But now it's there, and it solves my one key complaint with the app. Update: There is indeed a download indicator (in the form of a bar across the bottom of the now-playing screen) that for some reason didn't appear when I first started using the app. And I could find no indication of a book's overall download progress (although there is a Download History area that does show completed downloads). For starters, you apparently have to listen to a 3-minute sample of a book before it actually begins downloading. However, I found the iOS version a bit confusing in places.
You can save any book to your My Books collection, essentially building a playlist for later listening. The app makes it easy to browse the catalog, which is divided into Featured and Genre sections. And thanks to the app, you can download two books in advance so you needn't worry about Internet availability - or streaming your way past your data limit. Still, there's more than enough worthwhile listening here for even the most hard-core commuter. If you're looking for, say, Gillian Flynn's "Gone Girl" or Deborah Harkness' "Shadow of Night," you won't find them here. However, I do find it a bit lacking in new releases. The service has some 10,000 titles, including popular stuff like "The Hunger Games" and Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs bio. In case you're unfamiliar with it, is kind of like Netflix Instant Watch for audiobooks, offering all the books you can eat hear for $24.95 monthly. The new app ( Android| iOS) not only provides a better interface for navigating the book library and controlling playback, but also lets you download up to two books at a time for offline listening. Update: recently canceled it's all-you-can-hear plan, and now offers more traditional subscription options.
Although you can access the service via your phone's mobile browser, you need a decent Internet connection to stream the audio - and the browser interface isn't exactly ideal. Just one problem: it's a hassle to use on your smartphone. That's why I'm a big fan of, which offers unlimited listening for a flat monthly rate. A single "book on tape" (OK, CD) might run you $20, $30, even as much as $50. If you spend a lot of time in the car, you know what an awesome companion audiobooks can be.Ī pricey one, too.
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