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IOS 8.4 Has Ruined my Audiobooks & Audio Drama Library

I'll try to keep to the point here, you don't want my life story, but perhaps my listening habits and content will help to explain my issue.

So far, I seem to be part of the minority, hopefully more people will speak up about this.

I've never had any issues with the audiobooks section in the iTunes library or on any of my iPhone's or iPods. Now, having just installed IOS 8.4 on my iPhone, Apple seem to have left me out in the cold - with no way back.

I have no issue with migrating Audiobooks from the music app to the books app, it seems to work OK, that is for a single audiobook with a single title.

The trouble is, that more than half of my huge Audiobook library consists of Full Cast, Episodic Audio Drama Series', that is - a series of stories with its own title and own artwork contained within an all encompassing Series Title. Now that's been blown to bits, I have no idea which story I'm listening to. I have spent years, months, weeks and hours carefully organising my audiobook library. Each story title within a series (or album if you like) has been replaced with the generic title "Chapter X", not only that, it's using the same artwork for each story. 😟

I Was perfectly happy classifying my full cast audio drama/comedy/thriller/horror/sci-fi as "Audiobook" before, with all the benefits it allowed. What am I supposed to do now?

My carefully curated audio drama series' are now not one thing or another as far as iTunes is concerned. They're not music, not books, not audiobooks, not film or TV.

What was the point of changing this? I don't really care, my audiobooks were happy and I was happy with the way things were, it worked fine. Yes it now has a sleep timer - so what? The iPhone & iPad already have that built into the pull-up menu.

So now it seems that I'll have to re-categorise all of my audio dramas as "Music"! Is that really the only thing I can do?

Did Apple not think about this issue before building this update? Do Apple consider several or many different ideas before they go ahead with things like this, or is everything decided and implemented with just one, final, narrow point of view? This seems like a step backwards, not an improvement.

Most importantly, are Apple going to address this issue and fix it?

How about giving us, the consumers more choice and flexibility?

What this update has done is to make my audio library on my iPhone resemble the absolute shambles that my friend with an Android phone has to struggle with on a daily basis.

iPhone 5s, iOS 8.4, null

Posted on Jul 6, 2015 1:35 AM

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Gedders Author

Level 1

0 points

Posted on Jul 6, 2015 5:13 AM

This just gets worse...

After giving this a lot of thought, I decided, for the time being to just suck it up and deal with it as best I can.

Imagine you have 100 TV episodes from the same series - say for example 'Star Trek TNG'. The Series is called 'Star Trek - The Next Generation' and each of the 100 episodes that you own has its own title, series number and episode number. It makes sense for iTunes to group all of the episodes and series' under the same general series title, with each episode having its own number and particular title. But, your iPhone or iPad doesn't have room for the 300 gigabytes, for example to load all of the episodes. So what do you do? You connect your device to iTunes and only tick the episodes you want for the time being.

But...

What if Apple decide to update your device with a new app called 'TV Shows' and then after migrating all of your TV shows to the new app - removes all of the episode numbers and titles? You're then left with a list of random, untitled episodes on your device. Would that be convenient?

That was an example...

Now, that is exactly what has happened to all of my full-cast audio dramatizations. They all have their own title and episode number and they all belong to a particular series. This worked very well with the old system for audiobooks, being integrated into the Music app. Each episode has lost its title and artwork when I try to play it back on my iPhone through the new iBooks Audiobook integration. I have no idea what I'm listening to; and I can't find what I want.

So...

My workaround solution to this was to re-categorize all 1000+ audio drama episodes (all with their own album name as a series name) as music.

This Doesn't Work!

It's the whole album/series - or nothing!

Some albums (formerly audio dramas classed as audiobook) have over 200 episodes, each 1-3 hours long. iTunes will only let me add The Entire album/series - which takes my device well over capacity. I don't have time to give each episode it's own album name - neither do I want 1000's of random titles scattered throughout my music library.

It was much easier and quicker when they were audiobooks within the music app, I would connect my device, find the series title and then check the episodes that I wanted. The only option available to me now is to add one episode at a time...

What If I'm out driving all day? What if I'm away for a few weeks?

Apple - Please FIX this - you haven't thought it through properly!

I don't want to have to spend far too much time editing my entire library (I've already spent years doing that); and I don't want to have to spend time scrolling through 1000's of tracks just to pick out the few that I want on my device.

