Pausing a podcast or audiobook (mp3) on the Versa

[Kimbernada]

If I pause a podcast or audiobook (mp3) on the Versa, will the device remember where I paused it so that I can restart for my next walk? (Either the same day or the next day.)

[Giampi71]

At the moment the only possible way to listen podcasts and audiobooks (I love them as well!) is to treeat the files as music and upload them via the Fitbit Connect app to the Ionic/Versa.

Since they are effectively music files I'm sure (with the present firmware but I don't expect any change in Fitibit OS 2) the app will not remember the position.

[Rich_Laue]

If you simply pause the music, I don't think it will be much of a problem. If you stop the player to switch to a different song, then no the spot will not be saved. 

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @Kimbernada and @Giampi71, I hope you're doing well, it's great to see you around. It's always nice to see you @Rich_Laue, thanks for your help! 

@Kimbernada, indeed, as @Giampi71 mentioned, currently it's not possible to upload podcasts or audio-books to the Fitbit Versa, if you treat them as music and upload them to the Versa, as @Rich_Laue also mentioned, it's possible the position will not be saved if you stop the player or change to a different song. 

I was checking our Feature Suggestion board and came across a suggested idea by @nbarnhart to add a specialized app for Podcasts into the Ionic (which shares the same FitbitOS as the Versa). Please feel free to add your vote and comment to this idea, this is the best way to make your voice heard.

I hope this can be helpful, if there's anything else I can do for you, please feel free to reply. 

[stubee]

Marco, you may want to modify your answer a bit.

You state "currently it's not possible to upload podcasts or audio-books to the Fitbit Versa"

I'm guessing you really meant to continue with "unless you treat them as music".

Even so, you make it sound like putting podcasts on a device isn't fully supported, in which case I would suggest Fitbit edit their documentation where they specifically reference podcasts.  Such as:

https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/2337#Music

If it doesn't work properly, they should not advertise the feature.

[Kimbernada]

He did mention that if they are music files, they can be loaded. Just that pausing with a bookmark isn't supported. 

[WavyDavey]

---

@Rich_Laue wrote:

If you simply pause the music, I don't think it will be much of a problem. If you stop the player to switch to a different song, then no the spot will not be saved. 

---

Is this true for pausing a song and coming back the next day? I don't see how one could easily keep the music app in the foreground for 24 hours?

[stubee]

Kimbernada,

Well what he actually said was " currently it's not possible to upload podcasts or audio-books to the Fitbit Versa"...which is why I think that he did a typo.

Also the tone of the response made it sound like it was more of a hack than a supported feature.  Yet the Fitbit Versa user guide specifically mentions "podcasts".   Now if you can't stop and restart a 2 hr podcast where you left off...then I don't consider podcasts (or any type of audiobook) to be a feature.

[Kimbernada]

Good points. I'm hoping someone will make an app for this. I doubt that Audible will. (Just a dream.. ) i don't think Andoid wear has this either, or it didn't when I had a Samsung Gear.

My Versa arrives tomorrow so at least I can quit "wondering" about this and that. 🙂 

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @stubee thanks for joining the conversation. @Kimbernada, I appreciate you have taken the time to reply. It's always nice to see you @WavyDavey, thanks for all your help. 

Indeed, as @stubee mentioned, it slipped my mind mentioning that "it's not possible to upload podcasts or audio-books to the Fitbit Versa" unless they're treated as music files, which in the end won't behave as podcasts or audio-books and if you paused them, the position will not be saved. 

As I mentioned before, you can check the suggested idea by @nbarnhart to implement a dedicated app to handle podcasts and audio-books. Feel free to add your vote and comment!

I hope this resolves your inquiry, I apologize for the misunderstanding. If there's anything else I can do for you, please feel free to reply. 

[Bucky767]

Marco, thanks for the clarification.  I also like to listen to podcasts during my runs.  Like other users who have posted to this thread, I would like to pause and restart a podcast, which is now impossible.  May I suggest that Fitbit add a fast forward button to your music app, so that at least users could fast forward to the point at which they paused their podcast. Obviously for a three minute song, the lack of this feature isn't a problem, but for a one hour podcast, it certainly is.  I can't tell you how many podcasts I have listened to the first half over and over to get to the point where I paused it.  

[Marrrmaduke]

@Kimbernada I am able to control my Audible app with my Versa the same way I can control Google music app on my mobile. I don't need to upload mp3. I start the book in the Audible mobile app and turn on Bluetooth music control on my Versa. Mind you, sometimes I have to toggle on and off 10 times as Versa music controls are flimsy but once it's on it works as expected. Play, pause, fwd/rev 30 seconds etc. Pausing the playback saves current location. 

[Bosmanh1]

I had the blaze and just got the versa- I can’t seem to figure out how to control whatever I’m playing on my phone- on my watch. I used to be able to on the blaze... how do you turn on the bluetooth audio control? 

[Marrrmaduke]

@Bosmanh1 check out this post and the rest of the thread.

[Babygiraffe]

I’ve been given a choice of a Charge3 or Versa for Christmas and, based on the replies here, I’ll choose the Charge3. It doesn’t look as though Fitbit took the time to research the way people use podcasts and audiobooks. I’m sure they’ll notice what a large demographic we are, and will come up with something better, but who knows whether that will involve a change to the app, or if we’ll have to buy new hardware. So the Versa is a no for me, I’ll just have to continue carrying my phone. Without on-board GPS I have to do that anyway. 

[Rich_Laue]

@Babygiraffe with the Versa you still have the ability to control the podcast on your phone from the wrist and still can store pandora or your own music on the Versa. You also get to pick from hundreds of clocks ans many apps. 

With the charge 3 the is no music control, only a few clocks and apps.