Saturday, April 21, 2012

Playaways

This is the old version of Playaways.
From info METROPOLITAN LIBRARY SYSTEM magazine in February 2012
Listen Up! The Playaways Are Coming!
Here's one I bet you haven't heard about - it's the Playaways. No, it's not a new segment on Sesame Street. Good guess, though. A Playaway is a new all-in-one audiobook device. When you check one out from us, you'll get everything needed to listen to a recorded book, but it comes pre-loaded and the device has a place for a universal jack to make listening easy through headphones, speakers, or even a car stereo system.
It looks kind of like an iPod, but each Playaway unit contains one book-up to 60 hours of playtime. There's no screen and it comes with five narration speeds for clearest comprehension. It sounds weird to say so, but some people do listen faster than others.
Anyone in the family can use it because messing up with one is impossible. You can't erase it, or copy it, or record over it. Playaways have all the best of audiobooks with none of the weaknesses.
They even make great teaching aids. Your reluctant reader can listen to a Playaway while reading the same book, making an immediate connection between the printed word and the sound, between the indvidual meaning and the meaning in context. They're terrific for seniors who dislike the bother of changing tapes or CDs in traditional players, and who frequently don't like "messing with all that stuff." You can't open the unit so there's no chance something will go missing.
And here's another nice feature for people on the go-the Playaway doesn't have to plug into a power source so you can literally take them anywhere.
A bonus for the library is that each unit is good for around 1,000 plays. A book that's read that many times would probably fall apart and blow away. Library staff who have experimented with them on a trial basis love them, and we're not all that easy to impress when it comes to library technology.
So keep an eye out for Playaways, coming soon to a library near you. If you don't see them, ask for them at the Circulation Desk where you go to check out your items.
Playaway, the first all-in-one audiobook format, brings pages to life at the push of a button. Audio content and simple, digital technology are now merged into an easy-to-use player that comes with an entire book or audio program preloaded on it and ready-to-go.
Playaway's universal jack is compatible with standard listening accessories, like headphones, speakers, and all standard card adapters. And weighing only two ounces. Playaway is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and goes anywhere you do!
No Cassettes. No CDs. No Downloading. Just Press Play!
This is the ones I check out:
Journey To The Center Of The Earth Jules Verne/Simon Prebble with Blackstone Audio
Wizard of Oz L Frank Baum/John McDonough with Recorded Books
DaVinci Code Dan Brown/Paul Michael with Books on Tape
Holes Louis Sachar/Kerry Beyer with Listening Library
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain/Tom Parker with Brilliance Audio
The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins/Carolyn McCormick with Scholastic Audiobooks
The Watchmen Robert Crunis/James Daniels with Brilliance Audio
The Cut George Pekcanos/Dion Gaham with Hachette Audio
Catching Fire Suzanne Collins/Carolyn McCormick with Scholastic Audiobooks
Playground 50 Cent/Dwayne Clark
The Giver Lois Lowry/Ron Rifkin with Listening Library
Animal Farm George Orwell/Ralph Cosham with Blackstone Audiobooks
New York To Dallas: An In Death Novel J.D. Robb/Susan Ericksen with Brilliance Audio
The Last Werewolf Glen Duncan/Robin Sachs with Books on Tape
Heaven Is For Real: A Little Boy's Astanding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back Todd Burpo/Lynn Vincint/Dean Gallagher Ready Player One Ernest Cline/Wil Wheaton with Books on Tape
