What are you listening to audiobooks ON?

[Catlady]

Well, I'm stymied before I even begin. The Rockbox utility doesn't recognize that I've got the Fuze+ plugged into my computer, and doesn't let me try to navigate to it.

ETA: Never mind. Had to change the USB mode on the Fuze+ to MSC.

ETA: There are no words to describe HOW MUCH I HATE ROCKBOX on the Fuze+. It is unbearably AWFUL. Maybe with a device that doesn't have touchpad controls it might be easier to navigate, but with the Fuze+ it's horrid. I didn't even get to the point of loading mp3 or Audible files; I had wmv video files on the device and all it would play was the sound. When I loaded an avi file, it didn't even show up in the file list. The online manual (horrible, horrible, horrible!) explained how to play these files, but the controls are so wonky that I couldn't even get to the right menu.

When I installed Rockbox I let it install games--big mistake; whenever I tried one I couldn't get out of it except by turning off the device. Actually, most of the time when I wanted to get out of a menu or submenu I had to turn off the device. I realize that some of this is the Fuze+, but, really what a waste of time!

Now I'm going to try to uninstall this disaster!

ETA: Successfully uninstalled, thank goodness! Did I mention how much I HATE ROCKBOX?

[Catlady]

After I got the Fuze+ un-Rockboxed, I decided to try it to listen to an audiobook. Well, I'm remembering now why I put the Fuze+ aside soon after buying it. I'd vaguely recalled that there was something odd about how it handled audiobooks, and there certainly is.

If you put an mp3 audiobook (multiple chapters) into the Audiobooks folder--which certainly seems like a reasonable thing to do--the poor deluded Fuze+ puts the files in alphabetical order by title (not filename or track number). So we have Chapter 1, Chapter 10, Chapters 11-19, Chapter 2, Chapter 20, End Credits, Title Credits. And it stops after each track. I didn't try it, but apparently if you load several books, it will jumble up all the files into strict alphabetical order.

The mp3 audiobooks need to go into the Podcasts folder. Then the Fuze+ reads them in the proper order (assuming you've tagged them properly) and continues smoothly from chapter to chapter. And keeps each book separate.

The controls are just bad. The touchpad is either not responsive enough, or else overly sensitive. I can't figure out how to rewind or fast forward; I do what the manual says, but it doesn't seem to work.

So all this is why I abandoned it for audiobooks and loaded video onto it soon after I first got it--it plays video very nicely on its little screen. It's back to the Clip Zip for audiobooks.

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by Catlady

If you put an mp3 audiobook (multiple chapters) into the Audiobooks folder--which certainly seems like a reasonable thing to do--the poor deluded Fuze+ puts the files in alphabetical order by title (not filename or track number). So we have Chapter 1, Chapter 10, Chapters 11-19, Chapter 2, Chapter 20, End Credits, Title Credits. And it stops after each track. I didn't try it, but apparently if you load several books, it will jumble up all the files into strict alphabetical order.

That sounds incredibly stupid. I am less interested in the Fuze+ now.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

That sounds incredibly stupid. I am less interested in the Fuze+ now.

Oh, definitely don't get the Fuze+ if you primarily want it for audiobooks. It's not so bad to have to remember to load mp3 audiobooks as podcasts, but the difficulty in trying to use the controls to rewind or fast-forward was the real deal-breaker. (I kept accidentally brushing the touchpad and losing my place, and couldn't get back to where I wanted to be.) To be fair, possibly Rockbox would have improved the audiobook experience--I didn't explore how audiobooks worked with it since I got all hung up on trying to figure out how to play video with Rockbox. Rockbox has far too many submenus to try to get into and out of with the lousy Fuze+ controls, and the manual is downright confusing.

[mystika1]

I hated rockbox on my clip zip. Have you looked at the San disk web site to see if your fuze+ has a firmware update? They may have fixed the audio book issue. As someone told me earlier, on the clip zip in the audio book settings, there is an audio book mode that plays the audio book continuously and in order. My husband is faithfully using his now. He never leaves the house without it. :-)

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by mystika1

I hated rockbox on my clip zip. Have you looked at the San disk web site to see if your fuze+ has a firmware update? They may have fixed the audio book issue. As someone told me earlier, on the clip zip in the audio book settings, there is an audio book mode that plays the audio book continuously and in order. My husband is faithfully using his now. He never leaves the house without it. :-)

I use Clip Zips for audiobooks and music, and I haven't seen any need to Rockbox them, as they work just fine as they are. I do have the latest firmware on the Fuze+, but really the big issue there is the touchpad controls. It's just awkward. Though the controls worked somewhat better with Rockbox, still, the Fuze+ is just a big hassle. I'll keep mine for the video player and as a music backup.

I'm not too clear on what the advantage of Rockbox would be on a Clip Zip.

[booklover6]

After recently acquiring a no contract Android phone just for ebooks, I am finding I like using it better than a Clip Zip. I have Audible, Scribd, and just downloaded Overdrive to it. I've been listening like mad. I am probably going to need a phone with larger storage. This one is filling up fast! I like the large screen, and I got a holster to clip to my waist band and wear it everywhere.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by booklover6

After recently acquiring a no contract Android phone just for ebooks, I am finding I like using it better than a Clip Zip. I have Audible, Scribd, and just downloaded Overdrive to it. I've been listening like mad. I am probably going to need a phone with larger storage. This one is filling up fast! I like the large screen, and I got a holster to clip to my waist band and wear it everywhere.

You still need your clip zip for WMA though.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by Blossom

You still need your clip zip for WMA though.

Oh that's right. I've been listening to the Harry Dresden books, and those are WMA.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by [SPAMMER BANNED - MODERATOR

- you need to use compression software for wma

What do you mean?

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Blossom

What do you mean?

I think he means "I am exploring ways to spam this forum."

Just a guess based on the post and his linked home page.
With any luck we'll get a response proving me wrong.

[Dr. Drib]

Much thanks to fellow moderator WT Sharpe for spotting the spammer above.

This nasty little bugger is now banned.


Don
(Moderator)

[WT Sharpe]

Actually, much thanks to ApK for putting me on the scent.

[ApK]

Yay! I helped!

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by ApK

Yay! I helped!

Thank you.


Don
(Moderator)