The Sentient Search Engine

Overdrive has FINALLY released an Overdrive Media Console app for the iPhone. All I can say is: Yippie!! I like the functionality overall and I’m delighted by the fact that this service is wirelessly available to even more customers out there.

It not perfect of course as it only works with MP3 Audiobooks: no WMA, no Music, no Movies, no eBooks. It also has crashed on me a couple times. Still IT’S A START. I imagine WMA functionality will come around and bugs will work out over time.

Some thoughts on what Libraries need to do now:

1. We need MOBILE versions of our Overdrive catalogs. Trying to navigate my library’s standard site on my iPhone is…eh…painful. Since the app relies on the the library digital collection sites for browsing, it is imperative that we make it as easy as possible folk mobile browsers. Better yet we need to achieve better integration of our digital collections into our catalogs so we don’t need separate digital catalogs.
2. We really need to ramp up our offerings. My library’s selection is significantly better than it used to be back when we started, but we really need to pick things up now, because we can really reach pretty much every mobile device at this point. Now that folks can download material from us just like they can from the iTunes Store THERE NEEDS TO BE STUFF THERE. I think it’s time to start shifting Audiobook money to our digital collections. There’s no need for anything radical, but we need to invest far more than most do now.
3. We also need to start getting multiple licences more systematically. While customers I help with this service are remarkably accepting of the need for hold lists, I still feel that instant gratification expectations need to be satisfied as much as possible, especially considering that this newfound accessibility is (hopefully) going to ramp up demand for the service. If we want to win over more converts we need to make it as pleasant an experience as possible. Given that many libraries are part of consortia arrangements for our eContent, this becomes all the more important as it spreads the demand for the titles over larger populations.

Back in September, I shared a theory of mine based on a job posting on the Overdrive Media corporate page. Basically I postulated that an Overdrive App for iPhone was coming that would allow the user to order and download electronic titles from their library. I have new evidence that I’m right. Behold!! Overdrive Media Console for Windows Mobile! Could a version for the worlds most popular phone be far behind (yes, but its coming thats my point!)

It’s interesting what you learn when you are in the habit of poking around in the job postings companies put on their websites. I was touring around Overdrive’s corporate site and decided they might be looking for a librarian (they serve a lot of libraries after all). I found nothing I was qualified for, but I did find this:

Application Developer – Apple Mac OS X/iPhone OS  

The Developer’s responsibilities include developing and supporting Apple Cocoa and Cocoa Touch applications. Development responsabilities will require creating engaging multimedia Mac and iPhone programs that use web-connected technologies.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinating and participating in the implementation, testing, and supportof Mac and iPhone-based applications using Objective-C, Cocoa/Cocoa Touch, XCode 3, and the iPhone SDK.
• Programming, developing, and producing connected iPhone applications that communicate through web services to a host data source
• Maintenance of the code-base using Subversion source control database. Support to product management and business development teams for various projects
• Explicit and thorough documentation of all source code and resources, both in project documentation and in-code comments
• Assist in testing all applications against software and hardware versions. Provide timely turnaround and documentation of bug fixes during test cycle.
• Other duties as assigned

Desired Experience:

• Degree in Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, or equivalent experience
• Experience with Apple OS X 10.5, XCode 3.1, and Subversion.
• Knowledge of Objective-C 2, Cocoa/Cocoa Touch Framework, SQLite3, XML
• Experience consuming XML-based web services
• Knowledge of REST, SOAP and other web service technologies
• Experience developing in a mobile platform environment, such as optimization techniques and resource conservation.
• Knowledge of Subversion a plus
• Having an existing application available in the Apple App Store a definite plus
• Microsoft .NET and C# experience a plus

Desired Skills:

• Skilled in HTML, JavaScript, DHTML, and XML

Desired Qualities:

• Knowledge of SQL and general database organization/implementation
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks based on project, urgency, etc
• Ability to coordinate tasks across multiple sites per project.  

Please email your resume and cover letter to jobs@overdrive.com.

It would appear that Overdrive is interested in creating an iPhone/iPod Touch app. I’m certainly interested in Overdrive making an iPhone/iPod Touch app. If you are a Mac savvy developer interested in making my day, please apply for this job and work as quickly as humanly possible to make this happen. K’Thanks!

