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BlackBerry App from OverDrive Enables Direct Library eBook Downloads

By Kevin Michaluk on 6 Apr 2011 02:03 pm
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Ever wish you could borrow EPUB ebooks and read them right on your BlackBerry? Well with the free OverDrive Media Console you can do just that. This new app lets you find a local loibrary, browse titles and wirelessly check them out using a library card. You can read them right on your BlackBerry, and they automatically expire so you never have to worry about returning them. The app is available free from the OverDrive website and will be in BlackBerry App World in the coming weeks. Keep reading for the full press release.

More information/download of OverDrive Media Console for BlackBerry

BlackBerry App from OverDrive Enables Direct Library eBook Downloads

Free app allows users to borrow and enjoy best-selling digital books from libraries worldwide

Cleveland, April 6, 2011 - Public, school, and college libraries now provide direct EPUB eBook downloads on BlackBerry® mobile devices with the free OverDrive® Media ConsoleTM app for BlackBerry. Users at more than 13,000 libraries worldwide can wirelessly download and enjoy EPUB eBooks, as well as MP3 audiobooks, on their BlackBerry devices. Libraries offer best-selling titles, such as "The Social Animal" by David Brooks and "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett, which can be borrowed and enjoyed using OverDrive's app for BlackBerry. Popular business eBooks and audiobooks, as well as titles in virtually any subject, are also available from the library using the BlackBerry app.

The OverDrive app for BlackBerry is available from OverDrive's website and the MobiHand Superstore. The app will also appear in BlackBerry App WorldTM in the coming weeks. To see if your library is a member of the OverDrive network, visit OverDrive Search.

OverDrive's BlackBerry app provides untethered access to EPUB eBooks and MP3 audiobooks from the library. The app's "Get Books" feature makes it easy to find a local library, and then browse for titles, check them out with a library card, and download directly to BlackBerry. Digital books from the library will automatically expire in the app, so there are never late fees. Users will also benefit from enhancements, such as an orientation lock and custom bookmarks.

The free eBook app from OverDrive can be installed on BlackBerry touch-screen devices running BlackBerry OS v4.7 (or newer) and non-touch-screen devices running BlackBerry OS v4.5 (or newer). The BlackBerry app joins the previously released OverDrive apps for iPhone®, iPad®, and AndroidTM, which have been installed nearly one million times.

OverDrive provides digital distribution services for more than 13,000 libraries, retailers, and schools worldwide with support for Windows®, Mac®, iPod®, iPhone, iPad, Sony® Reader, NOOKTM, Android, and BlackBerry.

Topics: OverDrive News & Rumors BlackBerry Apps

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Kevin Michaluk Kevin Michaluk 3676 (articles) 3018 (forum posts)
12 comments

NightSniper

Can I add epub files from my PC?

Altarocks

This is progress. I'm wondering if we will ever get the capability to play WMA audiobooks.

1canuck2

I'll jump the gun and say I hope they have an OverDrive client for PlayBook available at launch - sounds like a perfect fit!!

jlb21

I would also love an overdrive app thaty could work with Kindle, but that will never happen.

FoxxBerry

Agreed...It would be valuable on a Kindle.....well actually it will be valuable on a Playbook too....but what do I do with my Kindle?

km40fast

The inability to use WMA DRM protected audiobooks on a Blackberry will be a BIG factor in considering my next phone. I do not like to have 2 devices and Blackberry will lose me as a customer without this support. Further, I would NEVER consider a Playbook that has this same issue. WHY would I buy something again that causes this level of frustration. NON STARTER, living in the past, not looking at how customers use their devices and building what they think is needed......

Altarocks

As far as I can tell, only Apple devices are able to run these (any Android owners who know different, speak up).

You do have the option of listening to audiobooks through a BB using Audible thru Amazon. Doesn't help much with free library content, but it has a decent player and is even easier to use than Overdrive. Although its not free, you get the benefit of having a much larger library to choose from (my library content through Overdrive is really pretty limited). Plus you don't have to wait for a title that's been checked out or reserved by others.

cceller

As a Sys Admin in a library that has an Overdrive supplied collection - woot! Great to hear see this on Crackberry.

As for Overdrive and Kindle ... blame Amazon.

Selsandy

Not good news on this end!!!

I downloaded and installed this app this afterrnoon, and after testing and trying it out, my backlight refused to go out.
I even did a battery pull and also a soft restart but to NO avail, I then deleted it from off my BB and everything went back to normal (good). Using Bold 9780 and OS 6 - 448

svanneck

Hm. I just tried this an almost immediately uninstalled. I like the feature set and the easy access to library books, but it's not playing nice with my Torch. As soon as it loads, it cranks the backlight up to maximum and even when I exit out the backlight stays cranked regardless of light conditions. I discovered this was because the app never really closes. I tried to actually close the app but it froze my BlackBerry at the app switcher and I had to do an Alt+Shift+Delete to reboot. Also, the app itself is really slow, and even scrolling the menu goes in fits and starts. I think they need to do a bit more testing, especially on the Torch. For now, FAIL.

The_Adventist

I'm not the one for picking on spelling or grammar (kinda like throwing stones in a glass house) but I just couldn't let this go....

What is a "loibrary"

LOL

odannyww

I have used Overdrive on my Torch for months and works well. While downloading a today book it froze up my Torch. I have deleted and tried downloading overdrive several times...sometimes i can and sometimes I can't. when I can reinstall I still can't download...freezes. I have pulled the battery and ALT-shift-delete several times with no success.
Anybody know what to do now??