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

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.

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.

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)

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.

Has anything happened with this? Does anyone know?

The feedback site is now here:

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

Please post your desires about Audible here.

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.

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)

Hey Apple dudes! Now that you've released a lot of snazzy new ipods and you are displaying them on your website alongside the AppleTV as if they are all part of the same series could you please make them AppleTV compatible with Audible? Please?

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).