If you own iPod or if you plan to get one soon, then make sure to bookmark the following softwares (for Windows). Especially if you like to listen to audio lectures like me.
Usually audio lectures would have tons of MP3 files, and not all of them follow the naming and tagging convention (especially the free ones). This makes it difficult to listen to the files in continuity. So, one way to overcome this problem would be to combine them into one audiobook file, and to add ‘chapters’ where necessary. The other way is to name them and tag them yourself manually (flexible renamer and mp3tag are good tools for this).
Converting MP3 files into iPod Audiobook can be done with this free software: MP3 to iPod Audio Book Converter (I guess author didn’t want to spend time on finding a name for his software… ;)
Adding chapters to your Audiobook can be done with this software: Chapter Master. Unfortunately this one is not free. (If you know of any free software for chapter management, please let me know.)
MP3 to iPod Audio Book Converter: http://www.freeipodsoftware.com
Chapter Master: http://www.rightword.com.au/products/chaptermaster/default.asp
For extra long MP3 files of lecture, I go and check the “bookmark location” option on the file in iTunes. I’m not sure of the exact name of this property, it is on one of the tabs. That way I can listen in more than one sitting without having the MP3 start over at the beginning.
I don´t yet have an ipod but I´ve heard so many good things about them, I might spend some hard earned cash on one! I don´t normally listen to audiobooks, but they are very much increasing in popularity. I think the fact that the software can create chapters is brilliant! – takes less time to get to each file and takes less time to convert I presume?! Brilliant software
I have to say that the ipod is the way to go for an mp3 player. there are none on the market today that truly compare. now that the itouch and iphones are out…they are heads above the rest!
I have an iPod and have been using it to listen to audiobooks for years. So long as the file is marked as spoken word audio, it will automatically bookmark, as will podcasts. I recently upgraded to the ipod touch, and I have to say it’s the way to go,unless you get an iPhone, which just adds another dimension to a great product.
The new software update fixes a lot of the strangely missing features in the touch and iphone, too. The iPhone is still not perfect, and Apple is still not my favorite company, with their proprietary lockdown on software and the way they overcharge for stuff, but it’s still the best. Thanks for the chapter software link!
You are so right, I definitely need this for my ipod. thanks for this.