Seriously, this is pretty big. When I think of how handy and relatively seamless the Kindle App and Stanza are, I get downright bubbly at the prospect of an iPhone app. Can you say wireless downloads? I just hope my prognosticating here isn’t too off base. At the very least this news along with recent news of Sony’s recent deal with Overdrive, gives me more reason than ever to have hope for the Library’s future as a digital content distributor.

Prior posts might leave you with the impression that I’m a bit of a pessimist when it comes to ebooks and eBook Readers, especially Amazon’s Kindle. I’m still a pessimist about Kindle and dedicated readers, but I have to tell you I’m coming around on eBooks.

I never doubted that eBooks would “take over” someday, as there are too many plusses to the technology. What I really objected to was the speed with which everyone though it would happen. The Kindle app has changed my mind.

I’ve had it on my iPod Touch for several months now, but I didn’t have anything to read on it, or any desire to acquire anything. Recently I left work without a book I wanted to finish. I had a largely unscheduled evening ahead of me and nothing to read! Being the type of guy I am, I decided to turn a problem into an opportunity. I went on Amazon’s site and bought a Kindle copy and started reading.

Let me start with the purchasing process. Its too easy, and I’m only partially kidding. I found the book, and clicked “buy with one click” and it was mine. Wow! All I had to do then was fire up the Kindle App and synch it with my Kindle account! My book came to me over my wifi connection almost instantly, no pluging in required. Wow again.

The recent 1.1 upgrade to the Kindle App is extraordinary. It uses the motion sensing capabilities of the iPhone\iPod touch to allow a landscape presentation and lets you lock in in your prefered orientation. This is huge for those among the uninitiated, for it lets you keep the print big enough to read without having to have only 3 words per line. One can therefore actually follow the book you’re reading as you can string coherent thoughts together! You advance the pages with a tap on the right side of the screen, and flip back with a tap on the left. It seems Amazon learned a few tricks from LexCycle when they bought them.

This app is whats going to sell eBooks for Amazon long term, not their overpriced one trick pony. When I think of what will be possible when the rumored large-form iPod/iPhone/Apple Tablet comes out…

This does leave me with a rather galling question for librarians. Why don’t we have a method of distributing digital material that is this easy to use? My library offers a collection of Overdrive eBooks, eFlicks, eAudiobooks, etc. Why can’t overdrive create an app(s) for the numerous portable devices out there to seamlessly deliver our material to where people want it? There are no technological limitations to this. Apple wouldn’t be stupid enough to deny such an app admittance to the App Store (I don’t think).

This would certianly allieveate some of the clunkiness assoicated with using Overdrive materials on iPods. One could browse ones “checked out” items and start it up immediately! This might also help with compatibility issues, who really knows what’s possible until someone does it! I might actually use my library’s digital collection if it was as easy as my Amazon experience!

Here’s hoping someone gets it togather and gets this done!

PS. Owners of the iPod Touch and iPhone need not spend money to try out their Kindle Apps. Amazon has several (good) titles available for FREE. I’m enjoying Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson at the moment. Also available (and highly recommended) is His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik (Anne McCaffery meets Patrick O’Brien, what could be better?).

At the same time it launches Kindle 2, Amazon is also coming out with a Kindle App for iPhone/iPod Touch. Perhaps this can be chalked up to them trying to reach the growing “installed base” of iPhone/Touch users and convert them to Kindle fans with the some of the nice connective features (the “page your on” in a given book is synchronized between your iPod/Phone and the Kindle, creepy…). 

I think they’re hedging their bets…

The original Kindle, while generally well thought of, had its share of problems. The new Kindle 2 solves many of those but some of them remain:

• The display is still color-free
• The DRM is still insanely restrictive (as DRM tends to be)
• It still costs $359.00.

I know that the iPod/iPhone is not exactly an ideal reading tool. The introduction of the App won’t stop anyone inclined to buy a Kindle from buying one.

I can’t help but feel that Amazon wants to ensure that if the Kindle hardware doesn’t fly, that they will still have their foot in the door with the App. If rumors of a “big iPod Touch” are true, I can’t help but feel that Amazon will be happy they took this particular step.

I hope I don’t come off as a Kindle hater. I think the Kindle is actually good for reading and I wish it well. I just have trouble understanding the business sense here. Why market a product for $360 that does only one thing exceptionally well in a day and age when the multiuse device is King? It might make sense for the “big readers” out there, but certainly not for everyone…