iTunes 'Genius' feature is pure genius
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| The standout new feature in iTunes 8 is Genius, which builds music playlists based on the listening habits of the iTunes community. Image: Apple |
It took me a while to get around to it, but I've finally downloaded the iTunes 8 update, and played around a bit with the Genius song recommendation feature. After a test drive, I've decided it's the best thing Apple has (AAPL) added to its music management suite in quite a while.
Genius solves my "iTunes laziness" problem. I've got 4,000 items in my library, I listen to genres as diverse as gospel, alternative and hip-hop, to and I'm too lazy to make good playlists out of it all. I used to count on the Party Shuffle feature to save me, but got tired of how it would end up throwing in random Christmas carols at the wrong times of year.
It works by tapping into the wisdom of crowds. After I click on a favorite song from when I was dating my wife β "Ordinary" by Train, from the "Spider-Man 2" soundtrack β and click the Genius button, Apple suggests a playlist based on the scanned libraries and listening habits of other iTunes users. (Among the good picks: "Dare You To Move" by Switchfoot, "I Alone" by Live, "The Freshmen" by The Verve Pipe, and "Send Me On My Way" by Rusted Root. Mostly angsty alternative songs from the '90s. Cool.)
A couple of reasons Genius is a good move for Apple, business-wise:
One, it encourages people with decent-sized iTunes libraries to listen more. I suspect that these folks are the most likely candidates to upgrade to newer iPods, and if they're rediscovering their music collections they're more likely to do that.
Two, it increases the "stickiness" of iTunes, and decreases the likelihood that I'll switch to some other service. It's like a moat around iTunes and the iPod, keeping would-be invaders out.
That said, the Genius isn't perfect. Some of its picks are a little weird β like the Billy Joel song it squeezed between Augustana and The Verve Pipe. And while I'm glad Apple allows you to save Genius playlists, I think it's annoying that it saves them as a new type of list that doesn't sync to older iPods. (I can easily copy and paste the songs by hand into an old-school sync-able playlist, but I shouldn't have to.)
But overall, Apple is making great use of the computing power in its data centers to unobtrusively provide a feature that any music lover will understand. If Steve Jobs and the rest of the crew can figure out how to tap their 65 million iTunes account holders and provide more features like this, they'll probably have my business for a long time..FT)
Have you guys tried SuperSync? I find it a great iTunes synching device. Itβs working great for me and my family to merge music between our computers to create a master library around the house.
Check it out for yourself. You can download it for free:
I love it! if your library consists of 3 albums you probably won't enjoy it. But if you have a large library with many genres, the genius option rocks!
Quit being paranoid that apple or anyone else for that matter is using your information against you! The program is trying to make your life easier not stalk it!
And if the concern for privacy is so great why not stop posting pictures on facebook or mysapce.
It became ok for Apple to scan your stuff when you clicked 'ok' when you first start Genius. If you don't want that, don't click OK.
Genius is still in its infancy hopefully because some of the playlists really are not that great. With a playlist of 6000 songs it can be hard to listen to all my music. But for the most part it does stay within reason on most songs. I think its ridiculous to say it only does pop. i tried the Voidoids "blank generation" and it made a very competent playlist. But like other users have noted it does not deal well with obscure music. basically the bigger the playlist the better it can handle with making good playlists.
When did it become okay for apple to scan my favorites and use that information? And to do the same to all itunes users? what else are they scanning?
I have a collection of 22k songs and it is the second best thing they have come up with. Streaming to multiple Airport Express drops is the first IMHO. It's hard enough to come up with smart lists, managing genres (and sub-genres) of music to leverage my collection. We had a dinner party Friday and everyone loved the mix it played. Kudos to the iTunes team and what a way to leverage their iMix and buying patterns database(s) from the iTunes store.
"So you can indeed build Genius playlists while on the road with you iPod. Of course you need a new iPod. How clever of Apple."
That's not 100% true, if you have an iPod touch – Genius is part of the downloadable new software update. The touch is an iPod, so you don't necessarily have to buy a new iPod if you have already have a touch (like me).
You can hide the Genius sidebar and still make Genius playlists if you don't want Apple constantly trying to sell you new music.
Beware: the other part of Genius, which opens a panel to the right with Genius suggestions from the iTunes store that you don't have (yet) is dangerous to the old credit card.
I second this statement, I have 30,322 items in my library (close to 2200 full albums). And, I haven't really listened to much new stuff instead listen to old playlists. Now that I have genius I have listened to iTunes for the past 6 hours, it's absolutely incredible and let's me actually enjoy all my music! This is the best thing to happen to iTunes since the mp3.
Credit Card and Genius: For the Genius function that operates using just your library, no credit card info is requested or required. When you open the Genious sidebar that connects you to the iTMS with suggestions of songs you can buy, then it wants your credit card info so you can one-click purchases.
Genius on iPods: The Genius function is built into the new iPods introduced last week. So you can indeed build Genius playlists while on the road with you iPod. Of course you need a new iPod. How clever of Apple.
Sounds useful, but… Why is Apple insisting on getting my credit card information to use this service?
What's your problem with a Billy Joel song? Are you tone-deaf as well as too hip for words?
From Jon Fortt: It's in my library, isn't it? That makes me An Innocent Man. It just didn't go with the other tunes. But don't worry; It's Still Rock 'n' Roll To Me.
I hate to sound like a typical fan-boy, but I do think it is a great idea! It helps the listener by creating great playlists, and it helps Apple by gently suggesting songs to be purchased and enjoyed.
It sounds like it's similar to Pandora.com, which i LOVE!!! but it works with the music you have bought so it's different b/c Pandora plays all the music that's out there. All in all two pretty genuis products!!!!!
Not to mention the sales impact Genius will have…. We have already used it to find new music for a wedding CD we are making for friends. It is going to prompt more purchases in iTunes.
I just started using Genius last night and I agree with your opinion 100%.
One experiment I tried was making a Genius playlist from a Mozart concerto movement– I only have about 10 pieces of classical music in my tremendous library. It reported back that it couldn't make a list but to try again later, after it had collected more information. Guess there aren't that many iTunes users listening to classical?
I just tried using Genius again after being disappointed shortly after its launch. It seems to have gotten much smarter and has become a key way I listen to my otherwise overwhelming library.