Is random not really random?

[Ub3rg33k]

I tend to listen to my Zune with all the songs shuffled.  I've noticed that if you do a complete shutdown, then hit Music->Songs->Shuffle All, you have about a 1 in 4 chance of hearing the exact same songs in the exact same order.  Its almost as if there are only 4 patterns the Zune uses to select songs in shuffle, rather than using some truly random number generator to pick the next song.  It isn't for lack of songs in my case, as I have the Zune completely loaded down with songs.  Anyone else notice this behavior?  Anyone happen to know the exact method that MS uses to shuffle songs?  If there is a definative pattern, is there any chance we can get this corrected to be a fully random shuffle?

[robmead]

it appears that at first it does genuinely shuffle, but once its done it once, its keeping the playlist in that order.

its effectively a poor mans shuffle.

[Casualtraveller]

apparently... and i may be wrong in this but i dont think computers have the ability to do a completely "random" shuffle yet.   It is all programmed but as i said - i may be talking pish

The one on the Zune does not appear to be the best at randomization...

[RyanB-E]

I agree it also seems that it "likes" certain albums more than others. If I hear U2, How to Dismantle... one more time I'm going to delete it from the Zune. I've got 3600 songs on it and I hear certain cds over and over and others not at all. My Zune seems to be receiving kickbacks from Wyclef for keeping him playing at least once every 30-45 minutes.

[jetsetter]

I believe that this is a bug.  There are multiple threads about the shuffle feature not shuffling.

http://www.zunescene.com/forums/index.php?topic=8735.0

[JosefKicksAce]

Well, i think, that having the "shuffle" mode just set up a single playlist all at once could save battery. It would mean that the CPU doesn't have to randomly generate a song from the list every time you skipped a song or the song ended.


(BTW- I had a snow day today!)

[Zuney Tunes]

You can get a more "random" shuffle by using the Zune software. Create a playlist with all the songs then sync it to the Zune instead of telling the Zune to shuffle all the music you play the playlist created. It's a predictable "shuffle" but it's more random than the internal Zune shuffle.

I haven't yet had songs from the same artist play back to back using this method.

[Crossfire]

Well, i think, that having the "shuffle" mode just set up a single playlist all at once could save battery. It would mean that the CPU doesn't have to randomly generate a song from the list every time you skipped a song or the song ended.


(BTW- I had a snow day today!)

So did I!! Ohh right...you live in the DFW area too, right?