Audio books - info?

[CRussel]

First, I know you can use the WMA Library Audiobooks on your old iPhone. The whole process is really quite simple. But ultimately, if you're going to be listening for long stretches, I think you'll find Audible worth it. You can burn through quite a few books fairly quickly with large projects, IME. (I don't even want to guess how many it took to do my Gansey.) And the wait for one you want at the Library can be lengthy.

I would go with the Audible trial, and ALSO do the Library for any books that they have when you want them. Put the library books on the iPhone, however, not on the Kindle. Audible books can go either place.

[PG4003]

Well, it was almost like giving birth, but as I type, my first book from Audible.com is downloading on my iPhone. Whew! Thank you all so much for putting up with my questions, and giving me so much information, I couldn't have done it without you.

[Wordeater]

you went through all this only to find out audio books put you to sleep!
Well, that's what happens to me, anyway. I had a couple on my Ipod and just couldn't get around it. I'd wake up eventually after the reader had plugged away for who knows how many chapters, and I'd have to go back to a part I remembered and restart.
Just not for me.

WE

[SeaBookGuy]

Now that's what I liked about the old cassette days - you could only go 30 - 45 minutes maximum before the machine shut off (after you fell asleep).

[ApK]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

Now that's what I liked about the old cassette days - you could only go 30 - 45 minutes maximum before the machine shut off (after you fell asleep).

That's why we have sleep timers! Set the iPod or Sansa for 45 minutes, plug in the pillow speaker...better than Advil PM.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

For $35 you can buy a pair of bluetooth headphones (with about a 30' range) - look for the motorola s305 on Amazon. They are fantastic for audiobooks and chores...and for the many other situations where you don't want to deal with the headphone cords.

Thanks for the tip, but I already had considered that. The problem is, I hate headphones. I'll take speakers any day.

[PG4003]

I'm reporting back with an update. I joined Audible.com and got my first book. I downloaded Audible on my iPhone and listed to a few chapters of the book, I love it! Then my grandson played with the phone (he uses it for games), and lo and behold, he deleted my Audible!! I've talked to him about that Anyway, then yesterday he and his Dad went to spend the night with some friends, and you guessed it, he took the iPhone with him. So here I was stuck at home wanting to do some sewing and listen to my book and didn't have the iPhone. So I just jumped in the car and went to Best Buy and bought the little Sansa Clip+. Played around with it last night and got my book loaded on it. This is a very cute, handy gadget. Right now I can't figure out how to go back to where I was in the book, unless I just hit the power button. When I'm ready to stop listening, I just hit the power button, when I turn it back on, it resumes where I left off. Is there an option somewhere for "resume", without turning the power off?

And you want to hear something funny? I didn't realize the Sansa can only be used with earphones!! At first, I unplugged the earphones and kept thinking, OK where's the speaker on this little thing?

Anyway, I'm assuming that with the Sansa Clip+ I can download my books from Audible.com and also can download audiobooks from the library? When I download books from the library, will they go into the Audible Manager or is that only for books from Audible? I know when I download ebooks, it uses ADE, does it use something similar for audiobooks?

[ApK]

You did not have to run out in the middle of the night...you could have played your Audible books on your Kindle!

[PG4003]

Oh, it wasn't the middle of the night, it was only about 7 PM! I really wanted to get the little Sansa anyway. I thought it was worth it for $40, now I can buy books from Audible and also put myself on the wait list for some from the library.

Can you answer any of these questions for me?
Anyway, I'm assuming that with the Sansa Clip+ I can download my books from Audible.com and also can download audiobooks from the library? When I download books from the library, will they go into the Audible Manager or is that only for books from Audible? I know when I download ebooks, it uses ADE, does it use something similar for audiobooks?

[ApK]

Originally Posted by PG4003

Anyway, I'm assuming that with the Sansa Clip+ I can download my books from Audible.com and also can download audiobooks from the library?

Certainly...that's why we recommended it to you, if you recall...

When I download books from the library, will they go into the Audible Manager or is that only for books from Audible? I know when I download ebooks, it uses ADE, does it use something similar for audiobooks?

I don't know what the Audible Manager software is capable of, but I know you certainly don't NEED it in any way for library books.
Overdrive provides their own software for managing library book downloads, and if I recall correctly, it works in conjunction with either Windows Media Player or the Sansa software to actually transfer the files to the device. The library site has links with downloads and instructions for all of it.

ApK

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

Well then, now's the time for me to mention that with the Sansa Clip+ there's one "glitch" to overcome. The book will resume at the same point upon powering on; however, the ability to leave a file (book) and return to the same point after listening to something else needs to be "activated" first.

After a library book is downloaded, the tagging should be changed from history, fiction, etc. to "audiobook" (or podcast for those). In Windows OS, library books are stored under "documents" --> My Media and then either mp3 or WMA. Alternatively, the tagging can be changed on the Windows Media Player copy before transferring the book that way.

Overdrive and Windows Media Player will place books in the "music" folder of your Sansa. Overdrive has its own manager that you'll need to install first (using Internet Explorer as a browser - it will not set up correctly otherwise, you can use any browser after that for actual books). It doesn't matter where the books go on the device, as they'll all display in one long "audiobook" list under Music.

Audible books "self bookmark" without doing anything to them. Their manager can be a bit wonky - when the book downloads you actually get two copies, as the system loads one at the Audible manager, and a second at Windows Media Player also.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by PG4003

And you want to hear something funny? I didn't realize the Sansa can only be used with earphones!! At first, I unplugged the earphones and kept thinking, OK where's the speaker on this little thing?

You need speakers. I hate using headphones when I don't have to. I have a set of Logitech S-120 speakers and they have pretty good sound for their size. I bought them specifically for my Clip+ to listen to audiobooks and music. They'd be great in a sewing room because they have such a small footprint. Amazon sells them for $8.99 and I've seen them in Walmart for around $12.

[PG4003]

Thanks once again ApK and SeaBook Guy, I really appreciate everything. And tubemonkey, great suggestion on the speakers. I'm going to get some of those. I've been in my sewing room for the past 6 hours, I'm loving being able to listen to a book! I never thought I'd like an audiobook but it's great.

[SeaBookGuy]

Friends are amazed I iron my own shirts!

[PG4003]

Iron? I didn't think anybody ironed anything these days