It's cheap enough that you can just get it. Apart from the storage lacking, it really is a nice device. Yes, it remembers playback positions, and supports Audible if you need that. Yes it normally uses iTunes (obviously) but as it's a disk there are hacks out there that'll manipulate the databases it uses by hand. I think you'll like it. No comments on iTunes; I'm all set in iTunes with all my stuff, including CD-ripped audiobooks; YMMV.

Yeah, just iTunes for me. But I do remember something called GNUpod, which is what you get when a Free Software advocate starts yearning for shiny tat.

Anyway, so, er, no, sorry. I don't know of another solution. But there *must* be one, surely.

Edit: Here's another one which does something very similar. You could try it …

well, I think the nanno is better. It has a disk mode so you don't need iTunes. The iPod nanno 7th gen has a home button, and voice over. Unfortunately it only uses the compact voice, but you get a disk mode, fm radio, bluetooth support, and it comes with a pedometer in it, so if you like to work out while you're reading, you can use the fitness app and work out.  You can use it for an excelent book player, pedometer, watch, mp3 player obviously... lol, radio, stopwatch, and timer. It uses the normal iOs gestures, so you're good.

Please note, I have a tech support department. To set the iPod nanno to disk mode, go to settings, please note, this assumes that VoiceOver is on. You must have earbuds or some sort of external audio source connected. Go to general, I think. I haven't used one in a while. Find disk mode and turn it on.

What?

Apple actually allows you to copy files directly to an iPod model without iTunes? what? That's a sin, because everyone knows that iTunes is the best way to transfer and manage your music.
Seriously, what?
I wouldn't recommend an iPod model if you don't like using iTunes.
If you just want an mp3 player, get a talking mp3 player from www.talkingmp3players.com or buy a cheap player and rockbox it yourself.

Sorry to disappoint anyone, but that's not what Disk Mode is for. Turning that mode on simply means iTunes won't disconnect, which lets you copy stuff onto the file system of the iPod and use it as a Flash disk. Pretty sweet, indeed, and applicable to both Shuffle and Nano--in fact, the Shuffle is more portable because it always uses FAT32, whereas Nano uses whatever format it was first set up as, according to the OS of the computer in use. And of course you still require iTunes, regardless of which iPod, and regardless of Disk Mode.

Audiobooks can be easily handled yourself, if you do a Get Info on the objects in question and change their kind to Audiobook in the Advanced tab. They will be shuffled on disk into the correct directory, and in iTunes will appear in the Audiobooks section, and default to remembering position. It is the default for Audible content, any m4b container file (which can be made on your own machine) and a few other sites delivering files with the correct metadata. I don't bother shuffling stuff from Music that doesn't need to be and only Audible is in my Audiobooks section; iTunes is already gapless, so it's sufficient to simply listen to the albums as ripped.

I had a Nano, but I was less blown away by it than the Shuffle, because the Shuffle actually made sense for the size of the device, and had physical buttons. The whole point is minimisation and easy disposal in case of an unhappy accident or to relax, not to replace a precious phone, IMO. Although, it is nice, and like iPod Touch, is very cute for lengthy, extended away missions where you still need to tell the time and carry about more stuff than fits on a Shuffle which will only really handle your current listening.

The iPod is always accessed as a disk mounted natively by the OS, even by iTunes. In Disk Mode, iTunes simply keeps it visible in Finder/Explorer and makes it a requirement that you eject it when you've finished, instead of doing it for you at the end of a sync. This is actually a fairly good case for the network-based protocol (usbmuxd) now used by iOS. Hidden directories on your iPod contain the data iTunes needs, so it's not visible in the default view of Explorer or Finder (the latter requiring a command-line hack to revert, being Apple). You can't simply copy files onto the pod and expect them to play; the files must be within the hidden structures, and the databases updated.

So in summary: your worst nightmare. Not only do the psychotic, fascist bastards use USB mass storage, but they also keep it just out of reach of actually being useful.

As to iTunes, it's now a beautiful slum, rather than a music player. Every time I set it up, I'm reminded that in many ways it's sort of a monument to American corporate pathos, where everything is only just good enough because anything better would require sacrifices at the altar of capitalism. But in spite of the horrible dependency on the store and the cloud and DRM and all these secret formats and protocols, once you've configured it and overlooked the regrettable deficiencies, it does actually function as advertised, which is why I use it. But it's sure in need of replacement, for something more robust and sensible, with maybe separate apps for different kinds of media, an online store requiring little or no sync by way of the computer, no DRM so you don't need an Internet connection just to use your stuff, etc. Sadly I don't see this happening with Apple in current hands.