2 options for audio books on the new Zune software – one brings back fond memories

Zune 3.0 allows you to connect with either Audible.com or Overdrive.com to download and listen to audio books on your Zune device.

“Cool!” you say.

What’s interesting about this?  Overdrive.com is the company that was huge into eBook processing for Microsoft for their MS Reader format eBooks that never took off.  Overdrive.com slipped off into nothingness as Microsoft stopped promoting the MS Reader format (which I liked, btw.  Best eBook format there was at the time – and much better than having to deal with Adobe’s horrid software and file formats).

So, is this a way for Overdrive.com to make a comeback?  I really don’t thing so, as they are up against Audible.com which is a pretty popular option for audio books.

So, what is Overdrive.com offering the Zune crowd?

A free, easy-to-use application, OverDrive Media Console allows you to download and enjoy OverDrive audiobooks, music, and video on most Windows computers. Use OverDrive Media Console to navigate, play, and bookmark OverDrive media titles, and to manage and customize your media library. OverDrive Media Console grants you the added functionality to transfer media to supported portable devices and to burn CDs of audiobooks and music (when allowed by the publisher).

http://www.overdrive.com/software/omc/download.asp

But…are the books supposed to be this expensive?