# Itunes/Ipod: "Books" vs. "Audiobooks" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 3, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-ipod-books-vs-audiobooks/538211 "2010-05-03T21:47:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-ipod-books-vs-audiobooks/538211/1 "2010-05-03T21:47:04Z")
I. It looks like Itunes has changed the name of the main “Audiobooks” menu to “Books.” However, if you look at a particular track’s “options” menu, it still considers the media type to be “Audiobook.” Similarly, on the Ipod, they still go under the “Audiobooks” menu. I also notice that at the Itunes Store, you can search for “Audiobooks” but not for “Books.” What’s the story here? Is Apple changing the designation of “Audiobooks” to “Books”? If so, why hasn’t it done them all at once. II. Will the Itunes Store allow you to purchase electronic books to view through Itunes, or will you be able to do that only if you have an Ipad? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-ipod-books-vs-audiobooks/538211/2 "2010-05-03T22:05:53Z")
Books are things you read. Audio Books are read to you. To purchase books, you need to download the iBooks app (free), and use it to purchase books. [iBook FAQ](http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4059) Edit: And yes, they’re only available for the iPad. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-ipod-books-vs-audiobooks/538211/3 "2010-05-03T22:12:37Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Books are things you read. > > Audio Books are read to you. Then please explain why, as I stated in my OP, Itunes has renamed the “Audiobooks” menu as “Books.” ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-ipod-books-vs-audiobooks/538211/4 "2010-05-04T02:34:55Z")
Where does it say this, under “PLAYLISTS” on the left pane? Mine still says “Audiobooks,” just upgraded to newest version 9.1. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-ipod-books-vs-audiobooks/538211/5 "2010-05-04T03:44:35Z")
Under “Library,” the categories are: Music Movies TV Shows Podcasts iTunes U Books Apps Ringtones Radio Until a recent update, it said “Audiobooks” instead of “Books,” and, indeed, all my audiobooks are in the “Books” menu. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-ipod-books-vs-audiobooks/538211/6 "2010-05-04T11:05:24Z")
Sounds like they consider audiobooks to be a subset of books. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-ipod-books-vs-audiobooks/538211/7 "2010-05-04T15:08:59Z")
Ah I see, I had “Books” unchecked in options. I also have an “Audiobooks” playlist which seems to work the same way. It’s one of the purple icon automatic playlists like “Recently Added” and “Top 25 Most Played,” not the blue user-created playlists. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-ipod-books-vs-audiobooks/538211/8 "2010-05-04T15:17:59Z")
Audio books is under music as a playlist. The Books tab should be only for books, which is pretty much only for iPads. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-ipod-books-vs-audiobooks/538211/9 "2010-05-04T15:47:21Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Audio books is under music as a playlist. > > The Books tab should be only for books, which is pretty much only for iPads. That’s on the Ipod, but on Itunes, all of the audiobooks have been put under “Books.”