Question for Audible (book app) Users

[PollyannaMom]

Hi! I want to get my DS an audiobook, but I'm mostly a paper book gal, and what limited experience I do have comes from back when you signed them out at the local library and popped them into a CD player.

I've seen the audible option on Amazon, but don't know how to get started. - We do have an Amazon account. DH has a Kindle, and we both have the Kindle app on our phones, but I don't think DS does. None of us have used these for audiobooks before.

So if I'm headed in the the right direction here, please assume I know nothing techy, and walk me through it.

Or is there a whole different app you like better, and how do I set that up?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Wendy1985]

You just need to download the app your Amazon account is connected

 

[TippyThomas]

If it's an audiobook that is available from your library those can be downloaded in MP3 format and played by almost any device. I've never used Audible because it seems I can get almost any of the books I want to listen to or read from my library account in electronic format.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Thanks!

 

[usnuzuloose]

If it's an audiobook that is available from your library those can be downloaded in MP3 format and played by almost any device. I've never used Audible because it seems I can get almost any of the books I want to listen to or read from my library account in electronic format.

Can it be used on kindle?

 

[Praying Colonel]

Can it be used on kindle?

Certain types of Kindles. I have a Paperwhite and it also has my Audible books on there.

 

[TippyThomas]

Can it be used on kindle?

It can on all of mine. You just need a media player that will play mp3 files and the Kindle comes standard with one of those.

Edited to add: At least the Kindle Fires do. I'm not sure about the basic Kindle readers.

 

[Kay7979]

I use the Audible app on my iPhones.

 

[aggiedog]

I use the app on my iPhone. It seems to know when I buy a book from Amazon, so I must have signed on thru it at some point. I only use the audible books for certain workouts and long drives, so the phone works better than my Kindle in those circumstances.

 

[FigmentSpark]

While I have a Kindle Paperwhite, I mostly use my ipad with the Kindle app. I don't have to do anything different when I buy the audio for a book. It tells me I have the audio and if I want to listen, I do. If not, I can also read. It's nice, because I can listen on my ipad and still do other things on it, like play solitaire.

Don't forget, you can change the reading pace, if it's too slow or fast for you. It changes the speaking speed, but not the pitch of the voice, so that's nice.

 

[NotUrsula]

Audible (now owned by Amazon) is pricey if you are not big audio listeners; I suggest you start free with your public Library. Check your library's website to see if they offer Overdrive &/or HooplaDigital. If so, grab your Library card and download the Libby app for Overdrive or the HooplaDigital app for Hoopla. Save your borrower ID info in the appropriate app for your device, then listen for free. Both products work on Apple, Android, or Kindle devices.

Overdrive has more widespread adoption, but is seat-limited, so some titles, particularly bestsellers, sometimes have waiting queues to borrow. Hoopla uses an on-demand pricing model (the member library pays the fee for you) so there are no waitlists, but there is a monthly limit on borrows per person. Overdrive has a simultaneous-borrows shelf limit instead, so you can always get another title, but may have to give one back in trade. The limits are set by the libraries. Both apps are pretty easy to use, but Libby is the easiest of the two.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Audible (now owned by Amazon) is pricey if you are not big audio listeners; I suggest you start free with your public Library. Check your library's website to see if they offer Overdrive &/or HooplaDigital. If so, grab your Library card and download the Libby app for Overdrive or the HooplaDigital app for Hoopla. Save your borrower ID info in the appropriate app for your device, then listen for free. Both products work on Apple, Andoid, or Kindle devices.

Overdrive has more widespread adoption, but is seat-limited, so some titles, particularly bestsellers, sometimes have waiting queues to borrow. Hoopla uses an on-demand pricing model (the member library pays the fee for you) so there are no waitlists, but there is a monthly limit on borrows per person. Overdrive has a simultaneous-borrows shelf limit instead, so you can always get another title, but may have to give one back in trade. The limits are set by the libraries. Both apps are pretty easy to use, but Libby is the easiest of the two.

I think my library does have Overdrive, but how quickly do you need to finish with things you borrow?

 

[TippyThomas]

I think my library does have Overdrive, but how quickly do you need to finish with things you borrow?

My library uses overdrive as well and I can borrow audiobooks for 7, 14, or 21 days. You get to pick the time frame when you borrow the book.

 

[NotUrsula]

I think my library does have Overdrive, but how quickly do you need to finish with things you borrow?

Each library can set that parameter, so it varies, but 14 days is usually the default option. However, as with traditional library borrows, renewal is possible as long as no one is on the waitlist. The Libby app will alert and suggest you renew if the due date looms before you finish the title.

 

[gillep]

Each library can set that parameter, so it varies, but 14 days is usually the default option. However, as with traditional library borrows, renewal is possible as long as no one is on the waitlist. The Libby app will alert and suggest you renew if the due date looms before you finish the title.

Yes! I belong to three different libraries, for two of them they default to 21 days but the third defaults to 14 days and you cannot take it our initially for a longer period than that.

I love Overdrive, I have all three library accounts linked to the Overdrive app on my iPhone so I can check each one for availability.

 

[TippyThomas]

Yes! I belong to three different libraries, for two of them they default to 21 days but the third defaults to 14 days and you cannot take it our initially for a longer period than that.

I love Overdrive, I have all three library accounts linked to the Overdrive app on my iPhone so I can check each one for availability.

Can I ask how you are a member of multiple libraries? If it's something I can do I'd like to know how please.

 

[gillep]

Can I ask how you are a member of multiple libraries? If it's something I can do I'd like to know how please.

I live in the Bay Area, by virtue of where I live I have eligibility to join the county and city library systems as well as a local small system.

 

[TippyThomas]

I live in the Bay Area, by virtue of where I live I have eligibility to join the county and city library systems as well as a local small system.

I'm in a very small community that offers one option. I'm actually surprised that my small town even has a library. Their selection is somewhat limited so if I could find a way to gain more memberships I was going to be all over doing that. Thanks for the info.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Certain types of Kindles. I have a Paperwhite and it also has my Audible books on there.

thank you

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'm in a very small community that offers one option. I'm actually surprised that my small town even has a library. Their selection is somewhat limited so if I could find a way to gain more memberships I was going to be all over doing that. Thanks for the info.

My town library belongs to a network. It’s fairly decent-sized on its own, but a couple of the others are tiny, and they are all able to share books with each other. (You just reserve the books online, and a truck loops between all the libraries to move them.) It helps everyone, but especially the really small towns. It couldn’t hurt to ask your librarian if something like that is available.