MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - What is "Overdrive"?

1611mac · 11-04-2011, 11:37 PM

I'm looking for comments and corrections to my understanding of "Overdrive." Please forgive my detail and lengthy post....

I'm new to library lending and somewhat confused. Here's my thinking to date after borrowing one eBook from a library (and reading about Overdrive).

In hearing about "Overdrive" in these forums and elsewhere, I thought it was a "system" to handle display and/or play digital material received from libraries. You hear about it, see it's logo, etc, etc. but.....

"Overdrive" actually seems to be a digital media distributor, providing media services for libraries, schools, and retailers. See short article HERE.

"Overdrive" has a product named "Overdrive Media Console" which is available for Windows, OSX, and a multitude of portable devices, however, Overdrive Media Console may NOT be needed to actually use some of the delivered digital material.

I was surprised when my library "Overdrive" book download was actually an Adobe Digital Editions book (on my iMac and iPad.)

I now also understand that content is delivered to different devices in different formats (i.e.: the recent Kindle announcement.) So in reality there is no single "overdrive format," but rather "Overdrive" is the system that delivers the proper format to the device (and with the proper privileges, rights, etc., determined by the lender and/or seller.)

Some confusion came to me when I learned that some "Adobe Digital Editions" compatible apps on my iPad could "get" the library book (file) itself, so I wondered, why do I need OMC?? I think the answer is that Overdrive would be needed to play other types of media... Audio Books, Vids, etc. True?

So..... If, I use a reader app on my iPad to download an "Overdrive" "ADE" book from a library I really never need to know about "Overdrive". As long as I have my ADE account setup I really never need to know about ADE either. The download simply occurs and I can read the book in my app.

Same is true for Kindle and other devices. The proper file is downloaded and the user does not need to "know/use" "Overdrive" (though it's actually being used for delivery).

So what about other media? When is Overdrive Media Console actually needed/used?

Please, correct and expand on my interpretation.

(btw... I did an "overdrive" search of these forums but did not find this type of info. I posted a question in the "Apple Device" forum but did not receive much discussion.)

11-04-2011, 11:37 PM	#1
1611mac eWanderer Posts: 523 Karma: 1441998 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NC, USA Device: iMac,iPad3,iPhone5-Kindle Fire,Touch,PaperWhite	What is "Overdrive"? - Summary discussion I'm looking for comments and corrections to my understanding of "Overdrive." Please forgive my detail and lengthy post.... I'm new to library lending and somewhat confused. Here's my thinking to date after borrowing one eBook from a library (and reading about Overdrive). In hearing about "Overdrive" in these forums and elsewhere, I thought it was a "system" to handle display and/or play digital material received from libraries. You hear about it, see it's logo, etc, etc. but..... "Overdrive" actually seems to be a digital media distributor, providing media services for libraries, schools, and retailers. See short article HERE. "Overdrive" has a product named "Overdrive Media Console" which is available for Windows, OSX, and a multitude of portable devices, however, Overdrive Media Console may NOT be needed to actually use some of the delivered digital material. I was surprised when my library "Overdrive" book download was actually an Adobe Digital Editions book (on my iMac and iPad.) I now also understand that content is delivered to different devices in different formats (i.e.: the recent Kindle announcement.) So in reality there is no single "overdrive format," but rather "Overdrive" is the system that delivers the proper format to the device (and with the proper privileges, rights, etc., determined by the lender and/or seller.) Some confusion came to me when I learned that some "Adobe Digital Editions" compatible apps on my iPad could "get" the library book (file) itself, so I wondered, why do I need OMC?? I think the answer is that Overdrive would be needed to play other types of media... Audio Books, Vids, etc. True? So..... If, I use a reader app on my iPad to download an "Overdrive" "ADE" book from a library I really never need to know about "Overdrive". As long as I have my ADE account setup I really never need to know about ADE either. The download simply occurs and I can read the book in my app. Same is true for Kindle and other devices. The proper file is downloaded and the user does not need to "know/use" "Overdrive" (though it's actually being used for delivery). So what about other media? When is Overdrive Media Console actually needed/used? Please, correct and expand on my interpretation. (btw... I did an "overdrive" search of these forums but did not find this type of info. I posted a question in the "Apple Device" forum but did not receive much discussion.)