Use of Audiobooks Has anyone used the shuffle for audiobooks? Does the "bookmark" feature work? (i.e. on other ipods you can stop in the middle of a book and it will restart at that same point). Use of Audiobooks Has anyone used the shuffle for audiobooks? Does the "bookmark" feature work? (i.e. on other ipods you can stop in the middle of a book and it will restart at that... » Read More Use of Audiobooks Has anyone used the shuffle for audiobooks? Does the "bookmark" feature work? (i.e. on other ipods you can stop in the middle of a book and it will restart at that same point). « Show Less
1102296
You can't really bookmark, but when you turn it off and then back on, it is in the same place.
1102297
I am going to stand up for Marian, yes Audible can use the iPod, but your local public library probably offers a service called Overdrive (which is free with you library card compared to paying for Audible.com) that allows users to download audio books free of charge, but due to software issues they cannot be played on an iPod.
1102298
Marian, you are wrong. I second Flora's comment: Audible audiobook are natively supported by iPods. Audible support is explicitly listed in iPod tech specs!
1102299
The actual Apple IPods will only play audiobooks that you buy from Apple, because Apple refuses to let other audiobook publishers use their audio file format. Geuine Apple IPods also do not have the ability to "bookmark". To play downloadable audio books from libraries, Overdrive, Audible, etc., you need a non-Apple bookmark-enabled mp3 player. Most libraries and audiobook Web sites have a list of players that can play their books; the most ubiquitous are the "Creative Zen" line of MP3 players. They are not as slick as IPods, but they can play library audiobooks, and when you turn them off, will resume where you stopped. The actual Apple IPods will only play audiobooks that you buy from Apple, because Apple refuses to let other audiobook publishers use their audio file format. Geuine Apple IPods also do not have the ability to "bookmark". To play downloadable audio books from libraries, Overdrive, Audible, etc., you need a non-Apple bookmark-enabled mp3 player. Most libraries and audiobook Web sites have a list of players that can play their books; the most ubiquitous are the "Creative Zen" line of MP3 players. They are not as slick as IPods, but they can play library audiobooks, and... » Read More The actual Apple IPods will only play audiobooks that you buy from Apple, because Apple refuses to let other audiobook publishers use their audio file format. Geuine Apple IPods also do not have the ability to "bookmark". To play downloadable audio books from libraries, Overdrive, Audible, etc., you need a non-Apple bookmark-enabled mp3 player. Most libraries and audiobook Web sites have a list of players that can play their books; the most ubiquitous are the "Creative Zen" line of MP3 players. They are not as slick as IPods, but they can play library audiobooks, and when you turn them off, will resume where you stopped. « Show Less
1102300
I listen to audiobooks on my iPod all the time, you just import the CD's as MP3s into iTunes, and then drag them onto the shuffle. I find the audio quality of the library editions and Audible to be unacceptable (similar to am radio). The iPod also bookmarks your last position when you turn it off as long as your battery is charged. You do not have to use "aac" (Apple audio file format) files on the iPod, you can use MP3s, which is the standard format.
877837
Marian, this statement is completely wrong. I Am a long time member of Audible and can download books onto my iPod. In fact Audible offer a large discount off an Apple player as a promotion to get you to join. Audible works seamlessly with iTunes.
1102301
You are wrong about the larger ipods not being ale to play books from sources other than Apple. I get two or three books a month from audible and they work great on my 60g ipod. The bookmarks work and I have no trouble at all. I have 69 books (including Atlas Shrugged at 55 hrs and The Fountainhead) and every album my wife and I own and haven't hit 15 gig yet.
1102302
You can download many free audiobooks in m4b format from www.gutenberg.com. iTunes imports them without any trouble and they can be downloaded to iPods from a playlist. The bookmark feature seems to work, my (20GB) iPod started up where I had left off.
297557
how do you move files to the card? I have audiobooks on my player and I can not figure out how to move them to the SD card. Can anyone help?
62875
Disclaimer: I have yet to test it since I have recently found my Clip+. I've rarely used it for audiobooks, but preliminary inspection (from review videos) leads me to believe that the firmware hasn't changed so you may not expect any improvements to audiobook playback.Joshua Bean's comment seems to provide more insight than I.
3026
We each have our preferences, but listening to books on a shuffle is certainly not one of mine. As has been pointed out, there's no way to see where you are in the book, and it doesn't use a scroll wheel like a nano or other ipod to make finding your place easy. Since I usually convert CD audio books to MP3 and ipod formats I've found that when you have a long book (say 12-24 CDs), it's quite easy to lose your place if you ever do anything else with your ipod (and you certainly can't do much with a shuffle), it can be incredible PITA to get back to where you were. I finally dumped my shuffle.I'd recommend a nano (5th Gen is superior to the newest model in my opinion) or anything with a screen. We each have our preferences, but listening to books on a shuffle is certainly not one of mine. As has been pointed out, there's no way to see where you are in the book, and it doesn't use a scroll wheel like a nano or other ipod to make finding your place easy. Since I usually convert CD audio books to MP3 and ipod formats I've found that when you have a long book (say 12-24 CDs), it's quite easy to lose your place if you ever do anything else with your ipod (and you certainly can't do much with a shuffle), it can be incredible PITA to get back to where you were. I finally dumped my... » Read More We each have our preferences, but listening to books on a shuffle is certainly not one of mine. As has been pointed out, there's no way to see where you are in the book, and it doesn't use a scroll wheel like a nano or other ipod to make finding your place easy. Since I usually convert CD audio books to MP3 and ipod formats I've found that when you have a long book (say 12-24 CDs), it's quite easy to lose your place if you ever do anything else with your ipod (and you certainly can't do much with a shuffle), it can be incredible PITA to get back to where you were. I finally dumped my shuffle.I'd recommend a nano (5th Gen is superior to the newest model in my opinion) or anything with a screen. « Show Less
509116
I finally purchased with cowon d2 and am very happy. I listen to audiobooks on it and it can bookmark, but play the next track after the bookmarked track (extremely important). I had the creative zen for awhile and returned it as it didn't have as many features as the d2. If you have any questions about the d2, please feel free to ask.
