Mp3 Mp4 Player best for...

fridae

Hi:),

Having always been fond of reading I became disheartened when I was told my reading was contributing to the deterioration of my eye sight (I am 70-years of age). Then a friend said I should go over to audio-books and I was wondering if anybody could tell me which machine to get.

I need one that will play audio-books, will fast forward, fast/run backward and enable a bookmark to be used, preferably a bookmark, that stays fixed if the player is turned off. This facility would be necessary for listening to a large book over time and as I understand that listening to audio-books is becoming quite popular I imagine there is a player that does what I need; I just need to find it.

I am not made of money, but neither do I wish to buy something that proves to be inferior or ineffective.

Thanks for reading :beer:

dlusman

Do you have a smartphone ? Lots of free apps that do the job fine

fridae

No, I have a skype phone on 3 so does the wife. We only use them when we're out shopping. The kids go mad at us for not having them on all the time, but we hate the things.

Middlestitch

I've got this and it is great - you can take the CD out and it still remembers where it left off! http://www.argos.co.uk/product/4367495 or from John Lewis with 2-year guarantee: https://www.johnlewis.com/roberts-sound-38-dab-fm-cd-clock-radio-black-silver/p231425933

jenniewb

IME it's not so much the machine that you are looking for when it comes to remembering where you are and so on, it's the app which you are looking for I know audible has one but I've never tried it to say either way.


The good thing with apps is they can be improved following feedback0. I'd look at an MP3/4 player that works with the app you want to use not the other way around.

fwor

We are going through the same issues trying to help a relative with age-related macular degeneration.

The problem is that many MP3 players are designed to be tiny - so the controls are not convenient for someone with deteriorating eyesight.

As an interim measure, have you tried the Playaway based audio book service that you can access (probably for free) from many public libraries? They come in the form of a book pre-loaded onto a player which is quite a convenient size (a bit smaller than a pack of cards) with reasonable sized controls. Strangely for an audio book it does not have a bookmark facility, but it has "jump by chapter" and "move within chapter" buttons, plus a 5-step reading speed control (which you won't get in a generic MP3 player).

It may also be worth looking at the DAISY based players that the RNIB supply, along with their own comprehensive book loan service. These players seem to be incredibly expensive, but you may find you don't have to pay anything, depending on your circumstances.

Please update this thread if you find any other recommendations - I'll try to do the same if I get any.

fridae

Thanks to everybody for their advice. My son saw my post and gave me his smart phone and bought a new one. So I will be able to investigate all the ideas put forward.

fridae

Apologies to middlestich and fwor as it seems as though I have ignored your suggestions. I thank you both, but feel I would prefer to go down the MP3/4 or Aps for the smart phone route (now I have one) as I can take the player out and about with me.

fwor

Understood - your situation is a bit different to ours! Our relative is in her 90s and has never used a smartphone, so the concept of having to start up the phone, and then find an app, and then start the app is probably not ideal for her.

If anyone else has any suggestions for a simple, easy to use dedicated audio book player, they would be gratefully received.

tidus

Just feel the need to point out that whatever problem you may have with your sight, reading will not make it worse. Whoever told you that doesn't know what they are talking about and I hope you were not told that by a Optometrist or Ophthalmologist.

If you're struggling to read because of deteriorating vision then audiobooks are a great suggestion. If you can still read reasonably easily then just carry on while you still can - it won't contribute to further deterioration.

gettingtheresometime

If the phone you've been given is an iPhone & you use an ipad, you can put the audible app on both and synchronise the two devices.


I've found this useful when listening to a book in the car & then want to continue listening in the house.


Also remember your local library may have a selection of audiobooks you can download through their website as well as having cds for loan