Submit Hint Search The Forums LinksStatsPollsHeadlinesRSS
14,000 hints and counting!

Create a self-updating historical iTunes playlist Apps
I'm a real fan of Smart Playlists in iTunes 3, and have been finding some interesting uses for them. For example, you can make a Smart Playlist that will show the history of whatever tracks you've played back in iTunes. This can help you find a track you listened to a while ago, but can't remember what it was -- helpful if you try out random tracks from a large iTunes Library.

Of course, iTunes keeps track of which songs you've played, so even if you have a random playlist, you can just use the forward/back track commands to go through your recent history. Having a History Smart Playlist has the benefit of showing a list in the main iTunes window. Here's how to create one:
  1. Make a new Smart Playlist.
  2. Choose the Advanced tab in the Smart Playlist window.
  3. Turn on "Match the following condition."
  4. Select "Last Played" from the field pop-up menu.
  5. Select "Is in the last" from the match type pop-up menu.
  6. Select either days, weeks, or months -- your choice -- and then enter a number for the match.
  7. Leave "Live updating" enabled so that the playlist.
  8. Click the OK button.
In my experience, this history seems to reflect the order the tracks were played, with the most recent tracks at the top.
    •    
  • Currently 1.80 / 5
  You rated: 1 / 5 (5 votes cast)
 
[4,699 views]  

Create a self-updating historical iTunes playlist | 3 comments | Create New Account
Click here to return to the 'Create a self-updating historical iTunes playlist' hint
The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Why not just sort by Last Played?
Authored by: DougAdams on Jan 23, '03 01:24:03PM

Since the display order of the Library is not affected by Shuffle (and visa versa), you can sort by any criteria and still maintain randomness.

Although, I do see the advantage of using SP to limiting the scope to a particular time period : )



[ Reply to This | # ]
My favorite smart list
Authored by: mgaiman on Jan 23, '03 04:09:46PM

I have one called Never Heard which contains all the songs that I've yet to play. I like it, because there is always something new when I listen to that playlist.

the rule is playcount less than 1.



[ Reply to This | # ]
My favorite smart list
Authored by: MN OSX HAM on Jan 23, '03 05:28:42PM

I *love* this last tip. And I've got roughly 1500 unplayed songs ;-(



[ Reply to This | # ]