User profile for user: Webstyr
Webstyr Author
User level: 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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26 replies
User profile for user: Webstyr
Webstyr Author
User level: 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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User profile for user: Chas Hulme
Chas Hulme
User level: 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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User profile for user: Webstyr
Webstyr Author
User level: 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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User profile for user: chronart
chronart
User level: Level 1
8 points

Mar 23, 2007 11:43 PM in response to a brody

I never use my iPod to listen to music or watch a video or look at pictures. All I use them for is listening to books I have downloaded from Audible.com. I love listening in my car, on walks, and on the stairmaster. Now I thought with Apple TV I was adding the capability to enjoy the books while doing housework without wires and earplugs. Guess I'm return it and get my money back until Apple fixes it.

Barry Gamble

MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.6)
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User profile for user: chirpy99
chirpy99
User level: Level 1
0 points

Apr 4, 2007 11:35 AM in response to Webstyr

I actually listened to part of one of my many audio books today using the Apple TV (it was "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life"), but it was one I purchased from the iTunes Store of course.

What I find ironic about Apple TV not playing books purchased directly from Audible is that there was a coupon for 3 free audio books from Audible in the box for the cable I bought along with the Apple TV from the Apple Store.

I know the cables aren't Apple brand, but still... I was looking forward to getting those free books. Which I'll still do, but now I know I can't listen to them on the Apple TV, just the iPod or Mac.

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User profile for user: a brody
a brody
User level: Level 10
85,314 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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User profile for user: Moumea
Moumea
User level: Level 1
0 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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Audiobooks & Apple TV - Apple's dirty little secret?

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