Libro.fm for audiobooks

[rhyta]

I thought I would put in a plug for the Libro.fm audiobook program. I switched from Audible in March to it and think it is a good alternative to Audible. It helps your local bookstore and all the files are DRM free and MP3.

I don't like to listen on my phone so I like that I can download these onto an MP3 player easily. They do have an app that looks like it would be similar to other audiobooks services.

Take a look, it might be worth it to check out. https://libro.fm/

One reason I left Audible is their change to enhanced files, I know they want everyone to use their phones to listen and they say the change improved the sound quality but it makes the file twice as big as before and therefore harder to use an MP3 player.

[odamizu]

Has anyone used Libro.fm's download option recently to download mp3 or m4b? If so, does it have chapters?

I've purchased a couple audiobooks from Google Play, but the download is m4a format without chapters. Loading it into an audiobook player (e.g., Bound or BookPlayer for iOS) results in a single long volume with no chapters in the TOC.

[icedtea]

Originally Posted by odamizu

Has anyone used Libro.fm's download option recently to download mp3 or m4b? If so, does it have chapters?

I've purchased a couple audiobooks from Google Play, but the download is m4a format without chapters. Loading it into an audiobook player (e.g., Bound or BookPlayer for iOS) results in a single long volume with no chapters in the TOC.

I'm fairly sure downloads from Libro were normal (assuming the publisher's files included chaptering and table of contents); although I only have a handful of purchases there.

Like you, I've bought a few from the Play store and was very disappointed that the m4a files seem to be without chapters across the board (my books there were almost all from a Big 4 publisher so pretty sure those books have working chapters when obtained elsewhere). I don't know why Play seems to ignore / not included chapters.

[odamizu]

Thank you! I may give Libro a try, then.

I do know that when you listen to a Google Play audiobook on the Google Play app you get chapters. I'm guessing the downloadable m4a is deliberately chapter-less to encourage you to use the app and discourage sharing while at the same time enabling Google to claim they provide (crippled) DRM-free downloads.

Originally Posted by icedtea

I'm fairly sure downloads from Libro were normal (assuming the publisher's files included chaptering and table of contents); although I only have a handful of purchases there.

Like you, I've bought a few from the Play store and was very disappointed that the m4a files seem to be without chapters across the board (my books there were almost all from a Big 4 publisher so pretty sure those books have working chapters when obtained elsewhere). I don't know why Play seems to ignore / not included chapters.