iOS Today 774: Reading & Listening, (Audio) Book Apps
Date: October 16, 2025
Hosts: Micah Sargent & Rosemary Orchard
Overview
This episode of iOS Today dives deep into the world of book and audiobook apps for iPhones and iPads. Micah and Rosemary provide a thorough walkthrough of the leading reading and listening platforms—including Apple Books, Kobo, Kindle, Audible, and Libby—discussing features, pros and cons, and sharing personal insights. The show also answers listener questions, gives practical advice about app ecosystems, and closes with their classic “App Cap” recommendations.
Main Discussion: Book & Audiobook Apps
The “All Reading Is Valid” Stance
- Micah kicks off with an inclusive message:
"If you listen to your books, that is just as valid and real and wonderful as reading your books with your eyes...It is the same thing as listening to a book being read to you." (03:37, Micah)
1. Apple Books
Timestamps: 03:37 – 08:32
Key Features:
- Built into all Apple devices; easily found via Spotlight search.
- Supports both ebooks and audiobooks in one app.
- Rich customization:
- Themes (dark/light), page turn animations, text size, font choices.
- Advanced accessibility: line spacing, character spacing, margins, and justification.
- Search and table of contents for efficient navigation.
- Handles PDFs, EPUBs, manuals, and more.
- Easy library management: all past purchases accessible.
- Store integration:
- "It's going to have many of the books that you are familiar or that you would like come to expect from any of the the book stores." (06:35, Micah)
- Audiobooks available for purchase and preview.
Notable Moment:
- Rosemary’s anecdote about her dad keeping his car manual in Apple Books, highlighting the app’s versatility. (08:32, Rosemary)
2. Kobo Books
Timestamps: 08:32 – 11:57
- Rosemary is a dedicated Kobo user with two devices: Ellipsa (with stylus) and Libra 2.
- Kobo app syncs progress between devices and phones.
- Offers both ebooks and audiobooks in the same app—unlike Amazon.
- Kobo Plus: Subscription model similar to Kindle Unlimited.
- Browsing: Search by author, title; save to wishlists and preview samples even when not logged in.
- Supports collections/lists and integrates well with libraries in the UK.
Notable Quote:
- "Honestly, I love the fact that the Kobo app allows you to do both audio and ebook as well at the same time, unlike Amazon, which we will get to in a moment, which has separated those out..." (10:58, Rosemary)
3. Amazon Kindle & Audible
Timestamps (Kindle): 11:57 – 16:26
Timestamps (Audible): 16:26 – 20:24
Kindle Highlights:
- Ubiquitous, familiar, and highly integrated with Amazon’s ecosystem.
- Syncs your reading progress across Kindle devices and apps.
- Highly customizable display: typefaces like Bookerly, Amazon Ember Bold, and OpenDyslexic.
- Kindle Unlimited: Subscription for accessing a large library.
Audible Highlights:
- Separate app dedicated to audiobooks.
- Podcast integration in-app.
- Recommendations and personalized homepage.
- Credit system for purchasing titles:
- "If I were to buy it outright, it'd be $17.63. If I wait until I get a credit, then it is for the cost of a credit, which is $14.95 a month." (19:20, Micah)
- Some books are much cheaper to buy outright than with credits.
Audible Tips (from Rosemary):
- Cancel subscriptions now and then to get offered discounts/free months.
- Use your credits before canceling, or you’ll lose them.
- Check narrator samples: voices can make or break an audiobook.
- Watch out: Audible accounts/subscriptions are not shared across regions/countries.
Fun Moment:
- Rosemary jokes: "Not that I've ever been there. Definitely not me. Nope, wasn't me." about being billed across three different countries by accident (20:24, Rosemary).
4. Libby (by OverDrive)
Timestamps: 23:49 – 27:15
Key Features:
- Free! Connects you to local library catalogs for ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines.
- Geolocates to suggest available libraries.
- Librarian-curated recommendations and themed reading lists.
- Shows audiobook duration and availability (queue/waitlist system for digital “copies”).
- UK note: Syncs with Kobo devices, not Kindle.
Notable Quote:
- "Anybody who thinks that being a librarian is an easy job...it requires a lot of education...to figure out how to do things like appropriately rate books for your library." (25:13, Rosemary)
- Rosemary’s delight at discovering "The Number Two Feline Detective Agency" via Libby. (24:32)
Pro Tip:
- If your local library has sparse offerings, funding may be the reason—consider advocating for better resources.