Chomp Carl Hiaasen/James Van Der Beek with Listening Library
Sounder William H. Armstrong/Avery Brooks with HarperChildrens's Audio
The Danger Box Blue Balliett/Alex Wyse/Veronika Dominczyk/Jason Culp with Scholastic Audiobooks Bridge to Terabithia Katherine Paterson with HarperAudio
Da Vinci's Ghost: Genius, Obession, and How Leonardo with Tantor Audio
Created the World in His Own Image Toby Lester/Stephen Hoye with Tantor Audio
Sarah, Plain, and Tall Patricia MacLachlan/Glenn Close with HarperChildren's Audio
Artemis Fowl Eoin Colfer/Nathaniel Parker with Listening Library
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea Jules Verne/Michael Prichard with Tantor Audio
Storied I Only Tell My Friends Rob Lowe with Macmillan Audio
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe C.S. Lewis/Michael York with Harper Audio
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Horse and His Boy C.S. Lewis/Alex Jennings with Harper Audio
20 Years Younger Bob Greene/Harold A. Lancer, MD/Ronald L. Kotler, MD/Diane L. McKay, PhD with Hachette Audio
Cave of the Dark Wind: a Never Land book Dave Barry/Ridley Pearson/Jim Dale with Brilliance Audio 
Middle School: How I Survived Bullies, Broccoli, and Snake Hill James Patterson/Chris Tebbetts/Bryan Kennedy with Hachette Audio
Zoo James Patterson/Michael Ledwidge/Jay Snyder with Hachette Audio
Mockingjay Suzanne Collins/Carolyn McCormick with Scholastic Audiobooks
The Action Bible: God's Redemptive Story with Oasis Audio LLC
Treasure Hunters James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein/Bryan Kennedy with Hachette Audio
The Vow: The True Events That Inspired The Movie Kim and Krickitt Carpenter/John McLain with Oasis Audio
Private Berlin James Patterson/Mark Sullivan/Ari Fliakos/January LaVoy with Hachette Audio
Private Games James Patterson/Mark Sullivan/Paul Panting with Hachette Audio
Private London James Patterson/Mark Pearson/Rupert Degas with Hachette Audio
The Last Apprentice: Revenge Of The Witch Joseph Delaney/Christopher Evan Welch with Harper Audio
Winter Sky Patricia Reilly Giff/Arielle Sitrick/Cassandra Campbell with Listening Library
NYPD Red 2 James Patterson/Edoardo Ballerini/Jay Snyder with Hachette Audio
The Last Apprentice: Curse Of The Bane Joseph Delaney/Christopher Evan Welch with Harper Audio
The Last Apprentice: Night Of The Soul Stealer Joseph Delaney/Christopher Evan Welch with HarperChildren's Audio
The Last Apprentice: Attack Of The Fiend Joseph Delaney/Christopher Evan Welch with Recorded Books
The Last Apprentice: Wrath Of The Bloodeye Joseph Delaney/Christopher Evan Welch with Recorded Books
The Last Apprentice: Clash Of The Demons Joseph Delaney/Christopher Evan Welch with Recorded Books
The Last Apprentice: Rise Of The Huntress Joseph Delaney/Christopher Evan Welch with Recorded Books
The Last Apprentice: Rage Of The Fallen Joseph Delaney/Christopher Evan Welch with Recorded Books
The Last Apprentice: Grimalkin The Witch Assassin Joseph Delaney/Christopher Evan Welch with Recorded Books
The Last Apprentice: Lure Of The Dead Joseph Delaney/Christopher Evan Welch with Recorded Books
The Last Apprentice: Slither Joseph Delaney/Christopher Evan Welch with Recorded Books
The Last Apprentice: I Am Alice Joseph Delaney/Christopher Evan Welch with Harper Audio
Eve & Adam Michael Grant/Katherine Applegate/Jenna Lamia/Holter Graham with Macmillan Audio
Bomb: The Race To Build -And Steal- The World's Most Dangerous Weapon Steve Sheinkin/Roy Samuelson with Listening Library
The Raven Boys Maggie Stiefvater/Will Patton with Scholastic Audiobooks
The Last Apprentice: Fury Of The Seventh Son Joseph Delaney/Alexander Cendese with Harper Audio
Middle School: Save Rafe! James Patterson/Chris Tebbetts/Bryan Kennedy with Hachette Audio
The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald/Anthony Heald with Blackstone Audio, Inc.
