iOS 5 Music.app on iPad doesn't support audiobook chapters

Crazy crazy crazy! worthless! Please fix this. I know it's a simple fix because you had it right just a while ago! Just put the code back in please!

Hi Bradenpc – well I am sorry to say that though I did get iOS 5 to work as I posted earlier, it turns out it doesn't last for long. My experience even after clearly my iPad and then re-syncing:

Firstly, the new iOS 5 Music App for iPad now crashes and freezes; inexplicably disappears sections and selections while it is in use for more than a few minutes until it finally becomes totally unusable and unresponsive. If I connect my iPad to my computer and re-sync, Music App works again for a short time and then gradually degrades to non-usability again. The upgrade performance has deteriorated steadily in my experience.

I'll add to the list of disappointing things about the new music app:

In addition to the removal of the 30 second back button (which was an essential feature that I used all the time), and the chapter viewing and speed changing, they also got rid of the ability to "pinch" out of the fullscreen now playing interface. This had become such a natural gesture from using my iPad before, that it's extremely frustrating now every time I try and it doesn't work.

Why would they remove these features from the app!!? It worked, and was great, and had ACTUAL intelligent design... now it's just crap.

The pinch gesture made sense, it fit in perfectly with everything else the iPad does, particularly with the way the photos app worked. Whoever the new developer is, they obviously had none of the design intelligence of the original one...

Is there any way we can bring this thread to the attention of Apple? They NEED to know that they've released something officially that is really only beta quality.

This happened to me too - I have a load of audiobooks just saved as standard MP3 that used to play OK as if they were music. It has taken me all day to 'upgrade' to iOS5 due to the automatic update procedure not working, then the manal update didnt work either until I found a workaround, and now I boot up the iPad and my music is there, but ALL of my audiobooks (and I have a few, my son loves to listen to them at bedtime) are ALL GONE. The old app wasnt great, but the new one is AWFUL. Apple really do suck big time, and yet still numpties queue up to get the latest overpriced cr*ppy iteration of a product they already own, which is RUINED by poor quality software that you have no option but to use.

My son is going to be very disappointed when he comes back from holiday, hope you are happy Apple.

Regarding the symptom of audiobooks starting to play then just stopping.

I have same problem on ipod Touch, 3rd gen. Just upgraded to IOS5. Hating it. The management group that allowed this to happen should receive pay deductions and I bet most of the software engineers involved would agree with me.

I've found that this only occurs for my MP3 audiobooks. They play ok if I define them as music instead of as an audiobook. But as soon as I define them as an audio book they stop playing.

Great to meet an insider!

I get most of my audiobooks from the Northern California Digital Library which uses a program called Overdrive to transfer the protected WMA and MP3s directly to the IPOD/PAD. (WMA/DRM files get converted to protected AAC in the process)

Any hope that Bookmark will take this problem on as well?

Yet another reminder to never apply a upgrade or patch until you find out what the update breaks. Apple in its wisdom does not allow you to go backto a previous version. I'm really tired of feeling like an hostage, subject to the developers' whims. I see why they call the process of freeing yourself from these restrictions "jailbreaking". It really does feels like your device is in jail.

Every time this happens, it makes me reconsider my decision to buy Apple products. It's not just this particular instance. Every patch they makes arbitrary sometimes sweeping changes, and do not give you the option to back out of them. Apple's motto should be "It's our way or the highway" and as much as I like Apple's products, I'm getting mighty tired of this attitude. I was toying with the idea of buying an iPhone4s but now I'm not so sure.

Luckily I had a saved blob from the last version, so I spent two hours last night downgrading back to 4.3.5. I now have my old ipod music app back. As much as the new version offers, it's not enough to compensate for the loss of functionality from royally screwing up the music app. What an embarrassing amateurish app that was. I'm ashamed on their behalf. Did any of the testers even try a podcast or audiobook on it? It's almost as if they planned to use a separate app for audio content, but forgot to include it.

So until they fix this, I'm staying put at 4.3.5. Thankfully, Apple does not force you to update. Yet. (except if you need to do a recovery, then you are screwed. Again.)

I'm strongly considering incorporating ways of adding content to Bookmark that don't require going through iTunes.

Hello Apple! Please put the features back for audiobooks. It is rather annoying to have to figure out where you are after each .m4b ends. Was the perfect app. Now..............................it *****!

All I can say in regard to the Music App is EPIC FAIL APPLE!!!!!!

Never have I experienced such a complete reduction in functionality as this "app" does for audiobooks.

Apple, PLEASE fix these glaring lapses.

This matters Apple !

FIX THIS !!!!!!

Please fix this. Makes my iPad unusable.