have passed your note on to Simon & Schuster and we'll let you know if the unabridged version becomes available for retail purchase. I hope in the meantime you might hear the abridged version.

Thank you for taking the time to write to me.

With all best wishes, Doris Kearns Goodwin

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From: HighBridge.Audio Subject: RE: Gnd, Germs and Steel

Thank you for your email to HighBridge Audio. I apologize for some of our abridged titles. We have been trying to limit our releases to unabridged, but sometimes the length causes the price to be prohibitive for us to cover costs and publish. We have tried to make the cost workable for everyone, but it doesn't always work out that way on the longer titles.

Our library customers prefer the unabridged titles as well, so we hear this from them as well. I have passed your suggestion on to our production manager and editors for HighBridge. They appreciate your feedback. Audible is a growing business partner for HighBridge and you should be finding more of our titles with them in the future.

Thanks for the comments about our catalog. Our staff works hard to find good titles to publish. Have you read Secret Life of Bees? That's a great book!

Peter Regan HighBridge Audio

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Subject: Re: Releasing unabridged Explaining Hitler on Audible.com

Thank you for your interest in my book. I'm unfamiliar with audible.com but certainly would be willing to see if what you ask could be done. I know I sold the rights to "Books on Tape" which puts out a casette version so I don't know who has the authority to make the release. Do you have any suggestions for how to "release" it to Audible.com. If not I can ask my literary agent what control I have in the matter.

Again I appreciate your inquiry and will try to see what can be done.

Yours truly, Ron Rosenbaum

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From: Jagdish Bhagwati Subject: Re: Releasing your Books as Unabridged Audiobooks on Audible.com

I am sory to hear about your going blind.

I do not know how to do what you suggest but will tell my publishers about your suggestion.

My best wishes to you,

Professor Bhagwati

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Subject: Re: Contact Request

The abridged audios are the only audios that exist.

I regret that we do not own unabridged audios and therefore are unable to fulfill your request.

Sincerely, Barbara Bernstein, Exec. VP Peter L. Bernstein, Inc.

___________________________________ Audiobooks

Sounds for Sights - Audio Walking Tours

There was a comment on this blog a while back about another website offering audio tours, Sounds for Sights. I don't think they offer them directly through iTunes, but you can buy them off their website. It seems to be limited now to New York City, but expanding to Boston and DC soon.

The Complete Guide to iPod Audiobooks

The iPodLounge website has an excellent introdcution to using iPods to listen to audiobooks. So, if you have been thinking about becoming an audiobook listener, but have not yet taken that first step, this is for you.

Audio Books - New York Times

According to the New York Times today, Audio Books are becoming both more popular and more acceptable to the reading purist. I hope this trend continues as I rely on audio books for all of my non-professional reading. As the demand grows, so will the supply and variety of good quality audiobooks.

A Site for Sore Ears: A Review and Tour of Audible.Com - AccessWorld - March 2005

AccessWorld has an updated review, A Site for Sore Ears: A Review and Tour of Audible.Com, of Audible.com. I know I have posted about the virtues of Audibble.com before, but this update is worth looking st.

Easy Reading with Audible.com

Many people have realized the convenience that audiobooks provide. Not only are they great for many handicapped people, but audiobooks can be helpful to just about anyone. The main inconvenience has always been managing the large number of tapes or CDs for any unabridged book. If you have not heard about it already, there is a online company that provides books on tape without the this problem. Audible.com delivers audiobooks over the internet as computer files to be loaded on to your MP3 player or listened to at your computer. I have used this service for serial years now and love it. I can only read regular print text with low vision aids, so recreational reading was out of the question until I came across this service. The company has several subscription plans that keeps the cost of audiobooks around $10 per book, much less than the costs at your local bookstore. Many libraries are also beginning to offer Audible.com's services as a well. There are a few downsides. Audible.com does not offer the Harry Potter books, thought their collection is growing by leaps and bounds. You may only use 'certified' MP3 players, which include the iPod and the Creative Muvo. MP3 players have not been designed with accessibility ideas in mind, so they vary in their ease of use. [I will post my thoughts on the accessibility of MP3 players later on.] Lastly, the service is not free. Services for the blind, such as the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and your local library offer audiobooks for free. Despite the drawback, I am a big fan of Audible.com. Give it a try. PS Here is a great article, Books on Tape Without the Tape! about Audible.com from the January, 2003 issue of AccessWorld, the American Federation of the Blind's online journal of Technology and People with Visual Impairments, on Audible.com. The article goes into detail about accessibility issues and links to an email list for blind Audible.com listeners.