Audiobooks.com Launches a Spotify for Books

taosaur · 01-24-2012, 10:15 AM

http://mashable.com/2012/01/24/audiobooks-com

Personally, I'm not dropping more than $10/mo on any media service, and not likely to drop that much. Also, it takes me weeks to finish an audiobook--I dropped Audible because the credits piled up much faster than I cared to use them. Still, I can see how some people would appreciate this service in terms of sampling and browsing without committing to a purchase. Some people have a lot more time for audiobooks, too--long commutes and such, assuming you have data for this streaming service on your commute.

Would any of you use a service like this one? Is the cost too much?

tubemonkey · 01-24-2012, 11:10 AM

$25 per month? Are they crazy? No way.

edit: just realized you need a net connection to listen to them. That's a no go at any price.

CyGuy · 01-24-2012, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

$25 per month? Are they crazy? No way.

edit: just realized you need a net connection to listen to them. That's a no go at any price.

I agree on both counts. This is a non-starter...

AnemicOak · 01-24-2012, 11:33 AM

I go through a lot of audiobooks each month, so I spent some time browsing their selection. I'd maybe pay $9.99 tops (more like $5.99-$7.99).

As it looks now the selection isn't very good and I'm not sure I like the need for a constant net connection. Would definately have to give their free trial a go to see how well their streaming is and to see how usable it is while on the go.

taosaur · 01-24-2012, 02:26 PM

The comments on the article are mostly positive. More and more people are using services like Pandora w/ mobile data in their car and on transit; streaming isn't going to be an obstacle for them. Streaming has its pros, too. Audiobook files are ginormous, and in the six years I've been using them, I've only re-listened to one (World War Z, several times).

I do think they're looking at a minority of audiobook users who go through enough books in a month to justify the cost vs. purchasing downloads. Most books on Audible are $10-25, right?

tubemonkey · 01-24-2012, 02:41 PM

With public libraries, LibriVox, and Audible, you can use an MP3 player. With this service, you can't. You're tethered to the net and larger devices. Not very mobile friendly.

BoiseShan · 01-24-2012, 02:49 PM

You lost me at "per month."

Rich_D · 01-25-2012, 09:39 AM

I'm a platinum Audible subscriber, so I already spend about $25 a month ($22.95, I think), but the limited selection and connection requirement are deal breakers for me.

tubemonkey · 01-25-2012, 09:55 AM

Audible's also too expensive. So I rely primarily on the public library and a few free sources.

Rich_D · 01-26-2012, 01:44 PM

For me it's a trade off. I only pay $10 a month for my mobile phone service.

monkeygirl351 · 01-26-2012, 04:58 PM

I tried audiobooks, but I don't think they are for me. My fiance got the audiobook for ready player one, and we listened to it on our drive to my parents and back. It is his favorite book and he has the ebook, audiobook, and a signed copy of the hardback lol. Anyways, the audiobook was good, but I think I will read the ebook version again to absorb it better. i just feel I don't get as much out of audiobooks. As to the price for this service, it is kinda high for not a great selection, plus you are streaming. I believe that my library has more audiobooks than that, and they are free! I think if I do decide to get into audiobooks, I'll stick to my library.

01-24-2012, 10:15 AM	#1
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	Audiobooks.com Launches a Spotify for Books http://mashable.com/2012/01/24/audiobooks-com Personally, I'm not dropping more than $10/mo on any media service, and not likely to drop that much. Also, it takes me weeks to finish an audiobook--I dropped Audible because the credits piled up much faster than I cared to use them. Still, I can see how some people would appreciate this service in terms of sampling and browsing without committing to a purchase. Some people have a lot more time for audiobooks, too--long commutes and such, assuming you have data for this streaming service on your commute. Would any of you use a service like this one? Is the cost too much?

01-24-2012, 11:10 AM	#2
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,476 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	$25 per month? Are they crazy? No way. edit: just realized you need a net connection to listen to them. That's a no go at any price. Last edited by tubemonkey; 01-24-2012 at 11:27 AM.

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01-24-2012, 11:33 AM	#4
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	I go through a lot of audiobooks each month, so I spent some time browsing their selection. I'd maybe pay $9.99 tops (more like $5.99-$7.99). As it looks now the selection isn't very good and I'm not sure I like the need for a constant net connection. Would definately have to give their free trial a go to see how well their streaming is and to see how usable it is while on the go.

01-24-2012, 02:26 PM	#5
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	The comments on the article are mostly positive. More and more people are using services like Pandora w/ mobile data in their car and on transit; streaming isn't going to be an obstacle for them. Streaming has its pros, too. Audiobook files are ginormous, and in the six years I've been using them, I've only re-listened to one (World War Z, several times). I do think they're looking at a minority of audiobook users who go through enough books in a month to justify the cost vs. purchasing downloads. Most books on Audible are $10-25, right?

01-24-2012, 02:41 PM	#6
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,476 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	With public libraries, LibriVox, and Audible, you can use an MP3 player. With this service, you can't. You're tethered to the net and larger devices. Not very mobile friendly.

01-24-2012, 02:49 PM	#7
BoiseShan Connoisseur Posts: 89 Karma: 14598 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kindle	You lost me at "per month."

01-25-2012, 09:39 AM	#8
Rich_D Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1314896 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA Device: Android phone, Kobo Glo HD, nook ST with Glo (backup)	I'm a platinum Audible subscriber, so I already spend about $25 a month ($22.95, I think), but the limited selection and connection requirement are deal breakers for me.

01-25-2012, 09:55 AM	#9
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,476 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Audible's also too expensive. So I rely primarily on the public library and a few free sources.

01-26-2012, 01:44 PM	#10
Rich_D Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1314896 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA Device: Android phone, Kobo Glo HD, nook ST with Glo (backup)	For me it's a trade off. I only pay $10 a month for my mobile phone service.

01-26-2012, 04:58 PM	#11
monkeygirl351 Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 496762 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: ipod touch, ipad, and kindle 3	I tried audiobooks, but I don't think they are for me. My fiance got the audiobook for ready player one, and we listened to it on our drive to my parents and back. It is his favorite book and he has the ebook, audiobook, and a signed copy of the hardback lol. Anyways, the audiobook was good, but I think I will read the ebook version again to absorb it better. i just feel I don't get as much out of audiobooks. As to the price for this service, it is kinda high for not a great selection, plus you are streaming. I believe that my library has more audiobooks than that, and they are free! I think if I do decide to get into audiobooks, I'll stick to my library.

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