Using Audible for Android [PDF]

Using Audible for Android v1.0

Table of Contents Introduction



3

Signing In 3 Creating an Audible Account

3

My Library 4 Listening to Audio

7

Stats and Badges

12

News & Events 12 Settings

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Help and Support

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Introduction

Audible is the Internet’s premier provider of digital audiobooks and more. The Audible for Android app puts the more than 75,000 audio titles available from Audible right in the palm of your hand. Once you have downloaded Audible for Android from the Android Marketplace, you’ll be ready to create a new Audible account or sign in to your existing account, and begin listening to books immediately. (fig. 1).

fig. 1

Initial Launch

The very first time you launch the application, you’ll have the option to either sign into your Audible account, or if do not have an Audible account to explore the application and create an account from within the app.

Signing In

If you have an existing Audible account, tap the Sign In image and enter your Audible username and password (fig. 2). You will then be taken to the My Library view with all of your available Audible titles displayed for download and enjoyment.

fig. 2

I’m New to Audible

If you do not have an Audible account, you can create one within the Audible for Android app (fig. 3). Tap the image “I’m New to Audible” and you’ll get a chance to listen to some free excerpts that we’ve hand selected for you. To create an Audible account, simply tap the orange Create Account button at the top of the My Library view. At the Create Account page, you will be able to create a new Audible account by entering the required information. You can use this newly created account on the Audible. com website and in the Audible for Android application.

fig. 3

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My Library

Think of My Library as your handheld, mobile bookshelf. All of the audiobook titles you’ve purchased on Audible.com will be available for listening from the My Library screen within Audible for Android.

Sorting

Once on the My Library screen, you can sort your titles by using the Recent, Title, Author, and Length sorting tabs at the bottom of the screen. (fig. 4) • Recent: Sorts your titles in order of recency. Titles that you’ve recently purchased, downloaded, or listened to will rise to the top of the list. • Title: Sorts your titles A – Z using the title name • Author: Sorts your titles A – Z using the authors’ last name • Length: Sorts your titles from shortest to longest audio length

fig. 4

Searching

You can search for a specific title inside My Library. Tap the Android Menu button and then tap Search. Enter your search term and tap “Go” to search (fig. 5). If your Android device supports a dedicated search button, you can tap that button to initiate a search

Filtering

To further filter your library, you can drag the gray My Library slider at the top of the screen downwards to reveal additional options. This will allow you to filter

fig. 5

your library and only display specific genres,or locally available titles (downloaded to your device). (fig. 6)

Refreshing

You can always refresh the My Library screen by tapping the Refresh button at the top of My Library. This will connect to Audible.com to ensure that your latest purchases and subscription issues are available for download on your Android device. You must have an active Internet connection to actively refresh your library. (fig. 6)

fig. 6

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Downloading Audio from My Library

All of the audio you’ve purchased on Audible.com will be available for wireless download from the My Library view within Audible for Android. To begin listening, tap the Download icon image (fig. 6) next to the title you want to hear. Once the icon is expanded, tap the orange Download image (fig. 7) to begin wirelessly transferring your audio. After you have downloaded a small portion of your title, you can begin listening by tapping the Play image (fig. 8) next to your title. You can always pause or cancel your download by performing a long tap on the download progress bar. A paused download can always be resumed by tapping the progress bar again.

fig. 6

Copying Audible files from your PC to your Android handset

You can “sideload” files that you’ve downloaded from the Audible.com website to your Android SD card, making them available for playback within Audible for Android. To sideload Audible files: 1. Plug your Android device into a PC using a USB cable 2. Mount your Android device by selecting “USB connected” from the Android task bar 3. Locate your downloaded audio on your PC (the file(s) generally reside in the /audible/download folder of your PC and must contain a .AA* or .AAX extension). Do not rename the files 4. Drag the desired file(s) to the /Audible folder on your SD card

fig. 7

5. Disconnect your Android device from your PC 6. Open the Audible for Android application 7. Refresh the My Library screen Your sideloaded files will now be available for playback. * Note you can only transfer Format 4 or Enhanced format files for playback using the Audible for Android app.

fig. 8

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Removing Downloaded Audio

Audio titles that are stored on your device will be displayed with a black background within My Library. If you would like to remove a downloaded title from My Library, perform a long tap on the title to reveal the Remove from Device option (fig. 9). Tapping the Remove from Device button will remove it from your

Subscriptions handset. Removing a title does not remove it from My Library; it simply removes the downloaded audio from your device’s memory. You will always be able to re-download the titles you’ve purchased from Audible.com from the My Library screen.

