Playing Audio Books

[FairTax]

I have my Tivo connected to my computer and play mp3 files and it works great but I want to listen to my audio books and they are .aa file extensions. How can we get Tivo to update their software to play .aa file extensions??? There are millions of Audible.com audio books on home computers and I'm sure all the Tivo owners with audio books would love to play them. Come on Tivo please update your software!

[solutionsetc]

Audible.com books are DRM'd (at least the ones I have are). Not a simple thing for TiVo to play them. You would be better off looking for something to remove the DRM and then TiVo would be able to play them.

[FairTax]

Not exactly true but sort of. The DRM is so you don't record into other formats and is your license to play the copy you have. Any audio player software on your computer will play the DRM audio books. I have many audio players on this computer and they all play the audio books with no problem because I have the license. The Tivo Desktop software is on this same computer with access to the license codes so there isn't any reason why it can't play the files like all the other audio player software can.


Audible.com books are DRM'd (at least the ones I have are). Not a simple thing for TiVo to play them. You would be better off looking for something to remove the DRM and then TiVo would be able to play them.

[Yoav]

Not exactly true but sort of. The DRM is so you don't record into other formats and is your license to play the copy you have. Any audio player software on your computer will play the DRM audio books. I have many audio players on this computer and they all play the audio books with no problem because I have the license. The Tivo Desktop software is on this same computer with access to the license codes so there isn't any reason why it can't play the files like all the other audio player software can.

I'm guessing that this is done via a codec on your computer. Any program that wants to PLAY it on your computer simply uses the codec to play. However, transferring to the tivo will not remove the DRM, and since there's no equivalent codec on the tivo, it won't be able to play it. If you can find a tool to convert the audio file to a format (mp3, aac, etc) without DRM, you're golden. However, without that, I think the tivo simply won't be able to play it.

[FairTax]

I suggest you re-read the original post. Because Tivo won't play the .aa files is the reason for the post in the first place. You are right with the codec that Tivo needs one to play the .aa file type but there isn't any transferring involved. The Tivo desktop software just accesses the audio files on your computer just like any other media player does.

I'm guessing that this is done via a codec on your computer. Any program that wants to PLAY it on your computer simply uses the codec to play. However, transferring to the tivo will not remove the DRM, and since there's no equivalent codec on the tivo, it won't be able to play it. If you can find a tool to convert the audio file to a format (mp3, aac, etc) without DRM, you're golden. However, without that, I think the tivo simply won't be able to play it.

[solutionsetc]

Not exactly true but sort of. The DRM is so you don't record into other formats and is your license to play the copy you have. Any audio player software on your computer will play the DRM audio books. I have many audio players on this computer and they all play the audio books with no problem because I have the license. The Tivo Desktop software is on this same computer with access to the license codes so there isn't any reason why it can't play the files like all the other audio player software can.

The TiVo desktop software does not play the file... it simply pipes the file to the TiVo. The TiVo plays the file, and in this case it can't.

[FairTax]

yes exactly and in doing so it can verify the DRM license and with the correct codec in Tivo box it can play the .aa file. This whole topic is just a suggestion for Tivo to add so millions of audio books can be played without having to use DRM stiping software and convert the .aa files into mp3. This can be done and the Tivo software writers should make it happen.


The TiVo desktop software does not play the file... it simply pipes the file to the TiVo. The TiVo plays the file, and in this case it can't.

[solutionsetc]

This can be done and the Tivo software writers should make it happen.

I am afraid it is not as simple as that. This can't be done the way you describe without licensing Audible.com DRM. This would most likely affect TiVo's bottom line and add to unit cost unless they become a Audible partner and offer an interface for purchasing books and downloading to TiVo (which I don't think would be all that attractive to TiVo or their customers).

[jcthorne]

There are many propritary DRM'd formats out there. Audible's .aa is but one. Tivo does not licence them nor support DRM'd audio media. If you want your tivo to play the books, convert them to a non DRM'd standard audio format.

I might suggest you look into MuvAudio before your DRM licence database gets corrupted and you loose the licences you paid for. DRM'd audio are BAD NEWS and should be avoided at all cost. Once you convert to a standard format, you will not have to worry about the DRM on Tivo or any other device you wish to listen to the content you paid for.