Audiobooks & Apple TV - Apple's dirty little secret?

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Level 1

114 points

Audiobooks & Apple TV - Apple's dirty little secret?

I have been playing with my new Apple TV since 3pm yesterday and I love it. Works as expected. I can see the hooks for future firmware updates to enable direct purchases and other niceties.

However, there is one complaint I have about it. Audiobooks. The only audiobooks that will play on Apple TV are the audiobooks you buy from the iTunes Store. I buy mine through Audible.com.

I can play audiobooks from Audible.com or from the iTunes Store on my iPod and also in iTunes, so why is Apple preventing me from listening to my audiobooks through Apple TV? Enquiring minds want to know.

I'm a loyal Apple customer since the Apple II days. I have used a Mac since '84. I've converted more PC users to Macs than I can count, but this smacks of Apple strong arming their customers, forcing them to shop in their on-line store. What do you guys think? It just doesn't make sense. I mean, Apple isn't preventing me from accessing MP4,MP3 or AAC files I didn't buy in the iTunes Store. Why audiobooks? Why? Why? WHY?!!

Apple, if this is the result of some kind of contractual conflict, please come forward and tell us so we'll understand the issue, and more importantly so it doesn't leave us with a bad taste in our mouths.

G5 2.5gHz PowerMac, Mac Mini Core Duo Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on Mar 23, 2007 9:46 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Moumea

Level 1

18 points

Jun 20, 2007 12:15 PM in response to Moumea

The official word--at least via tech. email--is now this. Audible says it is Apple, that they have tried to make it work, but Apple isn't allowing the format even though they have it in iTunes and on the ipod. If this bothers you--and it does bother me--will you please take the time to make your fellings known to Apple on the above listed feedback site.

From Audible:

"As per your email, unfortunately this device is not compatible with Audible. The manufacturer of the AppleTV has chosen not to make this device compatible with the .aa file format. To make a device compatible with the .aa format means supporting our encryption, this protects the publishers’ copyrights as well as implementing key usability features, such as section navigation and resume playback. Each manufacturer must be willing to alter the device firmware to make it compatible with Audible. Some manufacturers do not wish to make this change. This is why some devices are not compatible with our content. As we become a more noted household name I’m certain manufacturers will be more accommodating with respect to Audible and allow for the necessary changes. So as of now we have done everything on our part as we at Audible would love to be compatible with the AppleTV but as of now Apple does not want this device to be compatible with our product, please remember that it is always up to the manufacturer of the device to decide whether or not they want it to be compatible.

Thank you and have a nice day!"

a bunch of Macs Mac OS X (10.4.9)

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Answer 2

Chas Hulme

Level 4

1,130 points

Mar 23, 2007 10:18 AM in response to Webstyr

The file types you speak of (.mp3, .aac/.m4a) are unprotected content. The difference being, that audiobooks purchased directly from Audible.com are protected content (.aa) proprietary to Audible. Audiobooks from the iTMS are also protected, but instead by the Apple "FairPlay" DRM. The iTMS audiobook files, which commonly carry a filespec of .m4b, contain metadata, chapter marks, etc... And although .aa files are supported by iTunes directly, they do not appear to be on tv. This explains the mechanism of why Audible .aa files won't play on Apple tv, but not why Apple didn't provide the support for them. It may very well be a lack of agreeement with Audible.com.

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Answer 3

a brody

Level 10

85,382 points

Mar 23, 2007 12:22 PM in response to Webstyr

There is this article about what will play:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304974

Looks like Audible will play, but with certain limitations.

I would contact Audible and ask them to consider a format change, or ask them to ask Apple to work with them on making all their files compatible.

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Answer 4

a brody

Level 10

85,382 points

Apr 5, 2007 6:01 AM in response to Moumea

When you return it, most stores will ask you why.
But before you give up on it, you can always use software to re-encode the audio book into a format AppleTV will accept. Pure AAC and non-DRMed MPEG-3 files are acceptable. Granted, stripping the DRM may not be legal, so we can't explain to you how to do so on this board. But as long as you are doing it for your own personal use and not distributing it, and don't tell anyone we won't know!

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Answer 5

Moumea

Level 1

18 points

Apr 9, 2007 3:36 PM in response to Moumea

PS. Apple does not yet have a link to send feedback about the AppleTV, so I used the iTunes feedback area to request/complain about Audible. That is here:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/itunesapp.html

Hopefully folks who are interested will join me in letting Apple know that Audible is an important part of our iTunes experience, and that we would like to have it on the AppleTV.

