Audiobooks discussion
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Axis 360 vs Overdrive
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message 1:
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Carlissa
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Sep 26, 2016 05:51AM
My library will be switching from Overdrive to Axis 360 on Oct. 1, and I was wondering if anyone here has used Axis 360? If so, do you like it? My library claims they are making the switch so they can provide more books and less wait times with Axis.
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It's overall got a worse audiobook format and selection I think (they both feature books that the other doesn't, but just for instance, my Overdrive features Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore and What I Talk About Running audio books, in addition to EBooks of 1Q84 and Colorless Tsukuru Tuzaki ; Axis 360 only has Wind/Pinball as an audio book, and then only the miniscule Strange Library as an EBook). The one good thing with Axis 360 is that it has robot narration support built in for its EBooks. So if your device supports some sort of text to speech, you can have a book that isn't offered as an audiobook read to you.
My library is adding Hooplah at some point, but I hope they keep Overdrive and Axis 360. I use them both pretty much every week.
I don't know if anyone else has noticed it, but as I have checked around many other libraries around the country, I have noticed the fact that many of them are no longer offering Overdrive download, but are offering newer streaming audiobook programs. Anyone else notice it that besides me. Is it because of the long wait Overdrive has for many of the more popular books?
Mara wrote: "I don't know if anyone else has noticed it, but as I have checked around many other libraries around the country, I have noticed the fact that many of them are no longer offering Overdrive download..."Maybe. I just got Hoopla and there's no waiting for anything I've taken out (and you can take out 30 things a month; if you take something out on the last day of the month, it doesn't affect next month's limit). It doesn't have Girl on the Train though (it has Girl on A Train, which tricked me into wasting a rental).
360, I still wait a while sometimes.
Terrence, I have access to Hoopla, Axis 360, and Cloud Library which now just lets us download Ebooks. I am an audiobook person.I just saying that not all libraries around the country are jumping on Overdrives bandwagon for whatever reason.
This is making me nervous. Overdrive (so far) still lets me download the audiobook and move it to my Sansa Clip. Those others force me to stream. Hoping my library doesn't make this shift.
Axis 360 doesn't even let you listen to your audiobooks on the computer last I recall. 360 used to be quicker loading wise than Overdrive, though my phone is struggling with both of them now.Hoopla is great so far. Overdrive is pretty great for the benefit of being able to Whispersync the Amazon Kindle downloads you get from the library.
Axis 360 is a horrible system and its website access is so antiquated to be laughable. Half the time I can't login and the rest of the time I can't view or download titles, or they simply disappear from my wishlist, holds list, or library. Overdrive, with its new libby app, worked great. Simple and reliable, unlike the Axis 360 app that stops mid listen then requires the book to be downloaded once again. Axis is a very bad system and wish my local library would have tested it more carefully before switching. Very disappointed.
It may not be Axis 360 but the library who maintains it.
binter wrote: "This is making me nervous. Overdrive (so far) still lets me download the audiobook and move it to my Sansa Clip. Those others force me to stream. Hoping my library doesn't make this shift."I'm with you. I do NOT want to stream. My library is shifting away from Overdrive to 3M Cloud at the end of this year. Major bummer, but it didn't have much selection anyway. I just joined Brooklyn Public Library to (more than) fill the void.
I hate streaming, too, because there is the occasional "dead zone" during my hourly commute. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to get your audiobook back while driving at the same time. I used to be a devout Overdrive transfer to Sansa Fuze audiobook consumer. But now I'm loving hoopla, Audible and Smart Audiobook Player because I can speed up the audio. Can't do that with my Sansa unless I want to listen to chipmunks.
With hoopla, you can download the audiobook to your device so you do not have to stream.
