I’ll start off by saying that I’ll be happy with either an app for my Android phone, OR a physical MP3 playing device.
Most ads for MP3 players seem geared for people who want access to thousands of songs, the ability to shuffle them, and super-high quality sound output. None of those concern me. I listen to lectures, ranging from 5 minutes to 2 hours.
The two features that I need the most are: (1) A “rewind” button so I can review the last 10 or 30 seconds, such as if I missed something, and want to hear it again. (2) When I turn it off in the middle of playing, it should restart at the same spot, instead of starting over at the beginning. (I could live without feature #2, if there was a workable “fast forward” button that had reasonable increments.)
The apps in my phone are useless - If something happens while I’m listening (such as a phone call, or I reached my destination) then I have to start over at the beginning, and the two-inch slider bar is a painful way to find the spot where I had stopped previously.
I use the Smart Audiobook Player app on my Android phone. I’m quite happy with it and it does everything I want it to for listening to audiobooks, lectures, etc. in mp3 format.
It might do everything you want, too, assuming you’re comfortable transferring mp3 files to your phone. As far as I know, you can’t acquire content through this app.
Hey, OP, are you me? I’d always carried an iPod Nano. They’re so tiny, and I fill them up with audiobooks, a few podcasts, and even some music… and the Gen. 5 gets FM radio as well.
BUT THEN, a decade or so ago, I took my daughter on a road trip, and watched her effortlessly connect her phone to my car stereo (bluetooth). We were listening to Jim Dale read Harry Potter books and I asked her to rewind because I missed a line. She tapped the screen and leviOsa, we were back thirty seconds!
“What sorcery is this?” I bellowed in my best Dumbledore voice.
“Geez, It’s just an iPhone…”
“I must procure one forthwith!”
“But you always said you’d never…”
“THAT was before I observed the Magic TimeTurner feature!”
And I’ve bought cheap used ones ever since, all because I could skip back (or ahead) easily. And, yes, pick up where I left off.
In fact, I just got in after a day of painting the house. Finished a new Janet Evanovich book, listened to a whole Ender’s Game sequel, and had just started the latest David Sedaris diary. So I’m getting a lot of use out my iPhone (though never as a phone).
I 100% prefer a physical mp3 player, since the physical buttons make it so much easier to change volume or tracks and also not have to constantly hear texts or calls interrupt whatever you’re listening too.
The SanDisk line of MP3 players are what I’ve been using for the past decade. You can get a SanDisk Clip for about $30 to $40 online. It’s got perfect memory for your spots while listening to audiobooks or podcasts, as you can leave whatever thing you’re listening to and listen to something else, then go back to the first thing and it will remember your spot for as long as that file exists on the player.
The other advice here is likely better, but I thought I’d mention what I use: a podcast player called AntennaPod. It has a feature where you can load any folder on your phone as a podcast. And, like all podcast players, it holds your place in the files you play.
So, since I already had it for podcasts, I now also use it for downloaded/ripped audiobooks, where being able to save your place is essential.
It would also work for albums. Just be sure to include an image in the folder to be the album art.
I have several iPods that I play around with. Still quite workable option in some cases. If you like to update old electronics, something like an iPod Mini is a good choice. Readily available replacement batteries which are not awful to change plus you can throw in a larger, solid state drive while it’s open.
Partner is mourning her nano pod, which is on life support. Is not keen to use her iPhone to play tunes. Is it possible to transfer music from the nano pod to, say, the SanDisk?
I’m on my second SanDisk Clip and I love it. The clip just broke after about five or six years of heavy use. I just stuff it in my pocket now but eventually I’ll get around to getting a new one.
Someone mentioned upgrading the hard drive and getting a new battery. I could’ve done the latter myself, but didn’t want to risk it. A “WeFixPhones”-type place found and replaced the Nano battery for about $50.
Thank you all. I’ve gotten quite a few suggestions (both here and on another forum). At the moment, I’m trying out Smart Audiobook Player (suggested by Thudlow_Boink), which is pretty good. I’m trying to write down what I like and don’t like about each, and then decide later.
Regarding battery replacement/SSD upgrades on Nanos. There’s a lot of generations of Nanos with big differences between them. But even a 2nd gen one is real &^#%# to work on.
As to getting the music off, it sort of depends. Simple mp3s can easily be moved off. (Myself, I use good old Winamp with the iPod plugin to move stuff to/from an iPod.) One issue, depending on the software and model is file name munging. The name of the mp3 on the iPod might look like gibberish and you’d have to rename them yourself. The iTunes software, besides being a real mess itself, might work. Or it might not. Or you may have to revert to an older version. Or …