Shuffle - "solution" to the podcast problem

To make sure that podcasts will be loaded to your Shuffle, run the following Apple script before you synchronise. (Open the application Script Editor - paste the script below as a new script - save as application, which you can launch manually.)

tell application "iTunes"
 --first line slightly silly, as the updates wont be processed before the following steps, but one can as well do it now as never.
 updateAllPodcasts
 set tracktotal to count of tracks in playlist "A List of Recent unheard"
 repeat with aFile from 1 to tracktotal
  set shufflable of track aFile of playlist "A List of Recent unheard" to true  
 end repeat 
end tell

To see more about the problem check my previous posts here, here and here.

A similar script can be found at macosxhints.

Shuffle - reiteration of problems

To play podcasts on my shuffle, I perform the following steps.

1. Click on Podcasts and Refresh, to get the latest podcasts.

2. Go to a Smart Playlist I have created, which contains all recent unplayed tracks.

3. Highlight all tracks in the smart playlist.

4. Click on command-I to get to the info.

5. Click on the option "Skip when shuffling" and set it to no.

6. Go to the Shuffle device (customized to include recent unplayed tracks) and select automatic update.


With Itunes 8, Apple added a new step:

4b. Click on Options to display the option to set skip when shuffling to "No".


Questions:

1. Why do I have to check the option "skip when shuffling" to "No", when the Shuffle iPod is not set to shuffle?

2. Why are all podcasts set to "Skip when shuffling"?

3. According to http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1831 the "proper" way to add a podcast to a shuffle is to drag it to the device. Why? Or perhaps better phrased: "Why on earth!"

Are there any tracks that change as frequently as podcasts? Why is any manual intervention at all needed for frequently changed tracks?


I bought my iPod shuffle in the belief that a one button device would be simple. I have not had as many usability problem with any Apple product ever, and I have gone through dozens of their operating systems and machines, including Mac, iPods, Newton, printers...

This post has also been sent to Apple at http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipodshuffle.html