1507365
Stephanie,I don't think it does bookmarks. But, yes. You can stop the book, listent music and then go back to the book. When you go back to the book, it gives you the option of resuming playback where you left off.
2092137
Yes, I use my shuffle only for audiobooks which I get from the library or Audible.com. First, Connect Shuffle. Then, 1) download book to OverDrive Media Console. 2) Open Finder, book chapters should appear in Finder. 3) Open iTunes: click on File on task bar; click/open "Add to Library" in drop down dialog box. 4) Go back to Finder and highlight book/chapters in Finder. 5)drag chapters to music under devices in "Add to Library" dialog box. 6) Click "open" at bottom of screen. 7) Click "sync" at bottom of screen. Hope this helps. I think I got the steps in order. Seems confusing at first, but after you do it a few times it's easy. Enjoy listening. Yes, I use my shuffle only for audiobooks which I get from the library or Audible.com. First, Connect Shuffle. Then, 1) download book to OverDrive Media Console. 2) Open Finder, book chapters should appear in Finder. 3) Open iTunes: click on File on task bar; click/open "Add to Library" in drop down dialog box. 4) Go back to Finder and highlight book/chapters in Finder. 5)drag chapters to music under devices in "Add to Library" dialog box. 6) Click "open" at bottom of screen. 7) Click "sync" at bottom of screen. Hope this helps. I think I got the... » Read More Yes, I use my shuffle only for audiobooks which I get from the library or Audible.com. First, Connect Shuffle. Then, 1) download book to OverDrive Media Console. 2) Open Finder, book chapters should appear in Finder. 3) Open iTunes: click on File on task bar; click/open "Add to Library" in drop down dialog box. 4) Go back to Finder and highlight book/chapters in Finder. 5)drag chapters to music under devices in "Add to Library" dialog box. 6) Click "open" at bottom of screen. 7) Click "sync" at bottom of screen. Hope this helps. I think I got the steps in order. Seems confusing at first, but after you do it a few times it's easy. Enjoy listening. « Show Less
2123412
I'm sorry, I just read the other responses. I thought you were referring to the capability to 'shuffle the songs.' I haven't tried it but don't see why not. It worked for my playlists. Unfortunately I have it in my classroom and wont be able to try it until Monday, August 5, 2013.
366633
I read books on my ipod all the time, whole books. I've never had any other reader. The iPod touch is fine to read on. You can adjust font and background/text colors. While a page on the iPod doesn't show as much as a page in a book it has never been a problem for me.
795751
I've transferred podcasts from iTune and it works great, I think it would work the same way with audiobooks.Just so you know, I don't think it can connect directly to iTunes, you would have to find the audiobook file in the file system and then transfer it to the player if you have a Mac you can right click the file in iTunes and select "Show In Finder". Also note that it seems like it has a difficulty loaded large files, it works but i suggest to split the large file to multiple small ones. Enjoy,N
178104
It has a simple single bookmark. If I turn it off while I'm listening to a book, it will start in the same place when I turn it back on. I have lost the bookmark a few times, some times if I hit the wrong button, it's gone. One time I added some more audio files, and when I tried to play it again, the bookmark was gone. The BAD thing about using this for audio books is that the time displays a maximum of 59 minutes 59 seconds. If you get audiobooks from NetLibrary, you will want to return this thing. It also doesn't fast forward/rewind very fast for getting through hours to find your place again in a very long audio file. Its "fast forward" is for songs, which is "dog slow forward" for multiple hour-long books. I like the Sansa Express enough for other reasons that I've just decided I won't listen to any NetLibrary eAudiobooks while I own the Sansa. Overdrive and Audible formats work fine, as do MP3s I made from CDs. It's really a shame about the time display. Actually, it's NetLibrary who should be blamed for this problem, not Sandisk. Whoever decided to make a 22 hour audiobook a single file should be fired.
1372135
Music from my cloud downloads perfectly to the iPod shuffle. I haven't tried it with audio books.
1900736
I have put audio books on my nano and currently have seven on there. I had a little trouble initially getting them from Audible.com to my iPod but all it took was checking the audiobooks I wanted and syncing the iPod. I love it.
3023
Yeah, personally I can't imagine trying to use a shuffle for books or podcasts even. I also had a second gen shuffle die on my in only a few weeks. IMO you really want at least a nano.
1129561
Despite SANSA advertising differently and apparently also in contrast to earlier versions the newest version with Firmware 3.01.11A does not play audio books in an acceptable manner. You may be able to put them on your player but there is no bookmarking capability so they do not restart where you left off and the fast forward function cannot/will not skip forward more than about 5 minutes and resume play. Whats worse is the player says in its digital readout it is starting where you left off but just goes back to the beginning anyway. I contacted Sansa support about this and their response was the e280 and other players in this series weren't meant to do books but I could buy a Sansa View and it would work correctly. In my opinion, they disabled what was a functioning player with the new firmware because they brought out the new and more expensive Sansa View. If you really want this for books it isn't the right player. I am sending mine back because I bought it for the same reason.
2165833
I have copied numerous books from CD into ITunes and then synced them to my IPod. I assume that copying Audible books is similar. Check out this page: http://www.audible.com/dc
323487
I've never downloaded audiobooks before, but I think it should work. It is a regular ipod, if you can download it you can play it.