Subscriptions are audio titles that publish frequently over time, such as daily or monthly. If you have purchased a subscription (such as The New York Times), you will be able to view it in My Library. Tapping on the Subscription title in My Library will display the issues, (such as The New York Times: 02-23-2010) that are available for download and playback.

fig. 9

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Listening to Audio

The Audible for Android Player view provides a rich collection of features designed to deliver the best audiobook listening experience available for Android. To choose the title you’d like to listen to, tap it on the My Library screen. If it is not yet ready for listening, follow the instructions in the “Downloading Audio from My Library” section to do so. The following features are available within the Audible for Android Player view.

Audio Timeline (and the ability to seek/scrub to a particular point)

Play/Pause Button Free Mode

Share Title Back 30 seconds

Create Bookmark

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

Rewind

Fast Forward

Sleep Timer

Rate Title

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Listening Controls

Adjust View

Timeline and Scrubbing

You can expand the playback console to reveal additional listening controls by sliding your finger upwards anywhere within the player screen. The additional features allow you to Rewind, Fast Forward, go to Previous Chapter, and go to Next Chapter. (fig. 12)

Tapping the cover art again will return you to the Default View. If you’re listening to an Audible Enhanced title with synced images, we suggest using the Enlarged View.

To slow down your scrubbing speed, slide your finger downward—away from the timeline—while scrubbing. Similarly, you can slide your finger upward—towards the timeline—to increase your scrubbing speed.

The default Player view allows you to play and pause your selected audio, as well as Jump Backwards 30 Seconds from your current listening position.

fig. 12

The Default Player View displays the title name, cover art, author, and narrator of the title you are listening to. Tapping the cover enlarges the cover art of the title, hiding the detailed information. (fig. 13)

fig. 13

The timeline displays your current listening position within the title you’re listening to. You can slide your finger left or right within the timeline to scrub (fig. 14)—or quickly move to a different position within the chapter.

fig. 14

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Playback Position

Audible for Android will always remember the playback position of the audio you are listening to. Whether you pause the audio playback using the listening controls, close the Audible for Android application, or receive an incoming phone call or SMS message, the last location of the audio timeline will be preserved so that you can always pick up where you left off when you return.

fig. 15

Widget

Audible for Android contains a widget that can be used for controlling the Audible app while it is not in the foreground. To add the Audible widget to your Android desktop, perform a long-tap on your Android desktop > tap Widgets (fig. 15), > tap Audible (fig. 16).

fig. 16

fig. 17

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Button-Free Mode

The app offers a button-free control of audio playback using gestures. You can access the button-free mode (fig. 18) by tapping the Android menu button while on the player screen and selecting Button-Free. (fig. 20) Notes: (fig. 19) • Swipe Up or Down to play/pause • Swipe left to forward 30 seconds • Swipe right to rewind 30 seconds • Double-tap to add bookmark

player screen and selecting Sleep. Tap the desired amount of time you would like the audio to continue playing back. Audio will now automatically end when you’ve reached the limit that was set. You can wake from sleep mode by tapping the screen to resume playback.

Rate Title

Sleep Timer

The Sleep Timer allows you to set a period of time to cease audio playback. You can access sleep mode by tapping the Android menu button while on the

fig. 18

You can rate a title directly within Audible for Android. Tap the Android menu button while on the player screen and select Rate Title (fig. 20). Simply select your rating and it will be added to the player screen.

fig. 19

Share Title

Audible for Android allows you to share what you’re listening to with your friends and social media networks. To share a title, Tap the Android menu button (fig. 20) while on the player screen and select Share. Once on the Share Title menu screen, you can select to share the title you’re listening to with your friends via email, Twitter, or Facebook. To support this feature, you must first install the appropriate Android application and login with your credentials. For example, to support posting on Facebook, you must first install and register your account using the Facebook for Android application.

fig. 20

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Create and Annotate Bookmarks

The Create Bookmarks function allows you to bookmark your current listening position, just like you would in a book. While listening to audio, tap the Bookmarks menu item to mark your current listening position. If you would like to annotate your bookmarked position, select “Add notes” when prompted and add your desired text.

