| Audiobooks generally come in two formats: MP3 and | | | | are using Windows. |
| WMA. Both of these formats will play on PCs and | | | | It is very easy to download an audiobook. Once you |
| Macs and mostportable players, like the iPod. | | | | have made your purchase from a reputable online |
| The book publisher chooses which format they want | | | | store, you will be taken through to a special part of |
| the title to be distributed in. When you purchase a | | | | the site where you can download the files you have |
| downloadable titlefrom an online store, you are | | | | purchased. Easy to follow instructions are always |
| usually taken to a special area of the site where you | | | | provided on the download page. |
| can choose from a variety of fileformat based on | | | | Audiobooks will work on a standard PC and Mac and |
| the quality of the recording. | | | | there is no risk of breaking the law as with many |
| Naturally, the higher the quality, the bigger the file | | | | music sites and piracy. |
| and thus the longer it will take to download. If you | | | | ALL of the content of audiobooks has been |
| have a high speed broadband Internet connection | | | | approved by the publishers and copyright holders. As |
| you will probably prefer to download the highest | | | | a paying customer you are entitled to download and |
| quality file available. If you have a slow Internet | | | | listen to these files as often as you wish and on |
| connection you can choose to download a file that is | | | | whatever equipment you wish. However, like any |
| smaller in size, but will not be of quite the same | | | | other media, it is illegal to make copies of the files |
| quality, but it will still be very listenable. | | | | and give them to other people. |
| With 70% of the digital player market dominated by | | | | The length of time it will take for an audiobook |
| Apple and the iPod, a natural question is whether the | | | | download will vary greatly depending on what kind of |
| audiobooks can be transferred to the iPod. The | | | | Internet connection you have. If you have a |
| answer is a resounding "yes." | | | | broadband connection it will take just a few minutes |
| All you have to do is burn the files to CD first (this is | | | | per part. If you have a 56k dial-up connection it will |
| a step we'd always recommend as it is wise to make | | | | be considerably slower. |
| a physical backup copy of anything you buy just in | | | | If a recording is several hours long we will have split |
| case your computer ever fails or is stolen) and then | | | | it into several parts to make it easier to download so |
| rip that CD straight into iTunes, when it's transferred | | | | even if you are on a slow connection you can start |
| to your iPod on synchronization. | | | | listening to the first part whilst the others are |
| And don't worry, Copying the files to an audio CD on | | | | downloading. |
| your computer is quick and easy, particularly if you | | | | |