The Boundless Kenneth Oppel/Nick Podehl with Brilliance Audio
The Dream Thieves Maggie Stiefvater/Will Patton with Scholastic Audiobooks
Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip Jordan Sonnenblick/Luke Daniels with Brilliance Audio
Charlotte's Web E. B. White with Listening Library
Private L. A. James Patterson/Mark Sullivan/Jay Snyder with Hachette Audio
Invisible James Patterson/David Ellis/January LaVoy/Kevin T. Collins with Hachette Audio
The Fault In Our Stars John Green/Kate Rudd with Brilliance Audio
Silent Night: a Spenser Holiday Novel Robert B. Parker/Helen Brann/Joe Mantegna with Random House Audio
Burn James Patterson/Michael Ledwidge/Danny Mastrogiorgio with Hachette Audio
Private Down Under James Patterson/Michael White/Tim Wright with Hachette Audio
Everybody's Brother: My Story CeeLo CeeLo Green/Big Gipp
Trust Me, I'm Dr. Ozzy Ozzy Osbourne/Frank Skinner
A Natural Woman: A Memoir Carole King with Hachette Audio
NYPD Red 3 James Patterson/Edorado Ballerini/Jay Snyder with Hachette Audio
Private Vegas James Patterson/Jay Snyder with Hachette Audio
American On Purpose: The improbable Adventures Of An Unlikely Patriot Craig Ferguson with Blackstone Audio
Johnny Carson Henry Bushkin/Dick Hill with Brilliance Audio
House Of Robots James Patterson/Jack Patterson with Hachette Audio
Public School Superhero James Patterson/Chris Tebbetts/Joshua Boone with Hachette Audio
Treasure Hunters: Danger Down The Nile James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein/Bryan Kennedy with Hachette Audio
ISIS: The State Of Terror Jessica Stern/J.M. Berger/Ray Porter with Harper Audio
Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever Bill O'Reilly/Martin Dugard with Macmillan Audio
Inferno: A Novel Dan Brown/Paul Michael with Random House Audio
Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography Neil Patrick Harris with Random House Audio
I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story Of The Music Video Revolution Rob Tannenbaum/Craig Marks/Luke Daniels with BrillianceAudio
"The President Has Been Shot!" The Assassination Of John F. Kennedy James L. Swanson/Will Patton with Scholastic Audiobooks
Stuart Little E. B. White/Julie Harris with Listening Library
The Three Heavens: Angels, Demons, And What Lies Ahead John Hagee/Dean Gallagher with Oasis Audio, LLC
Banished: A Memoir: Surviving My Years In The Westboro Baptist Church Lauren Drain/Lisa Pulitzer with Hachette Audio
American Tall Tales Mary Pope Osborne/Scott Snively with Audio Bookshelf
Kennedy's Last Days: The Assassination That Defined A Generation Bill O'Reilly with Macmillan Audio
Aretha Franklin: The Queen Of Soul Mark Bego/Mel Foster with Brilliance Audio
iRules: What Every Tech-Healthy Family Needs To Know About Selfies, Sexting, Gaming, and Growing Up Janell Burley Hofmann/Carrington Macduffie with Tantor Audio
The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos And The Age Of Amazon Brad Stone/Pete Larkin with Hachette Audio
Killing Jesus: A History Bill O'Reilly/Martin Dugard with Macmillan Audio
Killing Patton: The Strange Death Of World War II's Most Audacious General Bill O'Reilly/Martin Dugard with Macmillan Audio
Middle School: Just My Rotten Luck James Patterson/Craig Tebbetts/Bryan Kennedy with Hachette Audio
UnPHILtered: The Way I See It Phil Robertson/Mark Schlabach/Al Robertson with Simon & Schuster Audio
Dirty Daddy: The Chronicles Of A Family Man Turned Filthy Comedian Bob Saget with HarperAudio
The Maze Runner James Dashner/Mark Deakins with Listening Library
The John Lennon Letters John Lennon/Hunter Davies/Christopher Eccleston/Allen Corduner/Yoko Ono with Hachette Audio
Treasure Hunters: Secret Of The Forbidden City James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein/Juliana Neufeld/Bryan Kennedy with Hachette Audio
Almost Interesting: The Memoir David Spade with Harper Audio
Gone With The Wind Margaret Mitchell/Linda Stephens with Recorded Books
I Even Funnier: A Middle School Story James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein/Frankie Seratch with Hachette Audio
