Level 1

1 points

iOS 7 and Audiobook Chapters

iOS 7 seems to have removed the ability to view individual audiobook chapters in the music app. It has also replaced the chapter length with the length of the entire book in the time scrubber. When tapping the top right-hand corner to access the list of chapters, now it only shows one file for the whole book, whereas before it listed all the chapters, just like it lists all the songs in an album. This change applies to my own audiobooks created using the Mac Audiobook Builder app and to Audible downloads. I haven't tried it on an iTunes purchased audiobook.

If I manage to lose my place, scrubbing (even using quarter-speed or fine) through a 30+ hour audiobook is...let's be polite and say "challenging." I really liked knowing where I was in a chapter, being able to see how much time was left, being able to view the list of chapters, etc. My hope is I'm just missing something here and some iOS 7 wizard can show me how to correct this. But I suspect Apple's just updated the app.

iMac, Macbook, iPhone, Mac OS X (10.6.1)

Posted on Sep 18, 2013 2:34 PM

505 replies

Jan 11, 2014 4:18 AM in response to ecdc05

Another who's very disappointed that Apple have downgraded the music app again with regards to audiobooks...

Tried bookmobile however & it is very very good.

Love the sleep timer & the ability to edit the length of the time jump buttons

Couple of points though ... First of all it's not especially easy to navigate. If it wasn't for the Info on here I wouldn't have found half of the features.

Maybe adding a default minutes & seconds prefix would help the app look better & be less confusing?

Chapter art would be a great addition too so look forward to hopefully seeing that integrated.

A great app, I advise people to try it!

dieterfi

Level 1

0 points

Jan 11, 2014 4:56 AM in response to dieterfi

Try "AudioMark". More intuitive better integration (no additional adding needed)

Show at Page 21 or in Reply to!

Microsoft? I have tried a Nokia 520 WinPhone 8. It is no Alternative to iOS nor to Android expecialy on audiobooks. Badly usability, no Scrubbing, no Central Control Elements. Confusable Interface and 8-hex Numbers on crashes.

Jan 12, 2014 1:26 AM in response to trickytrees12

Bookmobile is not an alternative for Music to listen to audiobook files. Theres no chapter list, you can't scribble (scroll).

And the worst of all is the interface.

Jan 12, 2014 1:34 AM in response to dieterfi

AudioMark, It is better than Bookmobile. I have made a lot of audiobooks in the Mac app Audiobook Builder an some times there are audiobook hwo are very long, 15 to 20 houors. In that case there will be two or even three parts.

In AudioMark I can only load one book, and ond one part, at the time. Thts really bad.

Jan 12, 2014 1:34 AM in response to ecdc05

Bookmobile does contain a chapter list, or at least it does for me!

I don't see why you need to 'scroll' on an audio book especially with the customisable jump back & forward buttons, which make things much easier!

The layout I agree could be better though, making things more obvious would be the only thing I'd change!

Jan 12, 2014 1:39 AM in response to trickytrees12

trickytrees12 , the simple answer to why I would like to scroll is that sometimes I fall a sleep when I listen and therefore need to move back to a position a couple hours backwards :-) And thts hard to do with the back button.

Du you, trickytrees12, have the free app or payed app? I have the free app :-)

Jan 12, 2014 1:45 AM in response to ecdc05

The free version so far :)

If you tap the clock you can change the buttons from seconds to minutes.

You can change the length in settings too so I have mine as 60 min so can go back two hours in two button presses :)

I can't say I've tried any other apps so there may be better out there but Bookmobile does exactly what I want until Apple sort out the music app :)

dieterfi

Level 1

0 points

Jan 12, 2014 3:55 AM in response to gorancarlsen

Bookmobile has a chapterlist, but very bad to reach. You have to double(?) tap the title.

For AudioMark Mail the author. I have mailed him some times, with reports or suggestions.

R Luben

Level 1

0 points

Jan 12, 2014 9:50 AM in response to trickytrees12

Bookmobile doesn't have a chapter list for Audible books. Double-tapping only tells you which volume of the download you are in. Ususally Audible books download as one, two, or three volumes, each one with many chapters. It's virtually useless to only be able to know what volume you are in. Especially if there is only one volume! As also mentioned by others, Bookmobile's interface is confusing and non-intuitive.

The Audible app is best for Audible books -- but not as good as the iOS 5 or iOS6 music app used to be.

dieterfi

Level 1

0 points

Jan 12, 2014 10:53 AM in response to R Luben

BookMobile has no chapterlist for Audible DRM, right! But Audible is not Audiobook. M4B with chaptermarks also exists around you and they have a chapterlist in BookMobile, too.

As I said AudioMark is more intuitive and have chapterlist for DRM free M4B, for fairPlay DRM M4B and for Audible DRM.

All solutions missing chapterwise scrubbing, which has worked on Apples Music App since iOS 3 UP to iOS 6.1.3!

Jan 12, 2014 11:07 AM in response to dieterfi

Today I sat down and tried to figure out how Bookmobile will be useful.

First of all I found out two ways to fin chapterlist

1. Double tap on the title

2. Tap on Bookshelf figure, on the bottom right > Bookshelf > tap on the ">" for current audiobook

How much more easy my life would be if only Apple could reinstall these old features :-/

ecdc05 Author

Level 1

1 points

Jan 13, 2014 7:19 PM in response to gorancarlsen

In revisiting this thread I'm happy to see the recommendation for BookMobile. I only wish I'd discovered it sooner.

It's not perfect. It's not the exact look and UI I'd have preferred. But no matter, for less than the cost of a Starbucks run I get the functionality back I want. Just some highlights:

Viewable chapters! A simple double-tap away

Customizable skip-forward/back functions, including a second and a minute option

A bookmark log that tells me my last position in the book (just in case I manage to lose my place)

Tap the timestamp to toggle between chapter length and booklength

The app recognizes multiple part books and lists all chapters for the book and the complete time of the book in one place. Might not seem like a big deal, but when I'm listening to a sixty hour book that's been broken into four parts, in the iPhone music app it shows the four parts separately and the time for that part only.

An unexpected bonus is adjusting the reading speed. Yes, the built-in music app has that, but it only has one option. This has several, and bumping up the speed just a notch or two doesn't always result in a noticeable change in tone. In short, I'm listening to my book a little faster without it sounding like Alvin and the Chipmunks.

I don't know the developer and I'm not trying to shill for him. But since I started this thread, I feel like audiobooks in iOS 7 have been a joke. This restores and improves what I had before.

Jan 14, 2014 1:57 PM in response to ecdc05

My iPhone 5 is now semi retired. I shouldn't have to go round looking for 3rd party apps to regain broken functionality.

We choose our phones based on the quality and support of the software.

I'm no longer too fussed.

I'm now using my Samsung S4 for most phone duties as the android audible app is also superior to the ios version.

Jan 20, 2014 2:46 PM in response to bouzoukikid

So you went looking for a broken phone instead... 🙂

S4 is junk... not the device itself, though the S3 had better quality components but the horrible painful Skin Samsung insists on putting on it.

Clean Android is pretty nice - wouldn't want to use it day to day. I have way too much respect to give that Copyright stealing, backhanding, race to the bottom, company anything ( not just talking phones )

That said.... Back on subject It's all back working with iOS 7.1...

please can we end this thread if only cos I seem to get constant updates... The authors of bookmobile, which is an ok app but the design and interface is shocking, etc can start their own threads

Jan 20, 2014 3:17 PM in response to onelife2000

onelife200,

are you using OS7.1 (presumably a developer release) and can confirm chapters are back?

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iOS 7 and Audiobook Chapters