[fetopher]

I'm thinkin' of buying a new iPod, mostly for its 80GB capacity. One of the features I love about the new iTunes is the tracking of number of times a song is skipped, and when the song was last skipped. It's an amazingly powerful addition to my smart playlists. The iPod I have now (4G) keeps track of play count, which is awesome, but not the skip count.

Do the new ones (5.5G) keep track of skip count?

Thanks,
Chris

[Dakar]

I'd love to know this too.

For the record (as someone who is planning to buy their first iPod), it stores play counts and adds them to your iTunes ones when synced, correct?

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by Dakar

For the record (as someone who is planning to buy their first iPod), it stores play counts and adds them to your iTunes ones when synced, correct?

No.

[fetopher]

Originally Posted by Dakar

I'd love to know this too.

For the record (as someone who is planning to buy their first iPod), it stores play counts and adds them to your iTunes ones when synced, correct?

It does if you have automatic sync on, either syncing all songs, or selected playlists. It does not if you sync manually.

[Dakar]

Originally Posted by Big Mac

No.

Oh dang. I forget what I read that put me under that impression.

[Dakar]

Originally Posted by Big Mac

No.

Hmmm...
Unless you misunderstood me, I think you're wrong.


http://forums.macosxhints.com/archiv...p/t-39057.html

Playing a song on the ipod most certainly does get updated to your iTunes library

[icruise]

Originally Posted by Big Mac

No.

Er, yes it does. As for the skip count, I haven't really looked into that, but I imagine that it would transfer over.

[Dakar]

Wow, my searches are proving more fruitful than usual today.

A bit of hearsay since its from a blog, but:
Does Skip Count Work in iTunes for the PC? | DarrenBarefoot.com

I have tested on mine and it works. On the ipod you have to press next during playbakc between 2 and 20 seconds…after or before it work count it…

Edit: Thanks iCruise

[fetopher]

Thanks Dakar. I'm in an Apple Store right now, and will buy a 5.5G iPod based on that info.

I won't blame you if it turns out to not be the case.

Thanks again!

[Dakar]

Well, I broke down an ordered a Black 80GB and it already shipped... from Shanghai.

Anyone wanna break the suspense for me and tell me approx when I should expect it to get here (Pennsylvania)?

[fetopher]

I can confirm skip count works on my 80GB 5.5G iPod. When automatically synced (certain playlists option), iTunes is updated with the correct skip count, and when the song was last skipped.

YIPEE!!!! More and more powerful smart playlists, here I come.

Thanks for the help Dakar. I don't know a thing about shipping from Shanghai so I can't help ya back. Good luck with your new purchase. You'll love it.

[fetopher]

I should note that I haven't checked to see if skip count is synced with manual syncing. I have a hunch that it doesn't since play counts aren't synced that way either.

[fetopher]

So now the question is, can iTunes' definition of a skip be changed? Obviously there's no preference for this, I'm looking for a hack of sorts. I'd prefer to have a skip = any song skipped between 1 second and 1 minute. Another long-standing dream of mine is to have a play count be considered a play even if the song is skipped in the last 15 seconds or so. I skip a lot of songs at the very end, and then lose the play count for that song.

[icruise]

Originally Posted by fetopher

So now the question is, can iTunes' definition of a skip be changed?

I doubt it.

Another long-standing dream of mine is to have a play count be considered a play even if the song is skipped in the last 15 seconds or so. I skip a lot of songs at the very end, and then lose the play count for that song.

In this case, don't skip the song by pressing the "next song" button. Instead, click on the very end of the progress bar (in the top middle of the itunes window). I've been doing this for a long time now because I'm anal about play counts. Howeer, I have noticed that in iTunes 7 it will sometimes cause the next song to be skipped (in other words, it will go from the end of song 1 to the beginning of song 3). I haven't looked into that behavior very closely yet.

[fetopher]

Originally Posted by Icruise

In this case, don't skip the song by pressing the "next song" button. Instead, click on the very end of the progress bar (in the top middle of the itunes window). I've been doing this for a long time now because I'm anal about play counts.

Yeah, that certainly would work, but it's a bit of a hassle. I use iMote to control iTunes with keyboard shortcuts. So, while I'm plugging away in InDesign or Photoshop, it's a real simple key combo to skip a song, or rate it, or whatever. So having to switch to iTunes, aim for the right position on the progress bar, click, then switch back to what I was doing... well, that defeats the point of my shortcut keys. It's all about saving time. In an ideal world, iTunes would know that when I listened to 3:49 seconds of a 3:53 song, I want it counted as a play. I'm skipping because I'm impatient and want to hear the next song, not the long drawn-out ending of the current song.

Actually, thinking about it from a different perspective, it ought to be the point at which it's no longer counted as a skip that iTunes counts it as a play. I mean, if it isn't skipped, isn't it played?

Originally Posted by Icruise

I have noticed that in iTunes 7 it will sometimes cause the next song to be skipped (in other words, it will go from the end of song 1 to the beginning of song 3). I haven't looked into that behavior very closely yet.

Now that's strange. I wonder if it has to do with the crossfade? I have mine set to 1 second because I was noting some strange behavior with the crossfade set to 5 seconds. Give that a try and see what happens.

[icruise]

Yes, it occurred to me that the crossfade could be related, but I have it turned off completely.

[fetopher]

Found a script for those who want to manually manage songs, and sync play count/rating (not sure about skip count).

Doug's AppleScripts for iTunes ♫ iPod

[icruise]

Yes, I use those all the time. His site is great.

[lavar78]

Originally Posted by fetopher

Actually, thinking about it from a different perspective, it ought to be the point at which it's no longer counted as a skip that iTunes counts it as a play. I mean, if it isn't skipped, isn't it played?

Not necessarily. If you decide to play a different playlist altogether, it doesn't (and shouldn't) count it as a skip or a play.

[fetopher]

Originally Posted by lavar78

Not necessarily. If you decide to play a different playlist altogether, it doesn't (and shouldn't) count it as a skip or a play.

Good point. I guess there's a middle ground where a song isn't yet actually played. Maybe there should be a new next shortcut. You'd have your standard next, which would act like it does now, then in addition you'd have a next but count as played shortcut.

[Dakar]

Hmm... I think I discovered an odd glitch.

Apparently, when I first select a song (and listen to it play through) or when I skip to a song, neither one has a play recorded towards its count, but every song thereafter will until I skip again.

[Dakar]

Correction, I'm not certain but it seems to be recording plays but not updated last played under the circumstances I speak of. This I can live with if I'm right.