Details

Chapters

You’ll also find the option to delete the locally stored copy of this Audible title from your device from the bottom of the Details tab on the Player screen.

Note: Chapter markers in Audible titles may not correspond directly to a chapter in the book you are listening to. This is how the audiobook was processed and not specific to the Audible for Android app.

To view details about the title you are listening to, tap the Details tab on the Player Screen (fig. 22). This will enable you to view the author and narrator information, file size, publisher information, and summary of the title you are listening to.

To view chapter information, tap the Chapters tab on the Player screen. Selecting a chapter within this menu will begin playing audio from the beginning of that chapter.

You will be able to access and manage bookmarks in the Bookmarks tab on the Player screen (fig. 21). You can later edit, share, or delete these bookmarks via the Bookmarks tab.

fig. 21

fig. 22

fig. 23

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Stats and Badges

The Stats portion (fig. 24) of Audible for Android is a fun way to track all sorts of audiobook listening information, including: • Daily, Monthly, and Total Listening Time • Your App Listening Level. Are you an AppNewbie or an AppMaster? • Total Number of Audible Titles In addition to Stats, performing certain actions on

fig. 24

Audible for Android and the Audible.com website will allow you to earn badges. (fig. 25) From badges for listening activities to other actions you can take on your phone while using Audible for Android, we encourage you to experiment with the application and uncover them all! To access stats, tap the Android menu button from the My Library screen and tap Stats.

fig. 25

News & Events

The News section (fig. 26) is the best way to get the latest information on your favorite authors, narrators, Audible events, and more. News is updated often, and in real-time, so keep checking back! You’ll be notified when there are newly added News feed items by a red numeric badge appended to the New Feed icon. To access News, tap the Android menu button from the My Library screen and tap News. Note: If you delete the application, you will lose your listening stats and badges. Only upgrades will ensure that your listening stats and badges are preserved.

fig. 26

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Settings

To access the Settings screen, tap the Android menu button from the My Library screen and tap Settings. Settings allow you to set various preferences within the Audible for Android application.

General Settings

Disable ‘Auto Lock’: Prevents auto-lock from engaging while audio is playing, so you can have full access to the application window (for audio control, bookmarking, etc). Note: Your battery life will be reduced while this setting is enabled. Sign Out: Allows you to sign out of the Audible account you are currently using. By signing out, you will still have full access to the books you’ve downloaded locally to your device. You will continue to earn badges and listening stats, however, they will not be attributed to your Audible account.

Download Settings

Only on WI-FI: If selected, Audible for Android will only download titles from My Library when connected to a Wi-Fi network. This option is recommended for users without an unlimited data plan. Download Format: High Quality audio is Audible’s highest audio format. Standard Quality audio takes up less space on your Android memory card and will download more quickly than High Quality. The default setting is Standard Quality.

About this Application

Additional Help and Support

Share this App: Share a link to download the Audible for Android app with your friends and social networks

Audible for Android Homepage http://www.audible.com/wireless/android

Check for Updates: Search for updates to the Audible for Android app

Help & Support

Call Customer Care: Begins a phone call with the Audible Customer Care Team. Email Customer Care: Delivers an email for delivery to the Audible Customer Care Team.

The following resources provide additional information that may not be covered in this guide.

Audible Customer Care Website http://www.audible.com/helpcenter/ Audible Customer Care Phone Support 888-283-5051 (USA & Canada) 1-973-820-0400 (Intl.) Monday-Friday 9AM-10PM EST Saturday 10AM-7PM EST

Feedback & Request Feature: Delivers an email directly to the Audible Wireless product team. All feedback will be read and tracked to make improvements in future versions of the app. Not all feedback will be personally responded to. Reset Application: Removes all temporary and cached data in the application. Please use this option if you are experiencing a glitch in the application. Your existing downloads, listening stats, and badges will be preserved. Send Bug Report: Initiates a bug submission directly to the Audible Wireless development team. All reports will be examined to track bugs and work on solutions, but not all submissions will be responded back to.

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