copying files Mac-to-Android: this may be non-ideal when just testing the app but for me this is the main use case. Libraries are usually a good source of audiobooks. Audible provides copy-protected files so they only work with their app and a set of MP3 players from well-known makers and that only if you use Audible's fancy app to transfer the files from your computer. It's good for just testing the features though. Kindle Fire is slightly modified Android and runs the app, however it's not good for a dedicated audiobook player because the screen lock cannot be disabled (the best you can do is swipe-to-unlock). Maybe I should update this instructable with this information. But let me address a few of the mentioned issues, maybe this will be of help to other readers: - you can download the app package directly from my website if you have a device with no Google Play Store ( ). Yes, setting up the app isn't smooth (and you haven't even tried the most difficult part that is described on my website ) ). Needless to say, I'm pretty disappointed. A third-party work around shouldn't be necessary. Audible should make a version of their software to accommodate the elderly and the impaired. and that's when I just stopped and returned the device to Amazon, completely deflated, having wasted a solid 3-4 hours trying to cram this round peg into a square hole. using a Mac-to-Android file sharing program, which I had to install first. I had to try to figure out how to transfer the audio files to my (Mac) computer, then re-download them back onto the Amazon Fire to a special folder. other audio book apps (like Audible) don't work with Homer. Once that was done, the Homer Player app technically functioned, but. Fire is neither Android nor Apple, so I immediately had to download a series of programs to allow Google access to it. My first mistake was buying a cheap "Amazon Fire" to use as a base device. I wanted to try this for my grandfather, who is virtually blind. Go to system settings (swipe down from the top edge of the screen and tap the cogwheel icon), go to "Home" and choose the original home app.Enter Homer Player settings (tap screen 5 times) and disable the simple kiosk mode.When you want to disable the kiosk mode there are two things for you to do: Restoring normal operation (optional reading) Optional: if you want a better protection against accidental exit from the application, you can put adhesive tape over the bottom and top screen edges to prevent it from detecting touch. Now, when you restart the tablet it will go straight to the audiobook application. Choose "Homer Player" and select "Always". Android asks you which application to use as the so-called "home" application.Swipe your finger up from the bottom edge of the screen and press the O button (the "home" button).Notice that the status and navigation bars are now hidden. Tap "Prevent exiting the application (kiosk mode).".Tap the screen 5 times to enter settings.This is called a "kiosk mode" and to enable it follow these steps: In order to create an illusion that the tablet does only one job, plays audiobooks, we will prevent the user from ever exiting the application (at least unintentionally). This is important for non-tech-savvy users who would have trouble finding their way around the system and all the installed applications. Our goal is to make an audio player device so we need to "remove" all the functions of the tablet. It is also possible to install TTS apps from the Play Store. You can configure the TTS engines in the settings menu of your tablet, just go to: "Language & input" -> "Text-to-speech output". The default one from Google is available for many languages but the voice isn't very pleasant. The tablet's text-to-speech engine (TTS for short) is used to read book titles aloud. On text-to-speech engines (optional reading, you can skip this) Exit the app now (you may download the sample books and play with the app if you wish).It is possible that this dialog doesn't show if there is just a single Text-to-speech engine installed. The tablet may ask if you want to enable Text-to-speech (and it may give you a choice of more than one engines - choosing Google is a safe bet), confirm your choice with "Always".In the search field type "Homer Player".You can find more about it on the project website. Homer Player is an app that I have written specially for the purpose of building this audiobook player.
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