"Shuffle songs" not totally random

This has been brought up before. It would appear that the algorithm that the iPod uses to determine the shuffle is not as random as you would expect.

You could use the "skip when shuffling" option in iTunes, but that's an inconvenient workaround in my view.

It seems most people internal definition of "random" doesn't match what math or computer people (or the dictionary) define as random.

"Equally distributed" is not nearly the same as "random"

If you flipped a coin and it came up heads twice would you say the result isn't random? How about 5 times in a row? 10? It would be weird (and rare - 1 in 1024 times) but certainly no proof that it wasn't a random outcome.

In fact, a random system will eventually give you every order, including playing an entire album in order.

So, I don't mean to be personal (this is a very very common misconception) but the problem is with your expectations, not the randomness.

Windows XP

there is not such thing in a computer as random, is a pseudo random device which mostly uses the cpu clock to get the next random number. so in therory it is never random...

This is even worst if the ipod algorithem isnt "good" enough
so yes, there is no way to make it compleatly random...

What you can do is the following:
have tones of smart playlists with diferent things as play counts and rating.

for example
8-10 play count
10-11 play count
12-13 play count

if they arent big enough each time you conect the ipod on your computer they will change and somehow you wont hear the same song a while...

the not lisen to playlist is good for this cases also

hope this might help


edit:

check in itunes: preferences > playback > Smart shuffle...
I dont know if this aplies only to itunes or also to the ipod. anyhow, check it up

That's what I like about winamp. When I got my playlist, I go to sort and click "randomize" playlist instead of using the shuffle function. Wish iPod could do that.

DaN

what about a party shuffle? it's a solution for that kind of stuff... you even can modify everything and create playlists form those random files

That's what I like about winamp. When I got my playlist, I go to sort and click "randomize" playlist instead of using the shuffle function. Wish iPod could do that.
Shuffle and Randomize are the same thing.
On the iPod, the songs around are displayed in the same order but they are played in a random/shuffled order.

He's talking about the iPod, not iTunes.

This is a great explanation. He's right.

Use Smart Playlists.

Well Chris, shuffle and random in winamp AREN'T the same thing. When I use the shuffle function, sometimes winamp plays the same music more them one time. When I randomize the playlist, this doesn't happen.

We aren't discussing Shuffle on Winamp since this is an iPod forum.

Well Chris, shuffle and random in winamp AREN'T the same thing.
So? You didn't say you wanted the to be the same thing using Winamp. You wrote, "Wish iPod could do that".
It does.

Shuffle on the iPod or iTunes works the same as Randomize in Winamp (the way you described). It does not repeat any songs.
This is what you asked for.

Chris,

yeah, I realized that after turning shuffle in my playlists in the iPod (and I also noticed that I had the same song twice in one of the playlists, so I thought it was a bug or somethig). Works like a charm. :o)

And Chris, if it's not much trouble, could you take a look at my question? Since you know a lot about iPod and it's driving me nuts, 'cause my gadget is brand new. http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=768593&tstart=0

Regards and thanx in advance...
DaN

More often than not, the artists should be more evenly distributed.
Not if it's random.
A true random order could play every song in album order and do it three times in a row.

When you select the playlist, go to Music -> Playlists, select a playlist and press Play. Don't press select to get into the playlist and then press Play.