Where is iTunes DJ in iTunes 11?

Hi Everyone,

Some of the functionality of iTunes DJ is still there. It's just hidden. I don't think this solution has been posted here yet. Especially usefull for people using smart playlists:

The trick is to press the "Option" key when you hit the shuffle button on top of a playlist. Now "Up Next" will add the (shuffled) songs of that playlist and not the shuffled playlist itself to "Up Next".

These are the advantages (which are just like Tunes DJ):

- the currently playing song won't stop when you switch to a new playlists with the above method

- when you play a song from a smart playlist, and you change a tag (like the rating), it won't stop playing even when a playlist rule (like the rating) isn't met anymore

- when you stop and reopen the iTunes you can continue playing the last song (just pick it form the history tab). The "Up next" songs wont get shuffled again.

- you can re-shuffle songs by selecting the same playlist and clicking the option-shuffle button again. without stopping the currently playing song

So the big difference here is that shuffle-adding a playlist without pressing "option" will add the actual playlist itself to "Up Next". With all it's advantages and disadvantages (especially with live smart playlists). But pressing option-shuffle-add will add the individual songs from that playlist to iTunes DJ. And they will act independently from the original playlist reinstating one of the biggest features of iTunes DJ.

Nice! That fixes my main complaint. Thanks.

Kasimir13 wrote:

The trick is to press the "Option" key when you hit the shuffle button on top of a playlist. Now "Up Next" will add the (shuffled) songs of that playlist and not the shuffled playlist itself to "Up Next".

Kasmir13,

Read all the post, yours and all the other solutions only bring a subset of what iTunes DJ can do. They offer only some of iTunes DJ's features not all, and they require more effort, more clicking this and doing that. iTunes DJ was easy and did more.

So again, what most people in this post want is ALL of the features of iTunes DJ including its simplicity to use.

But I really should say thanks to those that are trying to come up with solutions.

I just want keep pointing out that the solutions require more effort to get SOME of the features in iTunes DJ.

thanks. That worked a treat. Windows users should use Shift instead of Option by the way

Fortunately I'm still on iTunes 10. And based on all the feedback in these forums that's where I'm staying. I use iTunes DJ EVERY EVENING - not for "Up Next" type functionality, but just to stream a constantly evolving random playback of most of my large library. There was a time (pre-iPad) when I looked forward to new Apple releases that ADDED functionality which was a pleasure to use. Nowadys, every release of Apple software is a SUBTRACTION of functionality that I used extensively. Apple apparently won't quit until there is NO capability beyond what's available on an iPad, and all your content is owned and controlled by iCloud.

Umm.. i'd like to sort my list of music by ratings too..How do I choose the songs? I wish Star Rating would be developed more. There is so much awesome functionality I can think of if they would develop it. I rate EVERYTHING. Since theres no delete in iPhone. I use star rating (by rating 1 star or less to choose what gets removed)

How is it that apple develops something like ratings and then totally stops developing it? It's a genius idea for serious music lovers. I loved how in iTunesDJ I could get it to "play higher rated songs more ofeten". However I would have liked it more if I could have more control.. like "Play only 5 Star songs" or "Play only 4 stars and above"

If anyone at apple reads this. I have tons of ideas to develop and create an amazing music player from your foundation

I have played with Next quite a bit and I agree. I wish they had left iTunes DJ alone. I much preferred a list of 100 or so songs that looked and behaved like any other playlist. If it ain't broke.....

Before I knew that iTunes DJ existed, I made a smart playlist that takes a random assortment from all the music in my library that has a keyword I've entered into the "grouping" field. When I download new music, I seleted all the songs, hit command-i and insert the keyword I want.

Luckily I have kept doing that, even though I used DJ once I found it. In fact, I had DJ set to use that keyword too, now that I think of it. So while I was disappointed at first, now I'm not.

I can't believe Apple took away the iTunes DJ feature. NOT HAPPY! Come on Apple, give it back.

I am so dissapointed by the removal of the DJ feature. Using it at parties created a whole new level of allowing people to choose the next song. I would always create a party playlist and then allow people to play music from that playlist. People always thought it was really fun and totally innovative. Bring this feature back Apple.

What is the point in removing THE best feature of iTunes? Dissapointment! Bring it back!

Wow Apple is doomed if this is their MO without Jobs. Why in the **** would they remove DJ? What stupid idiots did this?! Its the only way I used itunes. I dont want to spend hours shuffling and organizeing my playlist. I'm not that anal. BRING DJ BACK ASAP.

For now, can I revert to the old itunes?! How!?

@SubwOOer1.

If you go back over the discussion, there are a number of very useful posts which explain how to get back to an earlier version.

The one that helped me most was the post about what to do with the "New Library," which will be installed with 11.

It's a small post, but right on the nail, as I've had no problem since reading that one, although, at first I thought it was going to be a nightmare.

Maybe Apple, are hoping, as often happens in these situation that the storm over the loss of D.J. will abate and that they can weather it.

Either that, or where now at a point where there isn't much in the way of alternatives to i-Tunes, so they're banking on the possibility that we might **** and moan, but can't really go elsewhere?

To be honest, like a lot of people, with 2 iPods that are in constant use, I'm not sure I can go elsewhere and like the ease of downloading songs from the store etc..

So, it seems they have us by the short and curlies, but at least it is possible to revert to 10.7

D.J. is such a major feature of my i-Tunes use, I'd be wary about switching to another method of organizing/downloading music, if such thing exists?

I believe that the best way to make your dissatisfacton known is by filling in the feedback form (rather than posts in miscellaneous apple forums). For iTunes, that's here: http://www.apple.com/feedback/itunesapp.html

I've also had good luck with writing to Apple, which means sending a letter (as in snail mail) to Tim Cook.

I should say that "good luck" means that I know my comments have been read by the folks at Apple, not success in persuading Apple to reinstate dropped features!

Madeline