Audiobooks discussion
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Tip: Android Overdrive App Alternative + Playback Speed
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KC wrote: "Until November I had been an iPhone user and sometime after switching to the Moto X I was disappointed that I couldn't find a way to speed up the narration in my Overdrive app even though I could d..."I love Smart AudioBook! I've used it for awhile now. I actually prefer it to Audible's app because it has a wider range of playback speeds, and when I use the faster playback it tells me exactly how much listening time I have left, rather than the theoretical listening time that would be left if I were listening at regular speed.
I have the new beta version of overdrive one and it has the speed control right under the book's cover picture. I don't change the speeds ever but the other day I was fumbling around and touched the screen and all of a sudden it went v e r y slow. Since there's only 4 icons to push and there's one that shows a 1x with a half stopwatch I pressed it and yay I put it back to normal. Overdrive one seems to work very well but no longer syncs my Nook and iPhone but that's ok. The only thing I don't like is that if I stop listening from Iphone's lock screen, which it gives the ability to do so, sometimes it doesn't keep my place.
Now with my audio apps I've learned to place a bookmark when I stop. It can be a hassle because you must unlock the screen and go to the app blah, blah....
Hopefully they will fix this minor inconvenience as overall I really like this app.
Powder River: Any tips on how to become a beta tester? I'm also eagerly awaiting speed controls for Android.
I enjoy Smart Audiobook player. Several playback speeds and when you resume the book it automatically skips back a few seconds to allow you to "get back in the groove" which is genius.
J. wrote: "I enjoy Smart Audiobook player. Several playback speeds and when you resume the book it automatically skips back a few seconds to allow you to "get back in the groove" which is genius."I love the auto rewind feature too, J. I actually sent Audible a suggestion to add that feature and the "actual" playback time left feature (where it tells you how long you have left to listen based on your playback speed, not just the fictional time left were you listening at regular speed) to the Audible app. They said, "great idea," but haven't made the changes yet.
Thanks to this thread I got the Smart Audiobook player for my android. I love it!! Thanks for the info!
I bumped up to 1.6X speed today so I can listen like some of you crazy people. I think I'll still have to start a book at 1X until I learn the characters and narrator's accents, but then bump it up.
Kristie wrote: "I love Smart AudioBook! I've used it for awhile now. I actually prefer it to Audible's app because it has a wider range of playback speeds, and when I use the faster playback it tells me exactly how much listening time I have left, rather than the theoretical listening time that would be left if I were listening at regular speed."I love Smart Audiobook player. Well worth the money. The auto rewind is just a fantastic feature
J. wrote: "I bumped up to 1.6X speed today so I can listen like some of you crazy people. I think I'll still have to start a book at 1X until I learn the characters and narrator's accents, but then bump it up."
Yes, I usually do the same, start out slow until I get into the rhythm of the book, and then speed up.
One thing to note about Smart Audiobook Player is that the adjustable speed is a "full version" feature that expires after 30 days unless you pay $2 for the full version. I paid it because I find the app very useful.
Yes, I paid for the full version too. Well worth it!
I used the Smart Audiobook Player for 30 days and loved it. Then when I tried to purchase the full version, I kept getting an "error" message so the full version would not download onto my phone.I kept looking for an audiobook player that had variable playback speed and found "LISTEN AUDIOBOOK" for Android-- it was $0.99 and the full version installs the first time. LISTEN AUDIOBOOK has has variable speeds from 0.5,0.6, 0.7 etc 1.1, 1.2, etc all the way to 3.0. It also has an "Equalizer" with various decibel level adjustments which are beyond what I need but sometimes it helps fine-tune the sound quality.
I'm new around here and what brought me here was this thread. I recently switched phones from iphone to samsung galaxy and have been on a search for a new audio book app. I decided to go with Listen Audiobook but am having trouble figuring out how to get the books from my overdrive onto the app. Does anyone have a good link they can refer me to that actually gives step by step (dumbing it down) instructions on how a tech unsavvy perosn can get this done? I am seriously challenged when it comes to this stuff. Overdrive was so easy on my iphone and if it weren't for the fact that OD doesn't allow for speed adjustment on the app with an android (why the hell not!), I'd be just fine with OD.
thanks!!
Make sure you email the creator of the app and let them know you miss that feature. If enough people do that it will get bumped up the to-do list. There certainly isn't any reason the android os isn't capable of speed adjustment, the app creator is just being lazy.Ok, I just saw that it's a free app, so maybe lazy isn't the right word. Perhaps unmotivated is more appropriate. Still, demand for the feature is what will get it added.
Perhaps switch to Smart Audiobook Player like the OP.
thanks! I did try the Smart Audiobook Player as well. I couldn't figure that one out either. It's definitely me, not the apps.I agree. I tried to quickly find a contact for the OD customer service and couldn't find it. I do plan on getting an email out to them.
