. . . just updated iTunes to 7.0. ... I'm wondering about the "randomness factor".

Apparently, a number of people are interested in the algorithm for randomizing the playlist, too; a GOOGLE search for [iTunes "party shuffle" algorithm"] produced 477 results and 9,620 results for [iTunes "shuffle" algorithm randomness]. Here are few of interest. HOW MUCH DOES ITUNES LIKE MY FIVE-STAR SONGS? Article explores the algorithm iTunes uses to pick what comes next in a Party Shuffle playlist. http://www.omninerd.com/2005/08/25/articles/34 INFINITE LOOP: A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ITUNES PARTY SHUFFLE Brian E. Hansen was curious about the exact algorithm iTunes used to select tracks during its "Party Shuffle" mode http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2005/8/28/1066 IPOD SHUFFLE: RANDOMNESS iTunes' shuffle algorithm chooses songs "without replacement." This means that, until every song has been played - or the shuffle algorithm is otherwise http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/ipodshuffle/topic2959.html IS AN IPOD ON SHUFFLE TRULY RANDOM? | Ask MetaFilter It's truly random, but they know that's a problem -- the new iTunes also you to ... There are some interesting theories about the shuffle algorithm in the ... [19 comments] http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/23813 ------ Robin Y. Mabry Hubbard, MBA, EdS Rural Sociology Doctoral Student - Community Informatics Email: ryh352@mizzou.edu  My Homepage: http://www.rrchubbard.org Murphy's Law: There is never enough time to do it right; but there is always time to do it over ~ Our Future arrived Yesterday!  ~ [I am not inviting any postmodernist to my party!]