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92 replies

lilymae

Level 1

0 points

Jul 12, 2015 8:27 AM in response to Gedders

At the end of the day, we have a business man running a tech company. He is not a computer technician. His sole interest is the bottom line. He is far more concerned with how his little friends in hollywood are doing with their watches, etc, long before the buying public ever got theirs. What rappers and actors turned activists think is far more important than those of us with 2 brain cells to run together who are trying to improve our minds and not our bottom lines. Reading isn't sexy, folks. It doesn't sell with the celebrity elitists, so expect nothing. Steve Jobs is appalled, I'm certain of it.

kbcube

Level 1

11 points

Jul 12, 2015 12:57 PM in response to lilymae

Hauled out my old iPod touch for the books and also added them to my commuting buddy the 4th gen iPod nano with fm (aka "my precious). Apple, start listening. We've all been using Audiobook builder for years to build our libraries. Now with a single "upgrade" you've alienated millions of users. I didn't want/need another icon on my device. Things were working just fine and dandy.

So the iPhone won't be in my pocket as I work around the house / commute. Guess I should update my voicemail / text reply "Sorry, I can't take this message. Listening to an audiobook on my back up device."

Jody Joy

Level 1

27 points

Jul 12, 2015 5:01 PM in response to Gedders

I can't stand what has happened with Audiobooks and the new upgrade to iOS and iBooks! Firstly, I use Audiobook Builder to build all digital and audio CD files which get processed by this TERRIFIC little app and dumped into iTunes. They are automatically labeled as Audiobooks in iTunes. I create a playlist of music and audiobooks specifically for my iPhone and everything synced up nicely.

NOW all has gone to crap. In particular iBooks doesn't remember where I left off, and starts me at the beginning of the audiobook each and every time. The backward and forward circle icons with arrows don't work. The backward/rewind arrow does nothing, and the forward one jumps you back from Track 5 to Track 3 (or whatever). The ability to use an iOS device in the car has been eliminated completely. You used to be able to use the tuning dial to move forward and backward in a track - scrubbing, but no longer. It too, takes you right back to the beginning of the audiobook file. God help you to try and find out where you were to pick up where you left off. It can't be done. That "scrubbing" vertical line in iBooks is terrible. Scrub fast to the end and you jump backwards several tracks. I have spent half an hour multiple times trying to scrub/forward/backward my way to where I left off to no avail. I gave up and begin a new book just to complete a 6 hour drive in the car.

There better be a fix for this mess soon, or I will be combing the internet looking to go back to the last decently working iTunes version that handled audiobooks properly.

Jul 13, 2015 11:38 AM in response to Gedders

My situation is: Audio books that i've purchased through iTunes play and behave well in the iBooks app.Books that i've imported do not do the 15sec skip well, don't remember playback position, and if you slide the slider, it physically stays where it was and may or may not advance the chapter. Maybe it's an issue of importing...but I no longer have the cds. A MILLION FREAKIN' CDS FOR ALL THE HARRY POTTER BOOKS....I LISTEN(ED) TO THEM CONSTANTLY....AND NOW I CANNOT STAND TO....

I NEED HELP, APPLE. I'd take a free download of the H.P. books as trade, if you please.

gnosko65

Level 1

0 points

Jul 13, 2015 11:34 PM in response to Jody Joy

I'm hearing everyone's pain. I'm also very annoyed. Due to vision loss and illness I can't read as well and as often and so for the past year I had built a substantial audiobook library with chapter titles etc.... for easy referencing but it has all been scrambled! Been with Apple for 20 years. Always been inline for the latest offering in both hardware and software. Converted many of my employees and colleagues to Apple (sent tens of thousands of dollars to Apple) but to be given the shoulder-shrug by so-called 'genius' at Apple is pathetic. This is the last time I'm EVER going to be so quick to trust their offerings - really sloppy mistake and disappointing attitude from a company I held in high regard. Shame!

Jul 13, 2015 11:42 PM in response to Gedders

To add insult to injury I only upgraded to iOS8.4 for Apple Pay as my bank was listed as one of the "Launch Partners". Now, on release day HSBC/First Direct's status has changed to "Coming Soon". I have tried to go back to 8.3 - Not happening & not happy!

Jul 15, 2015 7:12 PM in response to Gedders

While I am not suffering through as much discomfort as some, my complaint is the app is horribly slow and response lags for multiple seconds at a time. It is amazing to me that Apple would put out something this 'Jr High'.

