*This post is about the Sandisk Clip Jam with firmware v1.13.*
I am disappointed in the audiobook playback on the Clip Jam. I have dyslexia so I read exclusively with audiobooks. I have tried many different audiobook players. So far the best one I have found is an app for android, but I don’t like draining the battery on my phone. I decided to try the Clip Jam because the Clip+ and a couple other models were highly recommended by audiobook listeners, however those products are no longer in production.
This post is my wishful thinking on how I would like the audiobook playback on the Clip Jam to function based on my extensive history of listening to audiobooks. Unfortunately it’s pretty much a major overhaul of the current firmware so the likelyhood of any of it actualy being added is slim. If anyone knows how to get it in the hands of the firmware developers though please let me know or feel free to pass it along.
Display:
When the book is playing the screen should have the author, book title, and the current track title. There should also be two progress bars, one for the total book progress and the other for the progress of the current track. (See my mock-up rendering below)
SD Card Integration:
Currently the books and music on the SD card do not appear in the Music or Books menus. Ideally the books and music on the device and SD card should be integrated, however if this is not possible due to hardware limitations the very least that could be done would be to have additional menus for SD card books and music. This would make it easier for those of us who frequently use SD memory to find our books.
Sorting Books:
The device does not have the ability to sort the books by author. This should be added.
Folders and Organization:
Audiobooks usually have multiple files. Keeping them organized is important especially for large audiobook collections.
Folder structure 1) No folder organization:
Audiobook Folder
>Book Title (eg, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)
Folder structure 2) Some folder organization:
Audiobook Folder
>Author (eg, JK Rowling)
>Book Title (eg, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)
Folder structure 3) Organized Folder Structure:
Audiobook Folder
>Author (eg, JK Rowling)
>Book Title or Series Title (eg, Harry Potter)
>Book Title (if series) (eg, The Chamber of Secrets)
The current firmware doesn’t allow for the organized folder structure. It will just group all of the individual tracks of multiple books into one big book if you try to organize your folders this way.
The player should be able to support each of these folder structures. The Organized Folder Structure is nice because if you have an author with many books and book series’ you can keep the different series’ separate. Also if your metadata info is not present, inaccurate, or incomplete you still have the author/series info, and book title. The benefit of Folder Structure 1 is that it allows for easy drag and drop of books onto the device. However if the book doesn’t have proper metadata info for the Author/Series you don’t have that info.
Audible Folder:
The Audible folder should have the ability to be removed or hidden.
Playing a book/Resuming playback:
The current firmware will remember the position you left off on for each track, but not what track you left off on in the book.
When playing an audiobook, instead of selecting the track, selecting the Book Title (book folder) should start playing the book. For a new (not yet started) book, the tracks should start playing in order. When resuming a book that has already been started, playback should resume in the same location and on the same track that you left off on (no need to remember the track name/number). When resuming from a long break playback should back up approximately 30 seconds to give the listener a recap (this should be configurable in settings).
Bookmarks:
Bookmarking is a feature that should be added to the Clip Jam. It is useful for saving a spot in a book so that you can come back to it later. It is kind of like the preset stations on the radio.
Button Actions:
The volume, play/pause (up button), and the back/lock buttons should not change.
When playing an audiobook the right and left buttons should have the following actions;
Right button:
Single click- Skip forward 10, 20, or 30 second (should be configurable in the settings)
Double click- Skip to next track (should be configurable in the settings)
Press and hold- Fast forward until released
Left button:
Single click- Rewind 10, 20, or 30 second (should be configurable in the settings)
Double click- Go to previous track (should be configurable in the settings)
Press and hold- Rewind until released
When playing a book the options button (down button) should have the following menu structure;
Audiobook Options
Bookmaks
Set Bookmark
Go to Bookmark 1
Go to Bookmark 2 (ect)
Delete a Bookmark
Playback Speed: Slow/Normal/Fast
Audiobook Settings (Global settings, should also be available in main settings)
Display Information: Based on metadata (if present)/Based on folder structure
Resume Recap: 30sec/off
Next Button (Fast Forward)
Single Click: 10sec/20sec/30sec/Next Track/Off
Double Click: Next Track/Off
Press&Hold: Fast Forward/Off
Previous Button (Rewind)
Single Click: 10sec/20sec/30sec/Next Track/Off
Double Click: Track/Off
Press&Hold: Rewind/Off
Mark Book as New (Resets the resume point to the beginning, Bookmarks remain)
Delete Audiobook
