Does anyone have a download of Overdrive for PC Windows 10?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by odamizu

Re: Kobo — I've never bought an audiobook from Kobo. How do you download them? Can you do so from the Kobo website or do you need a Kobo device or Android device?

You can download audiobooks with Kobo desktop and Kobo Readers that support audiobooks such as the Libra 2.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by odamizu

Unfortunately, I don't have an Android device to test this on, and Libby files on Apple devices appear to be inaccessible.

That said, I'm still using Overdrive. My forays with Libby are just for testing purposes. Using Libby has not affected my ability to use Overdrive. So I suspect you can test Libby yourself without risk to your current Overdrive setup. If you do, I'd be interested in the results.

I'm really, really chicken about trying Libby--I've had too many instances of trying out some program that then makes all kinds of changes that are time-consuming to undo.

Re: Kobo — I've never bought an audiobook from Kobo. How do you download them? Can you do so from the Kobo website or do you need a Kobo device or Android device?

It's been a while, but I used the Kobo app on my Android phone--which makes me think there was no way to download directly to my computer. My recollection is that you need to use an older version of that app (I have version 8.2.1); the newer ones wouldn't give you access to the mp3 files. The files were numbered 1, 2, 3, etc., and to play them outside the app, you just needed to add the .mp3 extension.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I'm really, really chicken about trying Libby--I've had too many instances of trying out some program that then makes all kinds of changes that are time-consuming to undo.

I understand. Trying Libby did not mess anything up when I tested it and went back to Overdrive, but YMMV.

It's been a while, but I used the Kobo app on my Android phone--which makes me think there was no way to download directly to my computer. My recollection is that you need to use an older version of that app (I have version 8.2.1); the newer ones wouldn't give you access to the mp3 files. The files were numbered 1, 2, 3, etc., and to play them outside the app, you just needed to add the .mp3 extension.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You can download audiobooks with Kobo desktop and Kobo Readers that support audiobooks such as the Libra 2.

@JSWolf, are you sure you can download audiobooks with Kobo desktop?

I just went to Kobo Help pages and it says: "Audiobooks cannot be played: in Kobo Desktop ..."

https://help.kobo.com/hc/en-us/artic...ort-audiobooks

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I'm really, really chicken about trying Libby--I've had too many instances of trying out some program that then makes all kinds of changes that are time-consuming to undo.

I'm your huckleberry. I tried it just now. Want me to list the reasons I learned to hate it in just a few minutes of messing with it, or just confirm that it is precisely what you fear and worse?
On the plus side, it seemed to uninstall without screwing anything up.

It's been a while, but I used the Kobo app on my Android phone--which makes me think there was no way to download directly to my computer. My recollection is that you need to use an older version of that app (I have version 8.2.1); the newer ones wouldn't give you access to the mp3 files. The files were numbered 1, 2, 3, etc., and to play them outside the app, you just needed to add the .mp3 extension.

That is as I recall it as well. Havent tried it in some time.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by ApK

I'm your huckleberry. I tried it just now. Want me to list the reasons I learned to hate it in just a few minutes of messing with it, or just confirm that it is precisely what you fear and worse?
On the plus side, it seemed to uninstall without screwing anything up.

So ... there's really no way to access the mp3 files? No way to play anything outside the app?

I don't know whether to cry or scream.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by odamizu

@JSWolf, are you sure you can download audiobooks with Kobo desktop?

I just went to Kobo Help pages and it says: "Audiobooks cannot be played: in Kobo Desktop ..."

https://help.kobo.com/hc/en-us/artic...ort-audiobooks

I thought you could listen to audiobook on your computer. I guess not. That sucks.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Catlady

So ... there's really no way to access the mp3 files? No way to play anything outside the app?

I don't know whether to cry or scream.

Why do you care about trying Libby? It no longer works. When it did work, you could access the MP3 it downloaded. But Overdrive works and is easier to use.

I tried the Windows version of Libby and it failed to work. It will never work again.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Why do you care about trying Libby? It no longer works. When it did work, you could access the MP3 it downloaded. But Overdrive works and is easier to use.

I tried the Windows version of Libby and it failed to work. It will never work again.

Overdrive is the app that's going away.

Libby is the new app we're going to be stuck with.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Overdrive is the app that's going away.

Libby is the new app we're going to be stuck with.

I think you've misunderstood. Libby no longer works on Windows. It's only available on the web with your browser and on iOS and Android. Libby DOES NOT WORK with Windows. It's gone from Windows and OS X.

Overdrive still works even though it's no longer supported.

So we have until Overdrive stops working to download the audiobooks to our computers.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I think you've misunderstood. Libby no longer works on Windows. It's only available on the web with your browser and on iOS and Android. Libby DOES NOT WORK with Windows. It's gone from Windows and OS X.

Overdrive still works even though it's no longer supported.

So we have until Overdrive stops working to download the audiobooks to our computers.

No, you've misunderstood. I have only every asked about LATER when we will be FORCED to use only Libby. Your repeatedly telling me that Libby doesn't work on Windows has nothing to do with anything I've asked.

[KarenH]

I'm late to the conversation, but discovered today as I was setting up my new laptop that the install file for Overdrive that I have is from 2014. While it will install, it no longer works, and since it's no longer supported I can't get the update files. If anyone has a relatively current install file, or knows where I can get one, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!

[KarenH]

I'm all set up and running...thank you so much ApK and CRussel for coming to my rescue!

[monophoto]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Libby is now only web based and app based for iOS and Android. But as long as the Overdrive app will still download audiobooks, we are good to go.

If Overdrive was to no longer work, I'd have no idea how to download audiobooks to my laptop.

I read somewhere (perhaps on our library web site) that OverDrive is scheduled for deprecation in 2023. That was one of the reasons they recommended Libby rather than OverDrive.

Update: The formal announcement is on OverDrive's web site: https://resources.overdrive.com/libby-faqs/

For my use (borrowing books from the public library to be read in my Kindle), Libby seems to work fine with one possible exception. The overall user experience is different from OverDrive, but that's common with any upgrade in software. The one exception has to do with how the transition from OverDrive to Libby is handled. They have a provision to port a user's OverDrive 'wishlist' into Libby, but I haven't found a way to port the OverDrive 'history.

That's a serious issue. As someone who has been using OverDrive for several years, I have downloaded and read several hundred books, and I need a week filter out those books when I select future downloads. Libby has a 'timeline' feature that tracks books that it has downloaded, but I need to augment that list with historical data from OverDrive.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by monophoto

I read somewhere (perhaps on our library web site) that OverDrive is scheduled for deprecation in 2023. That was one of the reasons they recommended Libby rather than OverDrive.

Update: The formal announcement is on OverDrive's web site: https://resources.overdrive.com/libby-faqs/

This sucks for me. I hate needing multiple, inferior, proprietary apps to listen to audiobooks on my phone. I've been very happy listening to all audiobooks with Listen Audiobook
Player and really don't want to change. If Overdrive insists on limiting consumer choice, maybe someone will crack Libby to allow space shifting.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by monophoto

... OverDrive is scheduled for deprecation in 2023 ...The formal announcement is on OverDrive's web site: https://resources.overdrive.com/libby-faqs/

Thanks for the update. This is sad, indeed. I've tried the Libby app and did not like the listening experience at all.