Edit: A couple times I’ve said eBook while I actually meant Audiobook. I’ve learned that Spotify has a 15 hour limit per month for their free ‘included in premium’ audiobooks. However these are the two books I listened to for free, and even rounding up to 13 hours it doesn’t make sense, unless they count accidental chapter skips which weren’t actually listened to. But it’s clear now that I know about the 15 hour limit, that they are not counting the time listening to paid audiobooks.

First book I listened to for free:

Second book I listened to for free:

OG post:

I purchased 3 eBooks in the Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy series (2 came free) and I’m on the final book. 20 minutes left in the last book and this is what Spotify tells me.

I’m over the edge now. I’ve been putting it off too long. I have a nice NUC I purchased about a year ago.

I’m tech inclined, 20 years of hobbyism, know the linux command line well. Work in IT consulting. But I’m busy. Very busy, and unmotivated to do things like hours of research and toying with settings getting things to work, if I ever have the time.

But this is the start of my new personal revolution.

I’ll read the wiki and have read about Sonarr, etc, and I also want movies and shows, but is there anything specifically for eBooks? Looks like Readarr is my best bet? Stripping the DRM of already purchased (and free with Spotify ‘Premium’) books to share on a seedbox is also something I’m willing to take requests on. Is there a way to rip from Spotify if you have a premium account? And what’s the best Android eBook reader (the last 3-4 I tried sucked with pirated eBooks)?

I know I’m sounding like a noob asking everything to be handed to me right now, but I am willing to put in the research and welcome and highly appreciate anyone with tips to point me in the right directions.

  • Showroom7561@lemmy.caEnglish
    4·
    9 months ago

    If the experience that a paying customer gets is worse than the experience they get from pirating, then that’s the fault of the company selling that enshitified experience.

    It’s wild how modern businesses are trying to kill themselves with every terrible idea they have to make more money.

    • Zahille7@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      9 months ago

      As shitty as Amazon is, I will say that the books I’ve gotten through Audible are all still there and I can listen to them whenever I want even though I don’t have a subscription or anything anymore.

      • w3dd1e@lemm.eeEnglish
        2·
        9 months ago

        Audible replaced a version of a book my boyfriend bought with a completely different version of the same book. I mean a different narrator and everything. He had purchased the book a few years earlier but he didn’t manage to get a refund from them.

        • Stupidmanager@lemmy.worldEnglish
          21·
          9 months ago

          The Martian by Andy weir was my first experience of this. They re-recorded it with will wheaton and I “lost” my original with RC Bray. Though I will admit my version was part of the plus catalog, I still didn’t get a choice.

      • iheartneopets@lemm.eeEnglish
        1·
        9 months ago

        I’ve been enjoying LibroFM instead of Audible. Same subscription/credits per month model, but a portion goes to support a local bookstore of your choice. Feels way better to do that than give any extra money to Amazon.

    • Localhorst86@feddit.deEnglish
      0·
      9 months ago

      I bought a few books off audible, and while I can still access them even without a subscription, I still have them converted to mp3 on my NAS, in case I ever lose access to audible for some reason.

  • lemmyingly@lemm.eeEnglish
    1·
    9 months ago

    I stopped paying when they started serving adverts in 2020. Why am I paying a subscription fee to be served adverts? Especially during a period where I was only listening to a few hours per week. Fck dat greedy piggies.

  • BreakDecks@lemmy.mlEnglish
    1·
    9 months ago

    Full Explanation:

    Spotify introduced Audiobooks to their platform in November 2023:

    • Unlimited listening to public domain classics.
    • 15 free hours per month of premium audiobooks.
    • 10 hour top ups available.
    • Can purchase premium audiobooks for unlimited listening.

    OP purchased book 1 and can listen to it all they want. They did not purchase book 2 or 3, and also listened to other audiobooks, putting them over the 15 hour limit.

    Key Facts:

    • Spotify Audiobooks are a new feature with no additional subscription cost.
    • OP used all of their free credits for the month.
    • OP was never prevented from listening to a book they purchased.

    That said, stop paying for audiobooks like a chump and get a library card.