With the rapid development of technology, listening audiobook has become a popular phenomenon for most people to acquire the knowledge and information. At the same time, many companies arose in the market. Such as Audible, Downpour and Libro.fm.
Under the fierce competition, most of users chose the Audible subscription. While, a lot of customers encounter the same inconvenience that even if they have subscribed the Audible, but they can't play their audiobook on unauthorized devices, such as iPod, car audio systems, Zune, iRiver because of the DRM protection. So many users want to have the rights to download their audiobook and play them freely without DRM restriction.
Under the fierce competition, most of users chose the Audible subscription. While, a lot of customers encounter the same inconvenience that even if they have subscribed the Audible, but they can't play their audiobook on unauthorized devices, such as iPod, car audio systems, Zune, iRiver because of the DRM protection. So many users want to have the rights to download their audiobook and play them freely without DRM restriction.
Part 1. The Past Situation of Audiobook Market
Part 2. Introduction of the Google DRM-free Audiobook Store
Part 3. Summary
A decade years later, Audible controls more than 90% of the audiobook market as the dominance, it's not surprising that Audible would choose anticompetitive technology to lock customers and supplies on this platform. When you control 90% of a market, it's more difficult to gain users than lose them, and so anything you can do to stay users into your platform helps you. For Audible and Amazon, DRM is a signature tech to support their dominance for long terms.
Google has been providing the Google's native audiobooks players, it supports synch across multiple devices, tunable playback speed, but the more important thing is that you aren't restricted to use that player.
In other words, when you buy your audiobooks from DRM-free audiobook store, you can download them to any device, play it on any device, convert them, archive them, back them up. If you don't want to use Google products in the future, you won't lose your audiobooks. It means you can save them into your local folder and freely playback them anywhere.
Today is a day that pursues the fair play in the market. Anyone who wants to monopoly market and anticompetitive should be opposed by the consumer. Market concentrations is a modern scourge, but even by contemporary standards, the audiobook market is a disaster. Anyone who buys another DRM-locked Audible book, uncaring monopolist that has abused its dominance for a decade. Only in a fair competitive environment, the resource can be used the most efficient.
Source: https://boingboing.net/2018/07/20/dont-restrict-me.html
Part 2. Introduction of the Google DRM-free Audiobook Store
Part 3. Summary
Part 1. The Past Situation of Audiobook Market
Ten years ago, when Amazon bought the Audible, these 2 companies promised they would abolished their DRM protection. Which is an encrypted technology can restrict customers from using their proprietary software and devices to play the books they purchase only.A decade years later, Audible controls more than 90% of the audiobook market as the dominance, it's not surprising that Audible would choose anticompetitive technology to lock customers and supplies on this platform. When you control 90% of a market, it's more difficult to gain users than lose them, and so anything you can do to stay users into your platform helps you. For Audible and Amazon, DRM is a signature tech to support their dominance for long terms.
Part 2. Introduction of the Google DRM-free Audiobook Store
I've gotten to know a lot of people in the audiobook market, and they've all been praying for an alternative to Audible. Recently, Google launches a DRM-free audiobook store, which is a writer and listener-friendly Audible alternative. When Google informed the publishing news that they were launching a DRM-free competitor.Google has been providing the Google's native audiobooks players, it supports synch across multiple devices, tunable playback speed, but the more important thing is that you aren't restricted to use that player.
In other words, when you buy your audiobooks from DRM-free audiobook store, you can download them to any device, play it on any device, convert them, archive them, back them up. If you don't want to use Google products in the future, you won't lose your audiobooks. It means you can save them into your local folder and freely playback them anywhere.
Part 3. Summary
Compared Audible with Amazon MP3 Store, you may feel disappointed in the formal. Amazon MP3 Store pioneered DRM-free music downloads in the same year the company bought Audible. At that times, Amazon's slogan was "DRM: DON'T RESTRICT ME" There is no doubt that Amazon's DRM-free music store intended to collaborate with the record labels to break the monopoly of Apple Music. Therefore, When Amazon is trying to seize control, DRM is the enemy; when it attains control, DRM is a must-have.Today is a day that pursues the fair play in the market. Anyone who wants to monopoly market and anticompetitive should be opposed by the consumer. Market concentrations is a modern scourge, but even by contemporary standards, the audiobook market is a disaster. Anyone who buys another DRM-locked Audible book, uncaring monopolist that has abused its dominance for a decade. Only in a fair competitive environment, the resource can be used the most efficient.
Source: https://boingboing.net/2018/07/20/dont-restrict-me.html
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