Java Programmer

Take Control of Your iPod and iPhone's Playlists (With an Ironlike Grip)

This week we've primarily covered iTunes as it exists on your computer, but we've left out an essential component of the iTunes system: mobile devices. Of course, managing music on your iPhone and iPod opens up a brand new set of problems and issues. By default, your iDevice is set to automatically sync with your iTunes Library; if you've got an extremely small media library and rarely listen to music on the go, auto-sync may work for you. For most, though, libraries are showing no sign of slimming down, and auto-syncing all your media is a sure-fire way to get an irritable and error-laden iTunes.

Although iTunes does let you sync specific playlists, you'll end up playing mind games every time you go to hook up your phone or iPod. "Did I add too many songs to the Late Night Jams mix? Will this overwrite my Morrissey B-sides collection? Exactly how many songs have I added to my 'New Albums' folder since last syncing?" Here is a rare Switched recommendation: Going manual is your best bet. This way, you gain complete control over the music you're carrying around, as well as the power to delete and filter without auto sync's playlist-based constraints.

Turn on Manual Media Management

To change the setting, click on the icon of your iPhone or iPod where it's located in the left rail of iTunes, and check Manually manage music and videos under the Options header. Manually managing your music is, to an extent, just like filling your CD binder of yore. You can simply drag and drop songs and playlists directly onto your device. Want to trash a song from your iPod? Select it under the Music folder, and simply tap the delete key. Want to clear out old playlists? Click the sidebar, and trash it. By selecting your iPod in your left rail, you'll see a mini iTunes within your device, with the same rules and ways to organize.

Autofill!

One of the best parts of manual management is the extremely powerful Autofill feature. Autofill is, for lack of a better metaphor, the space at the top of your suitcase, allowing you to cram whatever socks, sunglasses or shoes you can fit. If you are carrying your device, why not fill it to the brim with a selection of tunes? To access it, click your device in the left rail and look at the bottom of the iTunes window.* You'll see an option to select a playlist, as well as a Settings button, where you can adjust the randomness of choices, propensity for higher-rated songs and a slider for precisely filling disk space. For example, augment your hand-picked albums with a random selection of songs you haven't listened to lately. (Just create a smart playlist to grab all the songs you haven't played in the last six months.)

*Note: If you select your device and click the Music tab, Autofill is nowhere to be found. Instead, it's only accessible by clicking the Music playlist. Great design choice, Apple.

Manual Management and Smart Playlists

Earlier this week, we wrote about the power of smart playlists in iTunes, and they're just as powerful on mobile devices. Auto-syncing smart playlists simply copies everything in that filter over to your device. For example, if you try to sync your 200 GB smart playlist of 1980s music, iTunes will balk due to 'not enough space.' Sidestep this by manually managing your music, and creating the smart playlist on your iPhone or iPod itself; select your device, and start a new smart playlist under the Music heading. This will create a device-specific filter that only looks for '80s music already on your device. Or, as a couple of our writers have pointed out, you can create specialized smart playlists (e.g., only songs with five stars, anything from the recently added list or any tune marked "Alternative hip-hop") by manually checking the playlist on your device. These smart playlists, then, will function as live filters that sort new music as you add it, creating a new way to rediscover your favorite songs or find the ones you haven't played yet.