Audiobook/Podcast app with the following features?

[avid01]

I'm looking for any usable audiobook or podcast app which can do the basic tasks iOS's built in podcast app can do. FYI, a podcast app is essentially the same as an audiobook app, as far as the source is non DRM, compared to a music app, the main difference is:



That you have the skip forward and skip backward buttons instead of the fast forward/rewind on a music app. That's one feature I require.

The other is, it does not require any registration or login and I can just add simple episodes from my computer (aside RSS subscriptions, but that is not really necessary).

Any worthy contenders? I searched the store and the web, installed lots of crap to no avail.

[avid01]

I understand this might not be the best place to ask (which is, then?), but at least some of you like podcasts and audiobooks here so that you even suggested to have a separate forum dedicated to audiobooks as well. Android is the most popular platform and MobileRead is the most popular forum for at least reading on those devices. Any tips for me? I can't believe I can't find a viable solution for this seemingly simple issue.

[Teknikal]

I was going to suggest Akimbo audiobook player as a free option but upon doing a quick search for the link it's become apparent Googles removed it from the store.

They seem to do that a lot lately and the book apps tend to never come back.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Teknikal

I was going to suggest Akimbo audiobook player as a free option but upon doing a quick search for the link it's become apparent Googles removed it from the store.

They seem to do that a lot lately and the book apps tend to never come back.

Amazon has it in their appstore -- Akimbo Audiobook Player

[avid01]

Originally Posted by Teknikal

They seem to do that a lot lately and the book apps tend to never come back.

Interesting. Why Google removes otherwise good apps from its store?

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Amazon has it in their appstore -- Akimbo Audiobook Player

Thanks. Before I delve into this: I actually managed to install Akimbo 1.6.2. from untrusted sources (to an unsecured device anyways, no big deal), the screen looked exactly something like this, though none of the controls worked:



Seriously, it looks like a design failure to me See the iOS Podcast app before, just the jump back/forth 15 sec buttons are there, which enable operation without having to look on the device. Akimbo for some reason also features on the same screen jump back and forth not only 10 secs, but 1 minute as well, not to mention fast forward/rewind and menu and bookmark buttons on the wrong place.

On my untrusted download none of the controls worked anyways, but if I can't get a plain screen with a simple pair of buttons of jump back/forth 10/15 secs without the clutter of useless buttons which just hinder operation without having to look on the device and navigate with precision, I am not interested in this app anyways.

Anything better for me?

[Teknikal]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Amazon has it in their appstore -- Akimbo Audiobook Player

That's weird that it's some sort of Trial version when I installed it from Google Play not all that long ago it was the Full version Free, to be honest I wouldn't pay for it myself although functionally it works well enough.

Originally Posted by avid01

Interesting. Why Google removes otherwise good apps from its store?

Google removes apps for really any reason or complaint quite often the issue could have been resolved with a different screenshot in the description or something idiotic like that but they also have a habit of not telling developers why the app was removed and they have to take wild guesses trying to get it approved again.

Personally I stopped buying from the play store altogether after losing a few paid apps.
Even if the apps do make a return (which is rare) the way the play store works means they are now classed as a new app and anyone who bought the original is out of pocket and now would have to rebuy it which as far as I'm concerned is basically theft.

As for Akimbo functionally it works perfectly for me but I'm not really into audio books the slow speed of listening tends to bore me.
The only other app I've seen anyone express any interest is Smart Audio Player, but I don't really see any major advantages over Akimbo, to be honest the ones that let you load your own files all seem to be quite ugly.

Edit: Was curious enough to find a reddit thread that seems to suggest Listen Audiobook Player is a popular choice

[Dr. Drib]

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Avid01
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[avid01]

@Dr. Drib

Sorry about the image size; which forum engine do you use which is not capable of auto-resizing to desirable sizes?

Anyways, I am an infrequent member of a few forums, so, now I recall you have this image size issue, but it's easy to forget, esp. as it is such a special issue on this forum, sorry about that.

@Teknikal

I get back to your answer later; thanks!

[jmontano]

Maybe Podcast Addict may do the trick?

[avid01]

Addendum: I am looking for such an app (podcast or audiobook) that allows me to add single local episodes. All these seem to force me to subscribe to feeds and add from there, which is bonkers. what if I want to listen to a single episode, years old? Or, my favorite use case, download the audio track of a YouTube presentation and listen to that. The iOS app just works, so why is it so hard to find a similar, working solution on Android? I don't get it.

I began to go through these https://play.google.com/store/search?q=audiobook&c=apps
and these https://play.google.com/store/search?q=podcast&c=apps
respectively, but it's kind of like looking for the holy grail. ;(

Fun fact: http://9to5mac.com/2015/07/20/report...-podcasts-app/ Why?

[copyrite]

I can listen to an mp3 file on my phone or tablet with Podcast Addict. Not sure what other types of audio files I can play through the app.

I listened to podcasts on a really old iPod for the longest time while searching for an app that suited my needs. Variable speed playback was at the top of my list.

[avid01]

On your suggestion I tried Podcast Addict. It has way too many features, for no reason. I am not sure if a user interface designer have overseen the project.

It may still be able to do the job, however, but there is one major annoyance: compared to the Audible app, where if I listen to a book, I can tap nearly anywhere on the screen and the title remains in place.

With Podcast Addict, while listening, if I tap on nearly any part of the screen (think tapping accidentally), the title minimizes, again, for no reason. Any way to turn this 'feature' off, for the app to 'just work,' like the Audible app?

Really, is this the best Android can offer with it's over 80% of market share in the mobile devices space?

[copyrite]

I don't know the answer to that. I figure the features came up as people with those specific needs requested them. There's a lot in that app I don't use.

[Dhevi]

As mentioned earlier in the thread Listen Audiobook Player is the app I use. It does have Fast forward/backward and Skip Forward/backward and Skip File. You can set the length to Skip forward/backward in the settings.

[desito]

Hello,

Totally agree with Dhevi,

Good design and a lot of funtions

The best app for audiobooks is listen audiobook player