Audiobook Bookmarking Solution for Zunes

[mincho]

Would you like your audiobooks to:
Resume where left off (Bookmarking)? No more searching for your place?
Be segregated from your music files so they no longer show up when shuffling music?

Read on for the solution!

The new Zunes (and old ones w/ new firmware) support podcasts. Podcasts automatically bookmark where you leave off and give you a "resume" option when you go back.
Changing the "Genre" tag in the audiobook MP3 file will trick the zune into thinking that it is a podcast.
Before you begin either
a) make sure all of your audiobook files are tagged and numbered correctly, or, better yet:
b) combine all of the audiobook files into one large file (there are numerous free programs for this (google: MP3 joiner)

It's simple and easy:

Step 1:
Using a tag editor, open your audiobook files and batch change the "Genre" field to: Podcast

Step 2:
Open your Zune software and drag and drop the audiobook right into the collection/music album window (where the album art is)

Step 3:
Change view to collection/podcast (the files should be there)

Step 4:
Drag Podcast to Zune to sync

The audiobook will now be in the "Podcast" section on the Zune.

Play and enjoy!



Thanks to: this thread @ Zune.net and this one @ Zunerama

This is From the Anything But Ipod Forums, made by Night Surfer.

[silentbob_151]

Hey wow thanks a lot!

[BobtheWalrus]

Nice work!

If I had audio books, I would use this genius method

[denotsko]

Why won't this work for me? I have tried several different tag editors and still wont work on my Zune30.

[georgexx316@hotmail.com]

i don't think the new Zune Soft allows you to do that anymore. They got rid of recognizing Podcast tags so people don't abuse it and share music uncensored.

[nicolasqueen]

Works for me with new fw; I use Podcasts not Podcast.

[murdockr]

Podcast still works for audiobooks, but getting the Zune to correctly sort the files is a nightmare!

[Huntsman85]

Here is the xml code to create your own podcast. It is more work using one of an xml file, but it allows you to set all of the data/info. This does require you to have a location on the web where you can upload this file, note you do not have to upload all of the audio files, but can simply drag them into your podcast after you link to it. You can also upload a picture to the web and point to it in the xml file. This file needs to have the extention of .xml


Length is the size of the audio file. You get this by right clicking on the file and going to properties. length="8908927"


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:cc="http://web.resource.org/cc/" >

<channel>
<title>Huntsman's Test Podcast</title>
<description>Test This is my description of my personal podcast. This podcast is testing the zune software in order to trick it into accepting local files without having to upload entire songs to the internet</description>
<language>en</language>
<copyright>Huntsman</copyright>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2008 17:23:54 -0500</pubDate>
<lastBuildDate>Thu, 29 May 2008 17:23:54 -0500</lastBuildDate>

<image>
<url>http://www.FakeWebsite.com/Podcast/yourPicture.jpg</url>
<title>Huntsman's Test Podcast</title>
</image>

<item>
<title>Track 3</title>
<author>Person</author>
<link>http://www.FakeWebsite.com/Podcast/Track 03.mp3</link>
<description><![CDATA[TEST This is the third Audio file in this podcast. It is very short.]]></description>
<enclosure url="http://www.FakeWebsite.com/Podcast/Track 03.mp3" length="8908927" type="audio/mpeg" />
<guid isPermaLink="false">65d0afe41df3fcbb7f0177b8297dea 20</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 028 Mar 2008 13:49:40 -0600</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Track 2</title>
<author>Person</author>
<link>http://www.FakeWebsite.com/Podcast/Track 02.mp3</link>
<description><![CDATA[TEST This is the sencond Audio file in this podcast. It is very short.]]></description>
<enclosure url="http://www.FakeWebsite.com/Podcast/Track 02.mp3" length="8080323" type="audio/mpeg" />
<guid isPermaLink="false">65d0afe41df3fcbb7f0177b8297dea 20</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 027 Mar 2008 13:49:40 -0600</pubDate>
</item>




