BookTalk Support
booktalk support
Getting Started
Adding Your First Book
- Open BookTalk and tap the + button in the Library
- Enter the book title and author manually, or
- Tap Scan Barcode to scan the book's ISBN - title, author, and cover will be fetched automatically
Creating Annotations
Open a book from your Library to start adding annotations:
- Voice Notes: Tap and hold the microphone button to record. Release to stop. Your recording is automatically transcribed.
- Photos/Videos: Tap the Media button to take a photo or choose from your library
- Text Notes: Tap the Note button to type a quick thought or quote
All annotations can include an optional page number for reference.
Features
Push to Talk (PTT)
Record annotations hands-free, even when your phone is locked:
- Open a book and tap the ⋯ menu
- Select Push to Talk
- Tap Join Channel
- Use the PTT button in Dynamic Island, Lock Screen, or Control Center to record
To leave PTT, tap the floating indicator at the bottom of the screen.
Search
Find any annotation instantly using full-text search across all your transcriptions and captions. Tap the Search tab and start typing.
Feed
Browse all annotations across all books in random order. Pull down to refresh and see a different mix.
Archiving Books
Long-press a book cover and select Archive to move it out of your main library. Archived books can be viewed or restored from the menu.
Spotlight Search
Your annotations are indexed for iOS Spotlight search. Search from your home screen to find annotations without opening the app.
Troubleshooting
Microphone not working
- Go to Settings > BookTalk and ensure Microphone access is enabled
- Make sure no other app is using the microphone
- Try restarting the app
Transcription not appearing
- Transcription happens on-device and may take a few seconds
- Ensure Speech Recognition is enabled in Settings > BookTalk
- Clear audio with minimal background noise transcribes best
Camera/Photos not working
- Go to Settings > BookTalk
- Enable Camera access (for taking photos and scanning barcodes)
- Enable Photo Library access (for choosing existing photos/videos)
Push to Talk not working
- PTT requires iOS 16 or later
- Ensure you've joined a channel for a specific book
- Check that PTT is enabled in Settings > BookTalk
- Try leaving and rejoining the channel
Barcode scanning fails
- Ensure good lighting and hold steady
- The ISBN barcode is usually on the back cover
- If scanning fails, you can always enter the book details manually
Spotlight search not finding annotations
- Go to About & How to Use in the app menu
- Scroll to Spotlight Search
- Tap Reindex All Annotations
Data & Privacy
Where is my data stored?
All data is stored locally on your device. Nothing is uploaded to any server.
Can I backup my data?
Yes. BookTalk's data is included in your iCloud or iTunes backups. You can also access the Documents folder via the Files app.
Is transcription private?
Yes. Speech recognition runs entirely on-device using Apple's Speech framework. No audio or text is sent to external servers.
What data does the app collect?
None. BookTalk has no analytics, no accounts, and no network communication except for fetching book metadata when you scan an ISBN.
FAQ
Q: Can I sync between devices?
A: Not currently. All data is stored locally on each device.
Q: What formats are supported for audio?
A: Recordings are saved as M4A (AAC) files.
Q: Can I export my annotations?
A: Your data is accessible via the Files app. Audio, images, and videos are stored in the Documents folder.
Q: Is there a limit to how many books or annotations I can have?
A: No artificial limits. Storage depends on your device capacity.
Q: Does it work offline?
A: Yes, completely. The only feature requiring internet is ISBN lookup when adding books.
Contact
For support inquiries, bug reports, or feature requests:
Email: bram+booktalk@bramadams.dev
Website: bramadams.dev
BookTalk v1.0