audible

5 GPS devices that do more than just navigate

Space is a premium in your car's cabin, even more so when we're discussing your windshield. You don't want to go cluttering up your view of the road with too many devices. It's easy to get out of hand with a navigator, a Bluetooth speakerphone, an audio source, and a fuel economy meter.

That's why we've rounded up five portable GPS devices that do more than just navigate.… Read more

Hands-on with Madden 13 at E3: Kinect's killer app

Normally, a new version of EA Sports' Madden Football is an E3 non-event. Not so at E3 2012: in fact, it became a sort of poster-child for future-forward gaming.

Admittedly, the second-screen Madden prototypes on Xbox SmartGlass shown briefly at Microsoft's press conference aren't real (yet), but Madden 13 does feature integrated Kinect features and completely new player physics, dubbed Infinity Engine.

The most interesting part of the Madden's Kinect feature-set is that it doesn't use the camera: instead, it relies on voice commands as a way of controlling pre-snap adjustments on offense and defense. Joe Montana seemed to pull it off well during Microsoft's keynote, but I needed proof. I tried it in a relatively quiet E3 show floor booth, and it not only worked, but it could end up being a feature I actually use. … Read more

How to get the Steve Jobs bio (audiobook) for free

I've always been a big fan of biographies. Recent favorites include Simon Pegg's "Nerd Do Well" and Rob Lowe's "Stories I Only Tell My Friends." My wife picked out the latter for a car trip, and while I wasn't terribly enthused at the time, it turns out Lowe's autobiography is relentlessly entertaining--especially the audiobook version, which he reads himself.

Needless to say, as a longtime technology writer and enthusiast, I'm keen to read--or hear--the new Steve Jobs biography. But I'm not so keen on spending $16.99 for the … Read more

Hurray! Audible app adds new mobile store

When Audible.com rolled out its iPhone app earlier this year, the big complaint was that you couldn't browse the Audible store or buy audiobooks on the fly. You could access your existing library of purchases, but for new stuff, you had to stop by your PC.

Not anymore. Audible 1.3 provides access to a new mobile store, where you can browse and search Audible's catalog of more than 85,000 audiobooks. See something you like? Buy it or add it to your wish list on the spot. (To actually download books, however, you need to be … Read more

Hurray! Audible app adds new mobile store

(To actually download books, however, you need to be … Read more

Adequate Audible tool

AudibleManager is a simple way for users of Audible, an online audio bookstore, to organize their purchased books, podcasts, and other media. The program works just fine, although people who already use programs like iTunes to manage their Audible downloads will find that the AudibleManager doesn't offer anything particularly useful.

The program's interface is plain and intuitive, and it's quite easy to use. Users simply import media that they've downloaded from Audible and then use the program to transfer the files to a variety of portable devices. The program also functions as an audio player and … Read more

Five MP3 players for audiobook addicts

I have a confession to make. Earlier this year I got my hands on an audiobook CD version of Frank Herbert's sci-fi classic Dune, which I used to research a segment on how to rip audiobook CDs to an iPod. But what started as research became an obsession. For several weeks, I stopped listening to music or my regular rotation of podcasts and devoted all of my recreational listening hours to Dune (mind you, it's a long book). When it was done...I listened to the whole thing all over again! A month of my life got sucked … Read more

Ex-default for Kindle 2 text-to-speech: Legal?

Amazon yielded to the inevitable on Friday when it announced (in this statement) that it would no longer enable the text-to-speech feature on its Kindle 2 e-book reader by default; publishers can make the call.

Instead, publishers may enable the text-to-speech feature on a title-by-title basis, if they believe that choice is in their best interest.

I have been sorely tempted to write a response to some of the factually incorrect and even grossly deceitful pieces I've seen written about this issue since the Kindle 2 was launched, but fortunately, Amazon has made that unnecessary. Nevertheless, there are still … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 707: Space is cancelled

The Russians have canceled their space tourism program, because space is too serious to monetize. Also, Skype offers unlimited long-distance on...phones. VoIP is so dead. You heard it here first. In other news, Microsoft bonanza: Windows predictions, welcoming ethical hackers, and burning down your house. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 707

Skype offers unlimited long-distance plan http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/idUSN2141013920080421

Google tops Microsoft, Apple in brand power http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9924273-7.html

Britannica makes content free with widgets, publisher registration http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9923867-7.html

Hackers cancel attack on CNN http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/144850/hackers_cancel_attack_on_cnn.html… Read more