Playaway Collection

Welcome to Talbot County Free Library's Playaway Collection!

All that you need to listen to this book is one AAA battery, a set of headphones and your ears! The enclosed battery should allow you to listen to the entire book, however if it doesn't, feel free to replace it. You will need to supply your own headphones.

Getting Started

The Playaway is wedge shaped with a smooth side and a side which has function buttons. The thicker part of the wedge is what we are calling the top of the device and is where the battery is stored. All instructions are based on holding the Playaway with the top of the wedge up, smooth side resting in your palm.

Finding Your Way Around the Playaway

The function buttons are grouped near the top of the Playaway. The headphone jack is located on the right side of the unit, near the top. The recording can only be heard by using your own headphones or speakers — the Playaway doesn't have its own speakers.

Identifying and Explaining the Function Buttons

Volume control button: located in the upper left corner. Each time this button is pressed the volume will increase until it reaches the highest volume possible. The next press will return it to it's lowest softest setting. There are ten settings. It is not possible to jump to a specific setting - you must cycle through the levels.

Speed control button: the upper middle button. It is longer than the other two buttons. Pressing this button will increase the speed of the speech until it reaches the fastest speed possible. It will then return to the first setting. There are three speed settings.

Bookmark button: is located in the upper right corner. This button is used to mark a specific passage that you would want to be able to find again easily. When you are at a passage you want to mark, press the bookmark button and it will be marked for future reference. If you want to remove the bookmark, go to the passage that you.ve marked and when you are on that passage, press the bookmark button again and it will remove the mark. The bookmarks will remain when the unit is turned off.

Skip back to chapter or bookmark button: is located in the middle row. This button will go back to the beginning of the previous chapter or, if there is a passage bookmarked, it will go back to that passage. It will go back to the part of the book which the listener is closest to when it is pressed. For example, if you have bookmarked a passage in the middle of chapter 2 and you are presently listening to chapter 3, when you press the button it will go back to the beginning of chapter 3, press again and it will go back to the bookmarked passage, press again and it will go back to the beginning of chapter 2.

LCD Display: is in the middle of the function buttons which counts down the time remaining in a passage. This display can be disregarded.

Skip forward to chapter or bookmark button: is the button farthest right in the middle row. This button will go forward to the beginning of the next chapter or passage you have book marked.

Rewind button: is the button left in the bottom row. This button can be pressed to rewind while the book is playing and will take you back 15 seconds every time it is pressed.

Play/pause/stop button: is the lower middle button. It is longer than the other two, and has the Playaway logo printed on it. Press the button once to turn the power on, then press it again for reading to start. While you are reading, you can press this button to pause the reading. Simply press it again for reading to resume. If left on pause, after five minutes the unit will automatically turn off. To stop the unit and shut the power Off, hold this button down until you hear the reading stop, then release. The unit is now off.

Fast forward button: is the button in the lower right corner. This button can be pressed to fast forward while the book is playing.

Changing the Battery

While we hope it will not be necessary to change the battery while the Playaway is in your possession, circumstances may make it necessary. To change the battery, hold the Playaway so that the smooth side is facing you. There is a slight slit or depression in the middle of the unit, press down & flip the top of case off (you may have to use an edge to flip it up and off). Take the old battery out and replace it by putting the positive side of the battery (side with protrusion) to the right. Replace the top of the case, and continue listening.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I turn on the Playaway?: Press the Playaway button once to power it on. The Playaway button is the center button on the bottom row, just beneath the LCD. It has the Playaway logo on it. The unit is now on, but paused. Now you can plug in your ear buds – or any other headphones, speakers or adapter. Finally, when you're ready, press the Playaway button again and the book will begin to play.
How do I replace the battery?: The base of the Playaway has a battery door that can be removed, much like on a common remote control. Simply snap it off – don't worry, you won't break it. It takes some force. Once it's off just replace the battery with a standard AAA, and snap the battery cover back in place.
Can you add new content to the Playaway?: Playaway was designed to protect the copyrighted works of authors and publishers. In this respect, Playaway is no different than a hard cover book.
Can I use the Playaway in my car?: Playaway has a universal headphone jack that can be used with most of the commonly available car adapters on the market, including cassette adapters and FM transmitters.
How big is the Playaway and how much content can it hold?: Playaway weighs just two ounces and is about half the size of a deck of cards and holds content that ranges from 3 to 24 hours play time.
Why can't I add, delete or transfer content on or from a Playaway?: Playaway was designed to protect the copyrighted works of authors and publishers. In this respect, Playaway is no different than a hard cover book; you can share them with friends just like you would lend a favorite book, but you can't make copies.
How long does one AAA battery last?: Each Playaway is pre-loaded with a standard AAA battery that should allow for 6-8 hours of uninterrupted playtime.
How does Playaway compare to audio on cassette or CD?: Playaway is more convenient and easier to enjoy than juggling multiple CDs, cassettes or a separate player. Playaway also offers various enhanced digital features, including the ability to control the speed of the narrator's voice.
How does Playaway compare to digital downloads and other forms of on-the-go downloading like cell phones?: Playaway comes pre-loaded with its digital content, so it does not require information transfer fees, subscriptions, memberships, or even an Internet connection. Just plug-in your headphones and listen wherever you go.
What does the audio sound like on a Playaway?: Playaway audio is equal to or better than most digital downloads available today. This is due to proprietary audio processing, production and codecs that we use to retain fidelity while compressing the digital audio file size. The volume can only be made louder. In order to get it softer one must go all the way to the loudest, after which it goes to the very softest, then work your way up. Playaway suggests that you press the play button (just once – don't hold down) to pause and then press the volume button. (It will start at the lowest level and volume can be increased from there.)
When you turn the device off, then turn it back on, it picks up about 45 seconds or so prior to where it left off. Some overlap is nice, but this seems excessively long.: Playaway suggests that you push fast forward (just once) . which will advance the program 15 seconds and cut down on the overlap time.
The battery compartment is very hard to open.: Playaway is working to improve the unit design to make it easier to open the battery cover.
How can bookmarks be erased?: Bookmarks must be removed individually. There is no way to remove all bookmarks at once. Playaway notes that the removal of all bookmarks before circulating to another patron is not necessary because bookmarks do not negatively affect the listening experience of the next patron. Bookmarks do NOT need to be set if a patron simply wants the Playaway to remember where it last left off.
The book seems to be stuck on a chapter and keeps repeating the text.: This can happen if battery power is low. Replacing the battery should fix this problem.
The recording sounds scratchy – like an old LP.: Most probably this is due to the ear phones being used. Try listening with a different ear phone set. Still have questions? Visit in person at our Easton branch, call (410-822-1626) or email (askus@tcfl.org) us!