<item>
<title>Track 1</title>
<author>Person</author>
<link>http://www.FakeWebsite.com/Podcast/Track 01.mp3</link>
<description><![CDATA[TEST This is the first Audio file in this podcast. It is very short.]]></description>
<enclosure url="http://www.FakeWebsite.com/Podcast/Track 02.mp3" length="9398985" type="audio/mpeg" />
<guid isPermaLink="false">65d0afe41df3fcbb7f0177b8297dea 20</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 026 Mar 2008 13:49:40 -0600</pubDate>
</item>

</channel>
</rss>

[jgudema]

Based on the original positing, I was able to add audio books to my zune as podcasts to have the bookmarking feature. It took some trial and error - I am not even sure how I did it but every time I download something new, I change the genre to Podcast immediately (before it is added to my collection), and drag and drop it in. This works.

But, now i am trying to put the same audiobooks/lectures into my regular collection for future listening. A big challenge. Once it is listened to as a podcast, it is automatically deleted. Now, even after changing the Genre back to something else than Podcast, and trying to drop in it, or sync it - zune software still won't recognize the file.

The only solution I came up with is to change the name of the file and then drop it in. This didn't get it back into my collection - at actually appears as a podcast again.

This is a really frustrating stuff!

[x7J14IHj]

Audiobooks are extremely important to my handicapped wife and I was so disappointed when the usual drag & drop wouldn't work like her old Archos. It took me a while to get it right but I've got it working now and I am very grateful for your workaround this problem. Microsoft needs to recognize this problem and get a fix up ASAP. Many thanks to you

[Hydrogen_Snake]

Originally Posted by jgudema

Based on the original positing, I was able to add audio books to my zune as podcasts to have the bookmarking feature. It took some trial and error - I am not even sure how I did it but every time I download something new, I change the genre to Podcast immediately (before it is added to my collection), and drag and drop it in. This works.

But, now i am trying to put the same audiobooks/lectures into my regular collection for future listening. A big challenge. Once it is listened to as a podcast, it is automatically deleted. Now, even after changing the Genre back to something else than Podcast, and trying to drop in it, or sync it - zune software still won't recognize the file.

The only solution I came up with is to change the name of the file and then drop it in. This didn't get it back into my collection - at actually appears as a podcast again.

This is a really frustrating stuff!

RMB on desired file+Properties should work. There are several possible selections for keeping your files if i am not mistaken.

[howewass]

Originally Posted by jgudema

Based on the original positing, I was able to add audio books to my zune as podcasts to have the bookmarking feature. It took some trial and error - I am not even sure how I did it but every time I download something new, I change the genre to Podcast immediately (before it is added to my collection), and drag and drop it in. This works.

But, now i am trying to put the same audiobooks/lectures into my regular collection for future listening. A big challenge. Once it is listened to as a podcast, it is automatically deleted. Now, even after changing the Genre back to something else than Podcast, and trying to drop in it, or sync it - zune software still won't recognize the file.

The only solution I came up with is to change the name of the file and then drop it in. This didn't get it back into my collection - at actually appears as a podcast again.

This is a really frustrating stuff!

I had the exact same problem and stumbled on the solution. The zune application added a tag to the MP3 file, so renaming will do you no good. If you examine the file with "mp3tag" and look at the "Extended Tags", you'll see that the zune software added a tag to the mp3 file called (get this) ITUNESPODCAST which is set to a value of 1. Delete the tag (or set it to 0) and you'll be good to go. I couldn't find a way to see the tag with the Zune software or WMP11.

To keep your zune from deleting the podcast (if you don't really want to put it in your music collection), in the Zune software, set the "series settings" to "keep all episodes" and "Sync all episodes". Hopefully, that will solve your other problem.

[bluesam]

There is a product called Mp3tag that will allow you to view the ITUNESPODCAST tag in the Extended Tags section

[bluesam]

Check out the solution from BueSam Blog. It's got lot's of screen shots. The post title is "Hacking The Zune Podcast Feature To Give You Bookmarks For Your Audio Books."

I can't give you the link because I don't have enough posts yet.

[zunebunny]

blog.bluesam.com/2008/06/hacking-zune-podcast-feature-to-give.html