TashaB wrote: "thanks! I did try the Smart Audiobook Player as well. I couldn't figure that one out either. It's definitely me, not the apps.I agree. I tried to quickly find a contact for the OD customer servic..."
Hi, I am the developer of "Listen Audiobook Player". In Listen Audiobook Player add a library folder to point to the Overdrive download location: "Android/data/com.overdrive.mobile.android.mediacon...".
Just remember that some Overdrive files are encrypted with DRM and can only be played in Overdrive. If the book is in mp3 format it will work for sure.
Thanks! I'm the one who emailed you today (Natalie). Thank you for your fast response, great customer service! I'll be trying this later tonight.
Jared wrote: "Hi, I am the developer of "Listen Audiobook Player""Nice to see you here helping out. One more reason I'm happy about my recent switch to Listen Audiobook Player, after using Smart Audiobook player (Pro version) for about a year; it's been a pleasure from the start; no problem using the same directory structure I love the app, and already removed the Smart app.
Jared is so very helpful! I got it working from his wonderful email to me last night. The customer service is amazing. I looked into Smart Audiobook originally (and had the same original problem) but am really happy I decided to go instead with Listen Audiobook, I got it working within a day thanks to his quick response to my email. Thank you again, Jared!
Jared wrote: "Hi, I am the developer of "Listen Audiobook Player"Just popping by to tell you that I tried the Listen player and I like it much better than Smart. My experience is almost the same as Marty's with one exception. I've had a few problems with Smart. Specifically, the sleep function was failing randomly earlier this year and there were some a return to play issues involving advertisements attached to certain games.
I haven't had a single issue with the Listen player so far. And I've been enjoying some of the extra features it has that Smart doesn't.
So, well done! Thank you!
Just popping by to tell you that I tried the Listen player and I like it much better than Smart. My experience is almost the same ..."Thank you very much! I'm glad you are enjoying it. :) If you ever do have any problems feel free to contact me and let me know.
Does anyone know the default path overdrive stores the files in on android? I downloaded Smart but I can't seem to find the stored books in any of the obvious folders.
Tony wrote: "Does anyone know the default path overdrive stores the files in on android? I downloaded Smart but I can't seem to find the stored books in any of the obvious folders."Overdrive should tell you. Go to the App and click on Settings. Scroll to the bottom, and there should be a section called Save downloaded titles to...
Tony wrote: "Does anyone know the default path overdrive stores the files in on android? I downloaded Smart but I can't seem to find the stored books in any of the obvious folders."On my Kindle Fire, they are stored under:
Android/data/com.coverdrive.mobile.android.mediaconsole
/files/Overdrive
Jared, I've just installed Listen Audiobook and am having some problems getting started. When I first installed it I told it to put it on the SD card but when I try to make the audio book folder, it tells me it can't be done there. How do I get to make the audio book file on the phone, if that is the only place it can be?
Sue wrote: "Jared, I've just installed Listen Audiobook and am having some problems getting started. When I first installed it I told it to put it on the SD card but when I try to make the audio book folder, ..."Hi, I just saw your post. Starting in Android 4.4 apps can no longer have write access to the SD Card. You can create the folder with your computer first when you copy your books. Then set the folder to that now existing location. Please email me if you have any trouble and I'll be happy to help. support@acme-android.com
Hi all, This may be a little off-topic, but some of you might find it useful. I listen with a playback speed 1.8 or 1.6 (non-US accents) and to date have limited my library-book listening to Overdrive ABs since OCD Support told me in 2015 that their app had no variable speed ability. Since my library has some books available only in OCD format, I checked to see if they've since added this enhancement and it appears that they have. Yippeee!
I haven't tried it out but wanted to share the url to the userguide with fellow sufferers. Strangely I found it on a couple of public library sites (not on the OCD site). One is: http://budalibrary.org/DocumentCenter....
I also want to have bookmark functionality and it's unclear whether this is offered for downloaded ABs (vs. listening directly from the OCD app on the library's site). If not, I'll just have to listen to those AB's via wi-fi -- but still from my android phone or tablet. Not a big deal.
Note for non-Apple users: the guide has a heading that ends with "Apple only" but I believe it applies ONLY to the Download ALL section (not to all subsequent sections).
Happy listening-- ;-p
So, I researched alternatives for Overdrive and found an app called "Smart Audiobook Player." And it really is "Smart" as the title indicates. As soon as you open it up it asks you to set the root file to search for audiobooks. You can leave it as-is (the entire phone) or change it to your Overdrive folder. (Does not detect audible books.) Now I can play Overdrive books that I've borrowed from my library at a number of varying speeds.
As a commuter, I've gotten so used to listening to audiobooks at no less than 1.5 speed, that anything slower than that just doesn't hold my attention. This app has been a lifesaver!