Audio books are voice read recordings of printed material. The same genres of literature are available but just in an audio format. MP3 audio books are becoming increasingly popular as people continue to become more mobile and busy. When deciding to check out or buy an audio book it is important to know some of the subtle differences. For the full length version make sure that the cover or box reads "Unabridged" which means that nothing is shortened or condensed for length.

Do you want a straight reading of a book or do you prefer a multitude of voices acting out the written lines? That is an option with an audio book for Ipod or any other MP3 player. You can decide between the two different styles. If you are not sure as to which style you prefer consider listening to both versions and then making up your mind. Most retailers have samples of the files for you to listen before you purchase.

An audio book for Ipod works by uploading the information onto the player. There is a bit of a trick to doing it though because unlike uploading individual songs or even a complete compact disc it can be time consuming to have to scroll through the menu screen to find each track, especially as the discs can have the same track numbers. One tip experts advise is to manually rename each listing by a the title and the compact disc number so that there is no confusion when it comes time to listen to the next series. A simple format could be xx/yy.

There is one important fact that should be noted when it comes to discovering the difference between a music file or audio book for Ipod and any other brand of MP3 players. They do not use the same format with downloading. For complete instructions on learning to use an Ipod and knowing how to download an audio book check out the manufacturer's website for details. Also make sure and check what software is compatible.