The New OverDrive

The latest version of the Overdrive Media Console (OMC) app – version 3 – allows you to sync different devices under one account. This means you can now sync e-book or audio book progress across multiple devices. So when you start an audio book at home on your iPad you can pick up where you left off during your commute to work using your phone.

I’m currently using OMC to read The Wise Man’s Fear on my iPad. When I want to read but do not have my iPad with me – say during my lunch break at work – I log in to my OverDrive account on my phone, tap the book’s cover and get this message:

When I tap Yes I’m sent to the point in the book where I stopped reading at home on my iPad.

In addition to this feature the new OverDrive account also syncs bookmarks across devices as well as favorite libraries.

It is important to note that only devices capable of running version 3 of the Overdrive Media Console app can use these features. Devices that support OMC 3:

• Android v4.0 (or newer). This is the operating system on:
• New Android phones and tablets (like Nexus and Samsung Galaxy devices)
• Nook HD and NOOK HD+
• Kindle Fire HD and HDX
• Kobo Arc and Arc HD
• iOS v6.0 (or newer). This is the operating system on newer Apple iPhones and iPads.
• Windows 8. This is the operating system on newer Windows tablets.

Devices that do not yet support OMC 3:

• Dektop/laptop computers with older operating systems.
• Older Nooks (Nook Tablet and Nook Color)
• Sony Readers
• Older Kindles (Kindle 1st generation)
• Windows Phone devices
• Blackberry devices

Create Your OverDrive Account

If your device supports OMC 3 follow the steps below to create your OverDrive account. This account is different than the Adobe ID that you created when you first installed the app.

Open the OverDrive app on your device and then tap the menu button in the top left corner of the screen. Tap on Account from the menu of options. If you do not see Account then you may need to update your version of OMC. If you have updated or have the most recent version then your device is not compatible.

Tap on Sign Up to create your OvderDrive account.

You may log in using your Facebook account if you wish. Otherwise create an account using a valid email and password.

If you do this on each of your devices then syncing happens automatically. So when you get to your car and want to continue your audio book simply open the app, go to your Bookshelf and tap on the book's cover image it will begin playing right where it left off from your iPad.

Note: it’s also important that each device is registered to the same Adobe ID account. If the devices you would like to sync different Adobe IDs then it will not work properly. To change Adobe IDs tap on the menu button in the top left corner of the OverDrive app; then tap Settings.

To read more about these features and the new OverDrive visit the FAQ section of their website.

Happy Reading,
Brett

Your Ohio Digital Library Account

I’ve been borrowing e-books from the library for as long as the library has offered them. And through every upgrade and change, I’ve done my best to stay on top of the process of finding, borrowing, downloading, and reading the library’s e-books. But for some reason, I never paid much attention to my Account with the Ohio Digital Library aside from the Bookshelf showing what I have checked out, and the Holds section to see what’s happening with items I’ve requested. But last week I found myself poking around the other two sections of my Account—Lists and Settings—and I found two things I’d never seen before. On the off chance that others haven’t looked through their Account either, I thought I’d share my discoveries.

Lists

Now, I’d been in Lists before, and I knew that this is where ODL saved my Wish List items so I could find them later. But then I opened up the pull-down menu and saw that one of the options is Recommended for you. ODL didn’t do too bad recommending titles for me based on what I’ve checked out, although I already knew that I would like Jo Nesbo’s Headhunters since I checked it out and read it from ODL. Perhaps the algorithm will improve and the recommendations will get better, but for now, it’s an interesting feature, and I will at least consider the titles on the list.

 

 

Settings

Like Lists, I know I’ve been in Settings before, because this is where you can change your default Lending periods. For each format, select a short, medium, or long period (7, 14, or 21 days for e-books). This can be great of people who check out the allotted 10 items at a time, read them quickly, and then want more. In that case, 21 days would be an awfully long time. But for busy people who don’t have as much time to read as they would like, having 21 days to finish a title is wonderful. But if you scroll down farther, there is a High contrast setting. Switching to High from Standard, the background is black and the text and icons are in vibrant colors. This is a sort of “night” view that I know can be handy when looking at a screen in a dark room. I’m not sure many people would want to make this switch, but it’s nice to know the option exists. (Oh, and be sure to Save your changes before leaving the Settings page.)

 

 

Shelia