Syltrem

Level 1

8 points

Jul 17, 2015 6:37 AM in response to Gedders

Have you tried "Audiobooks and podcast player" by Contity consulting ?

I've been using this app for quite some time and it works great for me.

I'm afraid to upgrade to iOS 8.4 after reading all the bad comments regarding audiobooks... can someone test this app with 8.4 ?

It's so simple to use, just drag audiobooks to your phone via itunes, and launch the app. When the contents change it may crash, just launch again and voilà : it will show the new books added or forget about those removed.

I hope this helps you out with 8.4

Jul 17, 2015 6:15 PM in response to Gedders

Like you I am also having the same issues the audiobooks being moved to iBooks. In the past about the only thing I used iTunes for was to backup my devices handle the devices apps and listen to audiobooks. As an alternative I too found Book Mower, the only downside is it lists all of the individual tracks where iTunes would only list the one or two files. It would really be nice if Apple would explain some of these changes prior to releasing the newer versions. Not to mention check the functionality. I am truly glad to see I'm not the only one with this issue.

Jul 17, 2015 6:39 PM in response to Bill35773

If iphone had been my first experience with Apple I NEVER IN MY WHOLE LIFE WOULD HAVE SPENT ANOTHER DOLLAR WITH APPLE.!!!!

Jul 17, 2015 6:41 PM in response to gtwilliamson

I believe they will NEVER TELL YOU what is coming. Then you and I wouldn't update and crapple would lose out on the opportunity to push their subscription on you! They are DESPICABLE.

feizex

Level 1

0 points

Jul 18, 2015 5:02 AM in response to Syltrem

@Syltrem

> Have you tried "Audiobooks and podcast player" by Contity consulting ?

Didn't work properly for me on 8.4. Does show me book names. But no matter which book I selected from a Group - it always started playing the first book.

BTW, from my integrated car ipod interface I can still see the audio books by name - but doesn't work properly when I select a book there either. Doesn't play the one I selected.

Seems that 8.4's audiobook screwup runs deep. IE it's not just ibooks app - it is the underlying audiobook handling that's broken.

Gedders Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 18, 2015 5:50 AM in response to Gedders

Just found a very simple quick fix to this issue. (Possibly)

It may not be ideal and may not suit everyone, it's still not perfect for me, especially as many of my drama and radio plays all have their own individual episode/track titles and individual artwork contained within and under each series name/title/album.

1. You will get your titles back - as before.

2. It will remember your last place.

3. It won't however display different artwork for each track (In a series or anthology for example.)

4. It might take a bit of tweaking in iTunes.

In iTunes Just change the file type to PODCAST

Then you'll find your audiobooks in the Podcast app.

As I said, it may not be an ideal solution for everyone, because you have to specify that you want to keep all Selected Podcasts and for them NOT to be deleted after being played. You also have to tell iTunes to order your (Podcast) files from oldest to newest for it to play them in the right order. I never download Podcasts, I just stream them, so the only things in my iTunes Podcast library are some (former) "audiobooks".

At least I've got the chapter tiles back again as well as reliable scrubbing and the 15 second back and forward buttons.

I'll see how I get on...

Thankfully, I didn't go ahead and update my iPad - so I've been using that for my spoken word for the last week or so at home, it's not exactly ideal for me to walk about town or the supermarket with an iPad in my pocket!

Now I can listen to spoken word on my iPhone again as well as being able to take calls and messages without having to switch between my old iPod Nano and my iPhone. 🙂

Still not happy that it won't display the unique artwork for each track.😟

Please let us know if this workaround - actually works for you.

Gedders Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 18, 2015 6:37 AM in response to Gedders

Addition:

It will help with ease of playback if you give each track its own release date when you click on the properties. This will help you to be able to play the tracks in the correct order.

e.g.

Track 1 = 01/01/2000

Track 2 = 02/01/2000

Track 3 = 03/01/2000

(Depending on which date format you use in your country, the above example is the UK date format)

In the podcast settings, telling it to play and display Oldest to Newest will result in the files being played in the correct order.

feizex

Level 1

0 points

Jul 19, 2015 4:06 PM in response to Gedders

BookMower also seems to suffer from the same mushing problem of Book Groups > Chapters.

It doesn't split into Books either.

The answer appears to be how iOS 8.4 is delivering the books. The Book Group is presented as one single item.m4b...

Stored in iTunes Library M4B audiobook files: ipod-library://item/item.m4b?id=4944435693974205375

IOS 8.4 Has Ruined my Audiobooks & Audio Drama Library