Implement an actual shuffle function

[RoninTheOrigina]

Yes, you read that right.  The "shuffle" function in Spotify is nothing more than a randomizer.  There's a difference?  YES.

RANDOM - Play one song.  The next song can be ANY song in your playlist.  Including the one you just listened to.  Though I've never had this specifically happen, I literally just heard the same song that I heard 2 songs ago.  This is how Spotify's "shuffle" currently functions.

SHUFFLE - Take your entire list, shuffle them (like cards), and play the first song in the shuffle.  Once finished, move that song off the pile.  Once the pile is depleted, shuffle the deck again and start over (maybe pop a message up).

I know enough about programming (not much) to know that shuffling is probably a bit harder than random, but come on.  I may be in the minority, but I don't have a lot of little playlists.  I have one list with nearly a thousand songs in it, because I like all the music, and am rarely not in the mood for one of those songs.  But what I can't stand is hearing the same song over and over again.  I think there may even be songs in my list I haven't heard yet, while I've heard others 4-5 times.

I know it may not matter much, but I would probably lay down the money for at least a year subscription if this feature was implemented.

EDIT: Another user pointed out that I can see what all is queued up in my shuffle by clicking the Play Queue link, and that Spotify supposedly sets up a rolling shuffle of 50 songs.  It would be nice if this range could be expanded to say 50-100% of your playlist.

EDIT 4/6/12: I just dealt with the same song 16 tracks later.  The song played the first time yesterday afternoon.  I went home, listened for a bit on my home PC (just a few songs), then started listening again this morning.  If the list recycles itself after a day, or if you log in from another computer, I see that as an area for improvement.

[JuelJ]

Personally I like the boolean-ness of the starred, not-starred songs. It makes the decision much easier: either I love the song, I like the song, or I don't like the song and therefore don't put the song in my playlist. So much simpler than trying to gauge how much I like a song on a 1-5 scale. If you were going to rate a song 1-star, why do you have that song in the first place?

And as for the shuffle functionality, I'm completely in agreement.

[vurtual]

I totally disagree with this, for two reasons

1. You're a bit wrong. The shuffle function (on Windows anyway) queues up 50 tracks, in which there are no repeats (unless you have duplicates in your playlist. When one song completes, another track is queued. If you don't believe me, check your song queue.
2. What you suggest means there is always zero chance of hearing my first song again until the whole playlist is repeated, but that song could come up at the end of the second shuffle. However, what comes up last in the original shuffle could logically be first in the second shuffle.

Instead, the rolling shuffle that is currently implemented should be made a little more sophisticated - users should be able to specify either a percentage of the current playlist, or a number of tracks to hold in the queue. The main disadvantage with this is that if you were to select 100%, once your original shuffle was determined, the order would stay the same, but then, I don't think anyone would really want to select more than 60%. 

It takes a bit of thinking about, but I'm absolutely certain this is a better solution to the problem than the one proposed by the OP.

[RoninTheOrigina]

I'll be honest, I never noticed the queue section before.  As I look at it now, there are no repeats for the next 50 songs.

And yeah, I'd be in favor of being able to alter the rolling queue.  And as absurd as it may sound, I'd like to be able shuffle the whole thing. 🙂

[Jleagle]

Mine does this already, i have never seen two of the same song in the play queue.

[RoninTheOrigina]

That's great, I'm happy for you.  The gods of random have smiled on you.

I, however, just dealt with the same song 16 tracks later.  The song played the first time yesterday afternoon.  I went home, listened for a bit on my home PC (just a few songs), then started listening again this morning.  If the list recycles itself after a day, or if you log in from another computer, I see that as an area for improvement.

[Manon]

Hi,

For a while I would have liked to have a "shuffle" button. I'm that kind of person who adds one song many times into one single playlist, along side with other songs ofcourse.

But it would be nice if it could shuffle so that I hear that one song more, than the others, but not right after each other.

I hope you understand my "problem", and i hope you will consider my suggesting. 

[Sam]

Manon - I've just moved your Idea over here, as it's already been suggested. Feel free to add your Kudos.

[Jahandar]

I agree! I came here to post this, but saw this was here.

I really want to hear every song in my playlist before I hear any song twice.

[rodmur]

Yeah, I've heard the same some in relatively short order maybe within 10 on an almost 2000 song play list.  I'm pretty sure there are song I may have never heard in that playlist.  It would be nice to have a smarter shuffle. Random fine is sometimes, but I would like to hear all the songs.

[vurtual]

Bear in mind you might have duplicates in your playlist, which could contribute to your problem.