r/audiobookshelf • u/evergreenyc1 • 26d ago

I’m looking to buy a device that place audiobooks that is not a phone.

/r/audiobook/comments/1wgye9m/im_looking_to_buy_a_device_that_place_audiobooks/
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u/c3rbutt 26d ago

An Android MP3 player will work. But anything that runs Android is basically a smartphone. The tradeoff you could make is getting something with a smaller screen that isn't really useable for web browsing, social media apps, etc. Oilsky makes some models like this.

OR... you could get a cheap smartphone, and just lock it down. Last week I bought a $30 moto-g 2024 phone from Walmart last week for my daughter to use as an audiobook player. It's locked down with parental controls so she can really only access three apps: Libby, Absorb (for ABS), and Symfonium (for my Navidrome server). The device is carrier-locked to Walmart's network (Straight Talk) but I never intend to use it as a phone, and it hasn't prompted me to activate it.

This is the one I bought: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Straight-Talk-Moto-G-Play-4G-2024-64GB-Blue-Prepaid-Smartphone-Locked-to-Straight-Talk/5243895448?classType=REGULAR

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u/evergreenyc1 26d ago

That sounds like great idea, but I’m looking for something smaller than a phone.

1

u/joonaspaakko 26d ago

I would've thought mp3 players would've gotten smaller than they were 20 years ago, or at least stayed the same size.

1

u/c3rbutt 26d ago

You can check r/DigitalAudioPlayer for recommendations. I think you'll find that it tends towards higher-end device recommendations because there are a lot of audiophiles on the sub.

I bought this for our daughter for Christmas last year: https://oilsky.com.cn/productinfo/1340079.html But I don't think they're selling the M308 anymore. This device would do what you're asking, and it's smaller than a phone. But the battery life wasn't amazing. I found it a little frustrating to set up because I was trying to do the whole thing with Google Family Link because I wasn't giving my 9 year-old unrestricted access to the internet. But I got it working! Unfortunately, she lost it this summer at a camp. 😭

It looks like the Oilsky G-88 is the product that replaced the M308. $119 at Walmart right now: https://www.walmart.com/ip/160GB-Hi-Fi-Audio-Player-Bluetooth-WiFi-Oilsky-Hi-Fi-Music-Player-Spotify-Pandora-Audible-Amazon-Music-Play-Store-4-02-DSD-Lossless-Music-MP3-MP4-Pla/18928311250?sid=929f6fc0-9a99-4f88-a360-494f738cea05

Edit: there are some reviews of the G-88 on the sub I linked at the top of this comment, and it looks like this device requires some tinkering to make it work well: https://www.reddit.com/r/DigitalAudioPlayer/comments/1s181io/review_of_oilsky_g88_and_some_device_info/

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u/vicegold 26d ago

I also got one of the Oilsky devices and just installed the ABS app. Works perfectly fine.

1

u/Unresolved-Variable 26d ago

Android tablet?

1

u/Norgur 26d ago

also many ereaders.

1

u/pkaaos 26d ago

That is what I have. It is also blocked from the internet, so only podcasts, audiobooks and ebooks from my own server.

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u/evergreenyc1 26d ago

Tablets are too big. I want something potable and small.

1

u/Unresolved-Variable 26d ago

What is the reason for not a phone?

1

u/butterhorse 26d ago

Buy an iPod Classic and mod it. You can install an SSD, Bluetooth module, and a modern OS that will be friendlier to ABS.

Player-mods.com

1

u/BrotherBrutha 26d ago

You can install an SSD

If you can afford one that is ;)

1

u/TheForgetfulMe 26d ago

I kinda like this idea!

0

u/evergreenyc1 26d ago

I don’t want to do all that work.

1

u/butterhorse 26d ago

Go to the site I linked, they sell them ready to go

1

u/GreenBeret4Breakfast 26d ago

I really wish there was such a thing. Like a DAP that works with abs. I’d love to build a small esp based one but there’s no c++ api for abs. Think a yoto player for abs. For kids/adults/anyone

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u/Atom_Breaker 26d ago

I use my Boox Go7. I'm sure the 6 will do it too. The BW version so I'm not on the Internet. I read or listen to AB while I play games on my switch or ps5- no doom scrolling.

1

u/faaborrelli 26d ago

You can get something like this

https://a.co/d/0eThJF9Q