Blogging Ottinger (tim)

B&N has a new mp3 e-book store. Good for them. Books on CD or Tape or MP3 are a nice way to catch up on some stories while resting your eyes. MP3 is the “standard” format for all audio these days though it is kind of a lowest common denominator. Everyone has some kind of mp3 player(s), some built into cars, some portable, and every computer loaded to the hilt with them. A lot of devices that can play mp3 files can also browse the net. This is true for mobile phones, netbooks, and you-name it.

I see this, and go off a bit (emphasis mine):

After you complete your B&N.com purchase, we’ll send you two emails, usually within 5 minutes or less of placing your order. The second email will have a link to download your Audiobook MP3. In order to play the MP3, you’ll also need to download the Media Console. This free program allows you to download Audiobook MP3s, listen to them, and transfer them to other devices, including burning to a CD if you wish. The console also serves as your audiobook library

Why would B&N require a special downloader for their store? This kills me. There are web technologies a-plenty out there. You can do http and ftp and whatever you like for actual transfer (and theirs surely does). You can secure URLs using standard web tech. Why in the world would I want a custom barnes-and-noble file downloader that only works for their sites? Does that sound assinine? Redundant? Limited? Stupid?

If that whole game were server-side, and the prices prove to be good, then I could be happy about this service. But I’m not.

I’m not a Windows or Mac user. I choose not to be, and I expect that to have certain repercussions. But I’m not going to be alone here. Every device that isn’t a windows PC or a Mac is shut out of the store. Why would B&N not be going after books-on-phones like it was free money? This seems short sighted. Standard web tech would allow them to reach everyone. Their downloader means only Macs and PCs, and only those whose owners want to bother with downloading yet another limited, pointless application.

If I had something like the kindle or sony reader that had http, ample storage, and wifi, I could see mixing ebooks and mp3 books on the device. That would be a all-in-one edutainment center to reckon with. But it wouldn’t work at Barnes & Noble.

As is, I’m better off with RSS feeds to radio programs I care about. Sorry B&N, though I still love you and retain my membership, but this strikes me as bone-headed.