MP3s do not show artwork or keep your place, and they don’t sync across devices.
Artwork
Yes they can, via images embedded in their ID3 tags. This is supported by a huge array of players in terms of both physical hardware and software.
Keep your place
Yes they can, via many players (including both VLC which is what I use, and also my car stereo).
Sync across devices
This much is true, at least in the players I use. There’s probably a solution with some specific player somewhere.
But specifically for audiobooks, I don’t… need… to play across multiple devices. I listen via only two methods: My headphones (which are driven by my phone) and in my car (which works with my phone). I only actually use one player. It goes with me everywhere. Ours go with most of us everywhere; we’re naked without 'em.
If your use case requires a networked solution, you do you. I’m just saying, don’t automatically get blinded by how the Streaming Era has kind of fucked up everyone’s brain.
Edit: Downvoting me doesn’t change the fact that what you said was false.
I’d rather not have my library files available to everyone in the house. My NAS only has secured access via these apps.
As mentioned they keep position, copy files over as you access them, tailscale allows access everywhere.
I transition from mobile phone to PC more than twice a day. Just because you don’t want an app to do it doesn’t mean others don’t have the requirements.
I’m not saying nobody has that requirement, I’m just predicting that most people actually don’t if they sit down and think about it for a minute.
Also, what jaroni just said about cover art and position saving is still patently false and has been since, like, 1994.
