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

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505 replies

Sep 24, 2013 2:06 PM in response to tasa

Update to my post about audiobooks checked with Overdrive from my local library: I hadn't used it in a while and forgot that Overdrive audiobooks can be downloaded directly into and played from the Overdrive app, this totally bypassing iTunes. Between that and the Audible app I'm pretty much covered. So the still unresolved issue would be any audiobooks I checked out in CD format that would have to be imported into iTunes. I gave that up a long time ago since often they are not formatted to play in proper order unless you do it manually in iTunes, which is a big pain no matter what version of iTunes you're using. Still, iTunes needs to be returned to its previous functionality.


I'm going to try starting a "What Was Apple Thinking" (WWAT) thread and solicit a list of issues from other forum users that in can put into one comprehensive Email to Apple.

Sep 24, 2013 2:16 PM in response to tasa

Import your CD into iTunes as AAC files (or mp3 files then convert them to .m4a.) Download Chapter and Verse, it's free. It will take your .m4a files and string them together into one long .m4b file and each CD will be a chapter. You can chapter it anywhere you want should you so choose. However, it won't do you much good in the new iOS 7 music app and it won't do you any good in the Audible app. Audible will show chapters of Audible books but not any books you have downloaded from libraries or converted from CDs.


Music player in iOS 7 does show what chapter you're listening to just above the scrubber, just hard to tell where you are in the chapter.

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iOS 7 and Audiobook Chapters

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