Downloading audio from Libraries Question?

[Liberalynn]

Okay so Zune now says you can download audio books. Yay. They also tell you were to get the software to download from libraries for free. So far so good.

My only problem is what do the libraries mean when they say the audio file is on loan for seven days. How do you theoretically "return" it. Does what you download expire and quit working in seven days or what?

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but I admit to being totally clueless on this.

[alarimer]

1. It will probably expire on its own.

There is probably some DRM attached to the file so that it cannot be played after the time has elapsed. You would have to download it again.

[Liberalynn]

3. Thanks I think I will go ahead and try it.

[InternalDialogue]

2. My library offers an audio loan through the internet.

It requires a download manager similar to iTunes, and when the file is downloaded, the download manager counts down the time remaining for your loan. When the time's up, the manager automatically blocks your access to it and "returns" it to your library account.

I suspect you could work around the loan deadline by transferring the downloaded files from the download manager to an external device, like an iPod, but I haven't tried it.

[Liberalynn]

4. That makes sense.

In the Zune newsletter they were saying you can now use your Zune to listen to these kinds of downloads but they didn't explain the how to very well.

Thank you, I now understand it better.