I Totally Funniest: A Middle School Story James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein/Frankie Seratch with Hachette Audio
Private Paris James Patterson/Mark Sullivan/Jay Snyder/Dion Graham/Jean Brassard with Hachette Audio
Curious George Flies a Kite, Curious George and the Pizza, Curious George Makes Pancakes, Curious George Gets a Medal, and Curious George Goes Camping Margret Rey/Cheryl McMahon, George Capaccio, Joe Fox & Mara Sidmore with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Rabbit Ears Storybook Classics Volume 1: Puss in Boots Tracey Ullman, Brer Rabbit and Wonderful Tar Baby Danny Glover, The Emperor's New Clothes Sir John Gielgud, and Steadfast Tin Solider Jeremy Irons with Listening Library
NYPD Red 4 James Patterson/Marshall Karp/Edoardo Ballerini/Jay Snyder with Hachette Audio
Treasure Hunters: Peril At The Top Of The World James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein/Bryan Kennedy with Hachette Audio
Muhammad Ali: A Tribute To The Greatest Thomas Hauser/Joe Barrett with Blackstone Audio
Middle School: Dog's Best Friend James Patterson/Chris Tebbetts/Bryan Kennedy with Hachette Audio
Jacky Ha-Ha James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein/Tara Sands with Hachette Audio
I Funny TV: A Middle School Story James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein/Frankie Seratch with Hachette Audio
Killing The Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan Bill O'Reilly/Martin Dugard/Robert Petkoff with Macmillan Audio
Bill O'Reilly's Legends & Lies: The Patriots Billy O'Reilly/David Fisher/Holter Graham with Macmillan Audio
Un-Ashamed Lecrae/Jonathan Merritt with Christianaudio
Missing A Private Novel James Patterson/Kathryn Fox/Daniel Lepaine with Hachette Audio
Woman Of God James Patterson/Maxine Paetro/Therese Plummer with Hachette Audio
The Last Days Of Jesus: His Life And Times Bill O'Reilly/Edward Herrmann with Macmillan Audio
House Of Robots: Robots Go Wild! James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein/Jack Patterson with Hachette Audio
Obama's Legacy: What He Accomplished As President Michael L. Davis/Ron Butler with Hachette Audio
Bill O'Reilly's Legends & Lies: The Civil War Billy O'Reilly/David Fisher/Robert Petkoff with Macmillan Audio
House Of Robots: Robot Revolution James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein/Jack Patterson with Hachette Audio
Middle School: Escape To Australia James Patterson/Martin Chatterton/Michael Crouch with Hachette Audio
Word of Mouse James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein/Nate Begle with Hachette Audio
Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant Roland Lazenby/Ron Butler with Hachette Audio
Public School Superhero James Patterson/Chris Tebbetts/Joshua Boone with Hachette Audio
Jacky Ha-Ha: My Life Is A Joke James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein/Tara Sands with Hachette Audio
Middle School: From Hero To Zero James Patterson/Chris Tebbetts/Michael Crouch with Hachette Audio
Pottymouth and Stoopid James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein/Scott Connolly with Hachette Audio
The President Is Missing Bill Clinton/James Patterson/Dennis Quaid/January LaVoy/Peter Ganim/Jeremy Davidson/Mozhan Marno with Hachette Audio
Laugh Out Loud James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein/Nate Begle with Hachette Audio
Red Alert: An NYPD Red Mystery James Patterson/Marshall Karp/Edoardo Ballerini with Hachette Audio
Dig Deep: 7 Truths To Finding The Strength Within J. C. Watts Jr./Mirron Willis with Brillance Audio
The Good Neighbor: The Life of Fred Rogers Maxwell King/LeVar Burton with Oasis Audio
Katt Vs. Dogg James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein/Marc Thompson with Hachette Audio
Not So Normal Norbert James Patterson/Joey Green/Michael Crouch with Hachette Audio
Treasure Hunters: Quest For The City Of Gold James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein/Bryan Kennedy with Hachette Audio
Treasure Hunters: All-American Adventure James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein/Bryan Kennedy with Hachette Audio