Convenient ways to listen to Audio Books?

[Ross365]

The wife has started getting audio books from Amazon (“Audible”). She set this up, loading the Amazon app on a desktop PC in spare bedroom, and that’s where the “books” (files) are stored. What she wants, however, is to be able to listen to them in bed and expects me to sort this out for her, and I’m not at all clear about the best way to do it.
We have an Android tablet (but she really dislikes that, and so do I), and a notebook running W10. I guess that either of those could download the files either from the desktop or direct from Audible?

We also have a bedside radio which has Bluetooth and UpnP modes on it, but I’m getting way out of my comfort zone here.

Would anyone like to suggest the best way of sorting this out?

Thanks.

 

[graffian]

My mum has a discman, my dad either buys her audio books on cd or downloads them and burns them to a dvd or cd or whatever.

 

[Ross365]

Ah, we don't have a CD player but that might be a very easy way to go.
Thanks

 

[Bullet2012]

Bluetooth headphones ?

 

[Olderisbetter]

I use my old android phone and a Bluetooth speaker i normally stream not download unless i am going somewhere with no wifi

 

[northwest]

Something like THESE but maybe not exactly this model.

 

[Ross365]

We've never had any Bluetooth kit; as above, this is outside the comfort zone. That doesn't help get the "content" from one room to another.
Cd's are not going to be big enough. . Maybe we should stream to the Android tablet. Lot's of way to do it, but some will be easier to live with than others. What would be good would be to get the Audible files converted to MP3 .

 

[Tangledfeet]

If they're Audible audiobooks it's tricky to burn to CD or move from device to device due to the copyright protection trickery with the files. Best bet is to install the Audible software on a portable device and download from your library on that device.

 

[Ross365]

If they're Audible audiobooks it's tricky to burn to CD or move from device to device due to the copyright protection trickery with the files. Best bet is to install the Audible software on a portable device and download from your library on that device.

If we did that, I guess it would be using the w10 notebook. Easy enough to give it a go.

 

[pedrobedro]

Download the kindle app on a phone or a tablet and use that with headphones. She'll soon get used to it. I have a Kindle Fire which is just used as a tablet.

 

[rtcosic]

I don't buy them.
I download them for free from my local library.
All UK libraries provide this service.

You can download an app for your smartphone and listen to them from there, but they automatically delete after one month.

I prefer to download the whole file to my PC then copy across to my phone.
That way I can use software designed to catalogue music LPs, CDs, tapes etc to manage them.

Then Bluetooth to headphones, car, ear defenders, TV, Google Hub or anything else in range!

 

[Edward Teach]

The wife has started getting audio books from Amazon (“Audible”). She set this up, loading the Amazon app on a desktop PC in spare bedroom, and that’s where the “books” (files) are stored. What she wants, however, is to be able to listen to them in bed and expects me to sort this out for her, and I’m not at all clear about the best way to do it.
We have an Android tablet (but she really dislikes that, and so do I), and a notebook running W10. I guess that either of those could download the files either from the desktop or direct from Audible?

We also have a bedside radio which has Bluetooth and UpnP modes on it, but I’m getting way out of my comfort zone here.

Would anyone like to suggest the best way of sorting this out?

Thanks.

Ahhh,
This where your Avatar came from

 

[mrsbruce]

Download the Audible app onto whatever device she’s happy with (android app also available), and they will pick up the book from where she leaves off, on any device. They can all be easily downloaded individually, when required on each device, you don’t need to do any streaming stuff once downloaded.

I have the app on my phone, ipads, echo dots, and switch between all of them them depending on where I am. I think there is something that allows Audible files to be converted.

I shall go and check.

 

[mrsbruce]

You can get software to convert to mp3 apparently, but that’s outside my computer knowledge. Go for the easy way of downloading the app.

 

[Munkul]

I use Scribd to listen to audiobooks, it also has a huge online library full of fiction and very useful engineering tech documents and books.

It has a great Android app.

I also use Ultimate Ears Boom bluetooth speakers - get a UE Boom 2, and your "out of comfort zone" will soon disappear. A button to switch on, a button to pair to your phone/tablet, and some volume buttons... simple!

 

[Tangledfeet]

Unless ripping and conversion software has drastically improved Audible files ripped to MP3 sound tinny and hollow; several years ago I used to 'acquire' them illicitly as MP3's but soon have up and just subscribed to Audible.

 

[Kayos]

Amazon Echo

Alexa, play my audiobook

Picks up where you left it on any other device

 

[Screwdriver]

Go to the library and stand next to someone who reads out loud.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

The wife has started getting audio books from Amazon (“Audible”). She set this up, loading the Amazon app on a desktop PC in spare bedroom, and that’s where the “books” (files) are stored. What she wants, however, is to be able to listen to them in bed and expects me to sort this out for her, and I’m not at all clear about the best way to do it.
We have an Android tablet (but she really dislikes that, and so do I), and a notebook running W10. I guess that either of those could download the files either from the desktop or direct from Audible?

We also have a bedside radio which has Bluetooth and UpnP modes on it, but I’m getting way out of my comfort zone here.

Would anyone like to suggest the best way of sorting this out?

Thanks.

Phone app for me

My kids use Amazon Alexa and it streams it directly without a download

Alexa. Read mortal engines and off it goes

Alexa. Sleep in 45 minutes and shut the door

 

[Parm]

We've never had any Bluetooth kit; as above, this is outside the comfort zone. That doesn't help get the "content" from one room to another.
Cd's are not going to be big enough. . Maybe we should stream to the Android tablet. Lot's of way to do it, but some will be easier to live with than others. What would be good would be to get the Audible files converted to MP3 .

We've never had any Bluetooth kit; as above, this is outside the comfort zone. That doesn't help get the "content" from one room to another.
Cd's are not going to be big enough. . Maybe we should stream to the Android tablet. Lot's of way to do it, but some will be easier to live with than others. What would be good would be to get the Audible files converted to MP3 .

Bluetooth headphones are quite easy to set up if they can be supported from your computer.

Even I can set them up

The range is quite good too.