- Joined
- Feb 4, 1999
- Messages
- 5,786
One of the big benefits of the latest generation iPod and iPod Mini is that you can download audiobooks from iTunes music store or Audible.com, and the files are bookmarkable. What that means is, to the best of my understanding, when you press "pause" while listening to your audiobook and you switch to, say, music, when you go back to the audiobook it will pick up where you pressed pause. Also, according to what it sounds like, if you're using the most recent iTunes version, the bookmarks sync along with everything else, so you could also listen to the audiobook on your computer, picking up where you last left off on your iPod, and vice versa when you sync again.
Now, this is cool, but pretty limiting. I have a third generation iPod, so I don't get this feature at all. Also, what about "books on tape" (sounds better than books on CD) that you rip into iTunes, or Podcasts, which I listen to several each week? When you have to manually fast forward through an hour long track to pick up where you left off, assuming you can remember, that really sucks. So, I found a way that you can make ANY track bookmarkable, I would assume on any generation of iPod. It's a bit of a PITA, but worth it if you use your iPod the way I do. Basically you are doing some converting of files from one format, which is not bookmarkable, to another, which is bookmarkable.
I'll cover two scenarios. The procedure is the same except for one step. In scenario #1, let's say you're going on a long road trip and you went to the library and checked out some books on CD that you want to put on your iPod. You need the latest version of iTunes, a Mac (what else is there?!) and an iPod. For software, you will need to download a free AppleScript called "Make Bookmarkable" which you can find using any search engine. This is how you make bookmarkable tracks from discs you are importing:
1) Install the AppleScript according to the instructions in the readme file.
2) I import everything as MP3, but you need files in AAC format to use the AppleScript, so I switch my Preferences to import as AAC. Then when I'm done ripping the book on CD's discs, I switch the preferences back to MP3 before importing music. So, switch your preferences to import as AAC if you aren't already doing this.
3) Import all of the CD's. Now, how you manage the files is probably important. I would suggest putting all of the imported book's files in a Playlist, then numbering them beginning to end. Name the Playlist the title of the book, or whatever works for you.
4) Click on your Playlist containing all of the tracks from the book, highlight all of the tracks, and click on the AppleScript pulldown menu in the menu bar at the top of the screen. If you installed the script right, you'll see a script called "Make Bookmarkable." Click on it and do whatever it says.
5) Move the Playlist to your iPod and there you go. I don't think my bookmarks sync (although I don't sync my iPod, I manually download to it, so I wouldn't know). I do know, though, that you can play things through your computer from your iPod if it is hooked up through the USB/FireWire cable, so you can pick up where you left off while it charges or whatever, right from your computer. That's it!
Now, for Podcasts or files that aren't traditionally imported into iTunes (when you DL a podcast, it comes in as an MP3 and you can't choose to import it as AAC), there is an extra step to all of this. You need an encoder that will convert MP3 to AAC. I use Ovolab's Aachoo program. It costs something, but it works. It's slow, though. I had about 20 Podcasts to convert and it took about 4-5 hours, probably. Good job for your Mac overnight so it won't get bored!
Anyway, convert your MP3's to AAC's using Aachoo, then follow the steps above the exact same way.
Works brilliantly. True audiobooks download in a couple of files, so definitely the easier way is to just DL the damn things from Apple or Audible, but you don't always want to spend $25 on an audiobook that you can check out from the 'brary for free. And, this still is a great procedure for making bookmarkable Podcasts, which is a HUGE improvement in that technology. Enjoy!
PS: If you can't get this to work don't expect any help from me. This worked for me and I really don't know/have the time to diagnose people's computer problems. I'm a chiropractor and a knifemaker, not a computer guru! So, use these instructions at your own risk. They could freeze up your iPod or melt your face off. Be warned and if you can't get this to work for you check out iPodlounge.com and see what they have to say.
Now, this is cool, but pretty limiting. I have a third generation iPod, so I don't get this feature at all. Also, what about "books on tape" (sounds better than books on CD) that you rip into iTunes, or Podcasts, which I listen to several each week? When you have to manually fast forward through an hour long track to pick up where you left off, assuming you can remember, that really sucks. So, I found a way that you can make ANY track bookmarkable, I would assume on any generation of iPod. It's a bit of a PITA, but worth it if you use your iPod the way I do. Basically you are doing some converting of files from one format, which is not bookmarkable, to another, which is bookmarkable.
I'll cover two scenarios. The procedure is the same except for one step. In scenario #1, let's say you're going on a long road trip and you went to the library and checked out some books on CD that you want to put on your iPod. You need the latest version of iTunes, a Mac (what else is there?!) and an iPod. For software, you will need to download a free AppleScript called "Make Bookmarkable" which you can find using any search engine. This is how you make bookmarkable tracks from discs you are importing:
1) Install the AppleScript according to the instructions in the readme file.
2) I import everything as MP3, but you need files in AAC format to use the AppleScript, so I switch my Preferences to import as AAC. Then when I'm done ripping the book on CD's discs, I switch the preferences back to MP3 before importing music. So, switch your preferences to import as AAC if you aren't already doing this.
3) Import all of the CD's. Now, how you manage the files is probably important. I would suggest putting all of the imported book's files in a Playlist, then numbering them beginning to end. Name the Playlist the title of the book, or whatever works for you.
4) Click on your Playlist containing all of the tracks from the book, highlight all of the tracks, and click on the AppleScript pulldown menu in the menu bar at the top of the screen. If you installed the script right, you'll see a script called "Make Bookmarkable." Click on it and do whatever it says.
5) Move the Playlist to your iPod and there you go. I don't think my bookmarks sync (although I don't sync my iPod, I manually download to it, so I wouldn't know). I do know, though, that you can play things through your computer from your iPod if it is hooked up through the USB/FireWire cable, so you can pick up where you left off while it charges or whatever, right from your computer. That's it!
Now, for Podcasts or files that aren't traditionally imported into iTunes (when you DL a podcast, it comes in as an MP3 and you can't choose to import it as AAC), there is an extra step to all of this. You need an encoder that will convert MP3 to AAC. I use Ovolab's Aachoo program. It costs something, but it works. It's slow, though. I had about 20 Podcasts to convert and it took about 4-5 hours, probably. Good job for your Mac overnight so it won't get bored!
Anyway, convert your MP3's to AAC's using Aachoo, then follow the steps above the exact same way.Works brilliantly. True audiobooks download in a couple of files, so definitely the easier way is to just DL the damn things from Apple or Audible, but you don't always want to spend $25 on an audiobook that you can check out from the 'brary for free. And, this still is a great procedure for making bookmarkable Podcasts, which is a HUGE improvement in that technology. Enjoy!
PS: If you can't get this to work don't expect any help from me. This worked for me and I really don't know/have the time to diagnose people's computer problems. I'm a chiropractor and a knifemaker, not a computer guru! So, use these instructions at your own risk. They could freeze up your iPod or melt your face off. Be warned and if you can't get this to work for you check out iPodlounge.com and see what they have to say.