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Answer 6

Mike Kelley

Level 7

29,299 points

Sep 6, 2007 4:55 AM in response to Moumea

So... does this mean you kept your ATV? I was just curious because you said you weren't interested in trying to make your protected files work with ATV and would return it.

If you did end up keeping it, you might still want to consider those methods -- as Brody said, we can't discuss them here but a simple Google will reveal the process (which is surprisingly easy, quick and free) and then you can have the functionality you desire.

And do remember that posting at the feedback link you found is the only way Apple folk will ever hear your dissatisfaction (mods do frequent the forum but no one who can or would do anything about this situation from Apple will ever see this).

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Answer 7

Moumea

Level 1

18 points

May 2, 2007 9:31 AM in response to Moumea

The feedback site is now here:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/appletv.html

Please post your desires about Audible here.

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Answer 8

mrtotes

Level 6

11,836 points

Apr 5, 2007 3:37 PM in response to Moumea

Hello and Welcome to Discussions.

I totally agree with your sentiments, however, wouldn't the Airport Express with AirTunes be a more suitable product for your needs?

regards

mrtotes

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Answer 9

Webstyr Author

Level 1

114 points

Mar 23, 2007 10:07 AM in response to Webstyr

Here is something of interest I just found over at audible.com's website in their press releases:

"Audible customers can also have their Audible content wirelessly delivered to their smart mobile devices every day, even while they are asleep, taking the computer out of the equation. In addition to Audible's Web sites, Audible's content is available at the Apple iTunes Music Store, where Audible is the exclusive provider of paid spoken content"

So, if Apple get their audiobooks from Audible, why won't Audible's audiobooks play through Apple TV? This just gets more wierd by the minute! What is up with this, Apple?

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Answer 10

Webstyr Author

Level 1

114 points

Mar 23, 2007 10:31 AM in response to Chas Hulme

I suspect you're correct in your assumption. That would be mine as well. I just posed this question to audible through their customer support system. I hope that if enough people complain that it will put enough pressure on both sides to come to an agreement so that Apple will support audible's format. In the meantime I think A[pple should stop saying things like "If it's on iTunes, it's on your TV". It just ain't so.

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Answer 11

Moumea

Level 1

18 points

Apr 5, 2007 11:03 AM in response to a brody

AND I'LL TELL THEM WHY. My, my your a testy sort. In my state I have a right to return something for 15 or 30 days, depending. And if you want a reason, the sales slogan promise vs. the reality is good enough for me. If its on itunes... Oh, well, if some of its on iTunes,.... Oh well, didn't you read the * burried in our online support document when you were at the store? I sure hope Apple doesn't plan on wanting to look like that.

Secondly, I'm not even vaguely interested in taking the time to do a work around, legal or not. Downloading takes long enough. I'll just go get a 60G ipod and hook it up to the TV. Then my Audible files will work. Done. I'll miss the wireless, but, oh well.

Now, I'm looking into it for a few more days, to see if there will be a solution. Audible says there trying to talk with the Apple folks to work something out.

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Answer 12

Moumea

Level 1

18 points

Apr 5, 2007 7:26 PM in response to mrtotes

Well, I think airtunes would probably do for Audible, but I do download TV shows, too. Having AppleTV in my media center, hooked up to my stereo as well as my monitor, alows me to use the interface for picking music (but as of yet not audio books) which is awfully nice.

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Answer 13

Moumea

Level 1

18 points

Apr 9, 2007 3:19 PM in response to DaveLiff

Sadly, the Audible folks--at least those in customer service--have no idea when or if ever Audible will be supported by the AppleTV. So mine is probably going back today or tomorrow as I am running out of time to return it. Pity, because otherwise, I like it.

a bunch of Macs Mac OS X (10.4.9)

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Answer 14

May 2, 2007 1:39 PM in response to Moumea

Wait a minute... didn't I see where Audible signed a deal to make its catalog available through ITMS? If you bought them through Audible, they'd be in Audible's DRM scheme, but since Audible's stuff is also available on ITMS (is it still?) short of making their customers re-buy everything in FairPlay, it'd be easiest for Audible to strike a deal with ITMS to allow you to re-download your stuff through ITMS, and problem solved.

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Answer 15

R C-R

Level 6

17,810 points

Apr 5, 2007 6:01 PM in response to Chas Hulme

Check The Apple Store (U.S.) - Apple TV. The "If its on iTunes, its on TV." slogan is all you see. This is misleading, especially since this is the Store's slogan representation.

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