Convert Any Text to an iTunes-Compatible Audiobook

Lifehacker:

“Web site Mac OS X Hints details how to create an iTunes audiobook
(i.e., an M4B audio file) from any text in just a couple of clicks. The
process involves installing a new service to your Services menu, then
selecting your to-be-audiobooked text and choosing AppName ->
Services -> Speak to iTunes Audiobook. When the conversion is
complete, the resulting audio file is automatically imported to iTunes
in the Audiobooks section. The service uses the new Alex voice in
Leopard, and the results are actually very listenable.”

10.5: Convert text to iTunes audio book via Services item [Mac OS X Hints]

Podcast of Ted Chiang’s THE MERCHANT AND THE ALCHEMIST’S GATE

Boing Boing: “Starship Sofa has made Ted Chiang’s marvelous arabesque time
travel story ‘The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate’ available as a
podcast.”

Oh yes, thank you very much. I brake for Ted Chiang stories — hell, I’d stop, drop and roll for a chance to read one.

MP3 Link, Text of the story

Free audiobook of Stross’s Heinlein-meets-Wodehouse science fiction novella “Trunk and Disorderly”

Boing Boing: “Subterranean Press has produced a free MP3 audiobook of Charlie Stross’s comic science fiction novella “Trunk and Disorderly.”

Charles Stross is damned funny, both in person and on the page. You’ll
have to take my word on the first count. As to the second, here’s a P.
G. Wodehouse meets Robert A. Heinlein as filtered through Mr. Stross’s
sensibilities. In other words, it’s funny and indescribable as hell,
and probably my favorite story this year.”

LINK 

(via Charlie Stross)

Amazon adds Audible to its digital empire

Amazon’s been making some interesting moves as of late…

Engadget:

“Amazon just announced an agreement to acquire Audible Inc. The move,
once approved by the Feds and shareholders, leaves Audible.com’s 80,000
strong library of audiobooks, radio programs, newspapers, and such in
the hands of Amazon. Funny how a company built on a foundation of paper
now finds itself knee deep in digital music, books, video and even devices. The $300 Million deal is expected to conclude by Q2, 2008.”

Gaiman’s Cthulu/Sherlock mashup “Study in Emerald” — free audio

Boing Boing: “HarperCollins has released a free MP3 of Neil Gaiman reading his Hugo-
and Locus-winning story “A Study in Emerald,” which mashes up Sherlock
Holmes and Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythos — a story that transcends mere
gimmick and is poignant, and engrossing. I first heard Gaiman’s reading
of the story in the audiobook edition of Gaiman’s excellent collection Fragile Things and had to pull over to give it my full concentration. Gaiman’s a great reader and an even better writer.

Link,  MP3 Link

Free book on iTunes — The Millionaires

Boing Boing: “Sometimes, iTunes gives away songs, TV shows, and audiobooks. Right now, you can get Brad Meltzer’s The Millionaires for free.

“What would you steal if you couldn’t get caught? It started as the perfect crime. Then it took a turn for the worse. Charlie and Oliver Caruso are brothers who work at Green & Greene, a private bank so exclusive you need two million dollars just to be a client. But when the door of success slams in their faces, they’re faced with an offer they can’t refuse: three million dollars in an abandoned account. No one knows it exists, and even better, it doesn’t belong to anyone. It’s a foolproof crime. More important, for Charlie and Oliver, it’s a way out of debt and the key to a new life. All they have to do is take the money. But when they do, they quickly discover they’ve got a lot more on their hands than the prize. Before they can blink, a friend is dead - and the bank, the Secret Service, and a female private investigator are suddenly closing in. Trapped in a breakneck race to stay alive, Charlie and Oliver are bout to discover a secret that will test their trust and forever change their lives.”

LINK

‘Chocolate Rain’ Ringtone

Just in time for the current meme blowing up the interwebs, I’ve cut together a quick version of ‘Chocolate Rain’ as a ringtone - if your phone supports mp3s, here’s the link to the download.

And here’s the strange-yet-compelling vid that inspired it all, over 4 million 6 million (!) views and counting!!

Students: Video iPod SAT study guides now available

Lifehacker:

In addition to - or instead of - taking an expensive SAT prep
course, download interactive study guides for the video iPod, which are
now available at the iTunes Store.

The three programs, in critical reading, mathematics and
writing, correspond to the three graded sections of the exam. The
programs cost $4.99 each and are available in the iPod games section of
the iTunes store alongside slightly more entertaining, if less
educational, options like Tetris, Pac-Man and Lost: The Game.

Health: Kickstart your fitness routine with jogcasts

Lifehacker:

The popular Couch to 5k running plan
for beginning runners has found an excellent supplement in the form of
the Couch to 5k podcast (or jogcast, if you will), which provides a
soundtrack tailored specifically for the training plan.

By adding cues for when runners should run, walk, speed up, slow
down, and even reminders on improving form, the Couch to 5k jogcast
makes it even easier for a couch jockey to smoothly transition to a
regular fitness routine. If you’re one of the many people who’ve used
this plan, share your experience with the rest of us in the comments.

Podcasts for Running [via Global Moxie]

MP3 To iPod Audio Book Converter Released

iPod Hacks: “www.freeipodsoftware.com has released a free and open source Windows application for converting single or multiple MP3 files into a single iPod Audio Book (.m4b) file. It’s very easy to use.

Mac OS X and Linux versions are planned. Visit the website for more information.”