Playing Audiobooks and Podcasts

Playing audiobooks and podcasts is a lot like playing your music, but iTunes gives you a couple of features that make it even easier. Audiobooks and podcasts can be bookmarked, so that you can sync your iPod and pick up right where you left off on your computer. Chapter markers make it easy to skip ahead to the section you want, and you can even set your iPod to play your audiobook or podcast back at different speeds.

Tips

Make your audiobook "bookmarkable"

If your audiobook doesn’t seem to be remembering your bookmarked place, try selecting the audiobook in iTunes, and then go to the File menu and choose Get Info. Click the Options tab, and make sure that the Remember Playback Position option is checked.

Does my audiobook have chapter markers?

When your audiobook is playing in iTunes, just look in the display window in iTunes for divider lines, separating your audiobook into many sections. On your iPod, you can skip chapters by pressing the center button while your audiobook is selected until you see the playback progress indicator change to a diamond. Use the Click Wheel to move to any place in the audiobook.

Burning an audiobook CD

If you want to create a CD of your audiobook to play in your car or home stereo, you can create one, just like you create a music CD. Drag your audiobook into an empty space in your Source list to create a playlist containing your audiobook. Your playlist will automatically be titled with the name of your audiobook. Select the new playlist, and click the Burn Disc button. Insert a blank CD, and a CD will be created, complete with the title of your audiobook and chapter tracks.

Steps

Play an audiobook, skip ahead to a new chapter, and bookmark your location

Start playing an audiobook, marked with the Spoken Word genre or purchased from the iTunes Music Store or Audible.com.
Skip ahead to a new chapter by clicking the chapter marker icon, and selecting a new chapter.
Bookmark your place by just clicking the Pause button.
Sync your iPod, and when you play your audio book on your iPod, it will begin playing right where you left off.