ShelfPlayer is an intuitive iOS application designed for enjoying audiobooks and podcasts. It specifically caters to users who have self-hosted Audiobookshelf libraries. Built with Swift 6, ShelfPlayer works on devices using iOS 18 or later. The app respects your privacy while offering a smooth experience that is well-integrated with the Apple ecosystem.

It's important to note that ShelfPlayer does not come with any media content by itself. To use the app effectively, you will need to have an active Audiobookshelf instance running.

One of the key benefits of ShelfPlayer is that it serves as a unified audiobook and podcast app. This means you can easily access your favorite audiobooks, podcasts, episodes, authors, narrators, series, collections, and playlists in one place. It also offers multi-server support. This allows you to connect to multiple Audiobookshelf servers and libraries simultaneously, making it easy to manage your content.

For your convenience, ShelfPlayer supports flexible authentication methods. You can log in using either username/password authentication or OpenID sign-in. Additionally, if you have advanced setups, the app lets you configure custom request headers.

The Listen Now feature is another highlight of ShelfPlayer. It enables you to continue listening and discover new content across all your connected libraries effortlessly. With the global search and library search options, you can quickly find books, podcasts, authors, and episodes.

Managing your listening experience is straightforward with playback queues. These include both a main queue and an Up Next queue to keep track of what you want to listen to next. You can navigate chapters easily thanks to chapter navigation controls, which are available right in the playback view.

ShelfPlayer gives you control over your listening pace with playback speed controls. Combined with quick presets for speed adjustments, you can tune the playback to your preference. The app also allows configurable skip intervals, letting you set how far you want to skip forward or backward.

If you like to listen while winding down, you can use the sleep timer feature. It supports both time-based and chapter-based timers, and it even integrates with Live Activities for easy access. When you want to enjoy your audio content through your speakers, you can use the AirPlay integration and media controls that come with the app.

For those memorable moments, ShelfPlayer lets you create bookmarks with notes. You can keep track of important highlights in your audiobooks or podcasts. The app also ensures progress synchronization. This means your listening progress and sessions stay updated and in sync with your Audiobookshelf account.

Listening history is tracked in detail, allowing you to review your item-level listening timelines. If you’re someone who enjoys setting daily goals, ShelfPlayer offers daily listening tracking to help you keep tabs on your listening time.

When you're on the move or in areas with limited connectivity, the offline mode allows you to download content for listening without an internet connection. Automatic convenience downloads ensure that your Listen Now content, podcasts, and series updates happen in the background without you having to lift a finger.

For organizing your audio content, ShelfPlayer provides built-in tools for collections and playlists. You can easily create, edit, and manage how you group your audiobooks and podcasts. The app even includes a PDF viewer, so you can read attached documents within the app itself.

ShelfPlayer enhances your home screen experience with various widgets, including those for Start, Listen Now, and Listened Today. Another useful feature is live activities, which keep essential controls accessible on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island support.

You have seamless Siri integration, along with App Intents and Shortcuts, making it easy to automate playback and other tasks using Apple’s automation tools. If you use CarPlay, you will find that ShelfPlayer supports it fully, providing you with library browsing and playback controls right from your car's interface.

Spotlight integration ensures that your indexed content appears in system searches, allowing you to jump back into the app easily. You can also access common playback and search actions directly from the home screen quick actions available on the app icon.

The app offers a native iPhone interface and a native iPad interface, both optimized for an enjoyable user experience. You can customize your layout with customizable tabs, sorting, and filters to make finding your content even easier.

With ShelfPlayer, listening to audiobooks and podcasts has never been easier or more organized. Whether you're at home or on the go, this app will enhance your audio experience.