Endorsement:
- "It's one of those apps that I think everybody should have on their devices just to try it and see what's available..." (27:15, Micah)
Quick News Corner
Timestamps: 27:15 – 32:34
- PSA: Apple iOS 26.0.1 and related updates released—mostly bug and security fixes.
- Notable fixes: Wi-Fi/Bluetooth disconnects on new iPhones, camera artifacts, cellular connection issues, and blank app icons or disabled VoiceOver.
- Prompt: Keep devices updated for security and bug resolution.
Listener Mail
Timestamps: 32:34 – 33:09
- Thomas from North Carolina shares his positive experience switching from iPhone Pro Max to the lighter iPhone Air.
- Concerns about the single-camera system but so far so good!
- Hosts relay their own experiences with iPhone models and camera use.
Shortcuts Corner
Timestamps: 33:09 – 36:43
- Kenny asks if Attention Aware can be used in Shortcuts to mute/unmute notifications based on whether the user is looking at their iPhone.
- Rosemary's response:
- Not currently possible via Shortcuts triggers.
- No way to directly access device state like “locked/unlocked” or face-detection in automations.
- Would likely drain battery too rapidly even if possible.
- Encouraged to send feedback requests to Apple for future OS features.
App Caps (App & Gadget Recommendations)
Timestamps: 39:05 – 45:53
1. Reverse Audio (Micah)
- Fun, casual app for recording and reversing audio.
- Great party game: say or sing a phrase, play it in reverse, then try to mimic the reversed version and see if it's comprehensible once flipped back.
- Caution: Many similarly-named apps; look for the one with a one-time in-app purchase to remove ads (link in show notes).
- Memorable Moment:
- Micah and Rosemary laugh as Micah attempts to say “Thanks for watching” backwards and ends up sounding like a Klingon (41:17).
2. Threes+ (Apple Arcade) (Rosemary)
- Classic number-merging, swipe-based puzzle game.
- The Apple Arcade version (look for the '+') is ad-free and playable offline.
- Simple rules, addictive gameplay, keeps track of your highest scores.
- Rosemary gets nostalgic:
- "516 was a really good score. I was very happy with, with that." (44:54)
Closing & Socials
- Club TWiT pitch: $10/month or $120/year, ad-free feeds, bonus content, access to Discord.
- Where to find the hosts:
- Rosemary: rosemary.com
- Micah: @mikahsargent or chihuahuacoffee.com
Notable Quotes & Moments
- "If you listen to your books, that is just as valid and real and wonderful as reading your books with your eyes..." (03:37, Micah)
- "I love the fact that the Kobo app allows you to do both audio and ebook as well at the same time..." (10:58, Rosemary)
- "Kindle has what, like a stranglehold on the market. But I do think there's a little bit of that Apple sort of benefit where when you kind of live in the garden, the walled garden, and you're using all of the different devices, they all work very well together." (13:18, Micah)
- "Cancel [your Audible subscription] every once in a while because they'll give you an offer for 50% off or something like that or a couple months free." (20:24, Rosemary)
- "Librarians...it's a lot of education...Not everybody can have the same book at once [on Libby]...Because while there may be an age rating on books, that is a general rating...re-rating things for particular libraries...I really appreciate the fact that they have things like suggestions for quick reads, reading group suggestions, so books to read as a group..." (25:13, Rosemary)
- “If you have an app that you like to use for reading or listening to books, then please do let us know.” (28:14, Micah)
- Micah and Rosemary play the Reverse Audio game live, with lots of laughs and Klingon impressions (41:16–42:11).
Episode Flow Summary
- Book/audiobook ecosystem overview; validation of audio and visual reading.
- Apple Books: default, versatile, well-integrated.
- Kobo: cross-platform, supports both formats in one app, subscription benefits.
- Kindle & Audible: Amazon’s separate but robust offerings, credits system, accessibility features, regional quirks.
- Libby: library-powered, cost-free access, resource variability.
- Quick iOS news; importance of updating.
- Listener mail: hands-on iPhone feedback.
- Shortcuts Corner: automation limitations acknowledged with practical insight.
- App recommendations: fun tools/games for downtime.
- Wrap-up, social links, and Club TWiT perks.
This episode is a treasure trove for anyone looking to make the most of digital reading and listening on Apple devices—whether you prefer your books with your eyes or your ears.