Audible Bookmarks Problems

Question

Audible Bookmarks Problems

I am having two problems with bookmarks in Audible files. The first is whenever I connect the iPod and go to iTunes, the bookmarks on the iPod are altered in some way I am unable to detect a pattern for. I understand they are synced somehow to the bookmarks in iTunes but cannot quite figure out how one affects the other. Any words of explanation of how this is supposed to work would be appreciated.

The second problem is within the iPod itself. Pausing for a short while and then resuming playback always begins with the place where it left off (m/l) but pausing overnight, with some audio books at least, resumes five or ten minutes ahead of the pause point (this is obviously annoying as one must then search backwards for the correct resume point).

Anyone have any ideas what could be going wrong here?

Posted on Aug 10, 2005 6:57 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 11, 2005 10:36 PM in response to Laurie Forbes

Yeah, Unfortunatly this is a know bug, but neither Apple or Audible.com have admited to the problem.

keep your fingers crossed for the next firmware update.

and to get good results, only use type 3 audible books.

more infor can be found here
Tttina, "Anyone getting good results with audiobooks?", 04:28pm Feb 5, 2005 CDT

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Answer 2

Aug 12, 2005 2:03 PM in response to Mark Crandell

Thanks Mark - that thread explains a lot of what I have been experiencing. It really is kind of difficult to believe Apple and Audio would not have fixed the problem by now.

Anyhow, I've seen it metioned several times that format 3 is the best to use but have not seen any info as to why (other than format 4 is encoded in MP3 apparently for some reason). Can anyone direct me please to further information (my searches don't seem to come up with much).

In the meantime, I will redownload my audible file(s) in format 3 and see if it makes any difference......

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Answer 3

Aug 13, 2005 1:03 PM in response to Laurie Forbes

Laurie,
Apparently the transfer of bookmarks is from iTunes to Shuffle only -- the Shuffle doesn't transfer a bookmark to iTunes. Hence, if you plug your Shuffle into your computer and open iTunes the bookmark will most likely be reset to the beginning of the book and the annoying "This is Audible" pronouncement. So, unless you want to load a new book don't open iTunes when you plug your Shuffle into your computer (for example, for recharging). And, I never turn OFF my Shuffle unless it needs to be reset.
Regarding your second problem -- this is one I've not experienced. For a pause of less than, say, an hour when I push the Pause button the book immediately resumes. For a pause longer than an hour (or so -- I've never timed it), when the Pause button is pushed the status light lights for several seconds and then goes out -- when the Pause button is pushed a second time the book resumes playing at the point I left off. Finally, I only download from Audible.com in Format 3, and I use the AudibleManager software coupled with the Audible Download Manager software to get the books directly into iTunes with no intervention on my part -- the books show up in a folder in the iTunes Source List called "Audible."
Roger

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Answer 4

Aug 14, 2005 6:53 PM in response to Roger Bryan

Have just noted in the Apple web docs that the bookmarks (in iTunes and on the iPod) are supposed to be both set to the point furthest into the book (although it doesn't seem to work that way).

Have also tried the suggestion of skipping from an audio book into the following file before pausing overnight or turning unit off. When resuming or turning unit back on, then skip forward again into the audio book - this seems to work so far at least (the audio book resumes at the point where it left off instead of several minutes further on).

I wonder when the next firmware upgrade can be expected??

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Answer 5

Sep 1, 2005 11:23 PM in response to Laurie Forbes

I found that some problems syncing with Itunes is because the bookmark dosent get written unless you change the song. That is, if you listen to your audible.com book stop, plug into your computer to sync, then the sync will be unexpected (it will compare the bookmark before on the ipod, with the bookmark in itunes)

But rather when you try to sync your shuffle to iTunes, before connecting to the computer, play some music files, or push the forward button once to force the shuffle to update the bookmark. Then the sync should work.

But still remeber that for some reason the sync isnt always exact, but it is always within 1 min or so of the correct bookmark.

This is how I have been getting "Fair" results with suffle and Audible.com format 3 books.
It a workarround and I hope it is fixed in the next firmware.

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