Gizmodo is breaking the news there's development at Microsoft's Techfest 2008 on a 'smart shuffle system' and  'direct playlist creation on a portable music device.'  Read on... 

At Microsoft's Techfest, a researcher was showing off a smart shuffle system that uses tags and meta data like tempo and genre to direct playlist creation in a portable music device. The demo was being done on a first generation Zune. The system is being developed in direct response to the huge number of songs people carry around on their media players, and specifically the millions of songs a Zune library can stock using a Zune pass. The system automatically recommends new songs based on songs played, and the logic is continuously "steered" by voting tracks up and down.

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stkr   | 97.89.18.xxx | 2008-03-04 15:58:48 Why next generation? And why are they working on features such as this when current generation Zunes cannot even repeat a song without adding it to a quick playlist? I mean, it sounds cool, but I hope they at least have some of their development team working on the current generation. Then again, if it's being demoed on a Zune 30, they may plan on making this available on all Zunes. Reply | Quote 2   0

Leif902     | 71.31.238.xxx | 2008-03-04 16:19:22 stkr, I think by "Next Gen" they mean next major firmware update (Perhaps with the release of the next gen Zunes, but I seriously doubt it will be that far down the road). These are features which are most likely implemented entirely in software (You don't need any extra hardware to create a playlist). Reply | Quote 0   0

jackblack   | 69.106.202.xxx | 2008-03-04 17:01:51 awesome .. does ipod's have this ? or is it a new thing for everyone? Reply | Quote 0   0

stkr   | 97.89.18.xxx | 2008-03-04 17:18:49 There is already a smart shuffle feature built into iTunes, but I don't know if it has made it's way onto the iPod or not. Mine have always done a good job at shuffling. The iPod just plays all of your songs in random succession. It'll list what song you're on out of the total amount in your library or playlist. The Zune does the same thing as well. This sounds a bit more advanced, though. iTunes will randomize the odds of hearing songs by the same artist and/or from the same album. This feature sounds as if it will analyze more than just the artist and album when suffling. I guess it will kind of create a "mood" with your music? Reply | Quote 0   0

NightFire   | 75.41.204.xxx | 2008-03-04 19:06:21 stkr, I think you hit it on the dot with "I guess it will kind of create a 'mood' with your music" as I'm thinking this is what the story is talking about. Reply | Quote 0   0

stkr   | 97.89.18.xxx | 2008-03-04 19:22:20 Well I admit that would be pretty cool. It'd be even better if each song was analyzed completely down to the beat and everything so that it could truly create auto-playlists or shuffled lists full of songs that fit each other, but that is probably just wishful thinking . Reply | Quote 0   0

TheBigP     | 76.212.63.xxx | 2008-03-04 20:06:56 Note in that "Next-Gen Zune" There is a cursor. And no clock. Reply | Quote 0   0

the audiophiliac   | 88.110.243.xxx | 2008-03-05 10:07:12 yeh sould analize the beat and then beatmatch and propperly crossfade songs that would be awsome virtual dj style, but will neva happen Reply | Quote 0   0

Anonymous - re:   | 67.82.249.xxx | 2008-03-05 16:20:36 stkr wrote: Why next generation? And why are they working on features such as this when current generation Zunes cannot even repeat a song without adding it to a quick playlist? I mean, it sounds cool, but I hope they at least have some of their development team working on the current generation. Then again, if it's being demoed on a Zune 30, they may plan on making this available on all Zunes. Yeah I know, its one of the few things that sometimes irritates me about my Zune, I have to ad the song to playlist to repeat it, wish they would fix it in one of those firmware updates, it can't be that hard. Reply | Quote 0   0

shawn   | 98.214.42.xxx | 2008-05-11 14:02:34 smart shuffle sounds cool. just another reason ipod stinks and zune rocks. now we just need games... Reply | Quote 0   0

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