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.

[julianerenee]

it's quite pathetic

[okjill]

This. This. This. x100000000000000 

I see a message from February that says improvements have been made, but I've noticed zero refinement in the shuffle functionality. I've had to resort to sorting by song length or title to try and avoid hearing the same songs over and over again – even in a playlist with 2000+ songs. Please! Shuffle should be a standard function for any modern music player. Why is Spotify so lacking in this area? 

I think it's deceptive and wrong to mark this as implemented when clearly it's still an issue for many users.

[agl89xs20]

I've just cancelled my Premium subscription and will not renew it until this is sorted. Ludicrous to spend £10 a month and not even get a proper shuffle.

Appreciate Tobraham's efforts in making shufflefly, which I will continue to generate playlists etc using, but Spotify themselves should be ashamed that they still have not sorted this.

[rednblu]

Well said-- and forbidden Kudos (laughing)

@julianerenee

@okjill

@agl89xs20

Thank you!

[doulos7x7]

Shuffle still sucks. I have several Playlists with more than 1,000 songs, even on lists with only 100 songs it seems like I only hear the same 25 songs. It gets old really quick.

The only solution I've found is to turn off Shuffle and just play through the list, but that gets old too hearing the same artists back to back until the next artist cycles in and hearing the same list played the same way through time after time.

Come on developers...it can't be that difficult.

[mrsjpruitt]

I've been toying with the idea of upgrading to a premium version of Spotify but after listening to playlists almost exclusively the last few day,s I 100% will not because the shuffle sucks! I hear the same songs over and over and over with songs I really want to hear NEVER being played. Why is it so horrible?!

[Tobraham]

@okjill

Try my Shuffle app. It's made my life so much easier - and I'm always
looking for suggestions to improve it!

[doulos7x7]

Link doesn't work.

[rednblu]

>> LInk to << Tobraham's "true Shuffler".

[Tobraham]

doulos7x7


@julianerenee


@okjill


@agl89xs20



Try this shuffler I wrote. It takes your entire collection and stores it
in a database. Then it generates a great shuffled playlist of 200 songs
for you to listen to. Just turn off shuffle mode and play the new
playlist it from start to finish. 200 songs should last you about 10-12
of non-stop listening (enough a for a long day at work).


www.riograndemud.com/shufflefly