Hacked iPhones get Pandora-like derandomizing
Instinctiv de-randomizes the random shuffle function on iPhones, but only if you "jailbreak" them first.
(Credit: Instinctiv)A couple weeks ago, I pondered if early adopters of the iPod and other MP3 players were starting to lose patience with the random shuffle function. Too much black and white, not enough gray.
Almost on cue, start-up Instinctiv came out on Thursday with its first application, an iPhone and iPod Touch application called Instinctiv Shuffle that will derandomize the random iTunes-shuffling feature.
Instinctiv Shuffle uses an algorithm similar to that developed by Pandora and other taste-tracking sites to select the perfect song to play next--like having a professional DJ sift through your collection.
There's a catch: Instinctiv Shuffle works only on so-called "jail-broken" iPhones, which means that you have to download the right firmware (version 1.1.4), then download and run another piece of software called iLiberty (or take matters into your own hands, if you have the technical sophistication to do so).
Doing this has risks: Apple's been known to release software updates that disable third-party applications and prevent unlocked iPhones from using alternate cellular networks. Instinctiv apparently didn't want to be bound to certain limitations in the iPhone SDK.
Matt Rosoff is an analyst with Directions on Microsoft, where he covers Microsoft's consumer products and corporate news. He's written about the technology industry since 1995, and reviewed the first Rio MP3 player for CNET.com in 1998. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network. Disclosure. You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattrosoff. 
This is one of the developers of the Instinctiv Shuffle. your thought process was exactly what led us to create the app, so I'm hoping your one of the 10,000 users who chose to download our application today!
We'd love to talk more extensively about the history and reasons behind making this a "jailbreak" app. We made the tough decision not to make this "fit" SDK parameter because it seriously cripples the power of most applications that try to "break the technology glass ceiling".
if your interested in a detailed discussion our CEO, Justin Smithline would love to set something up! just shoot us an email at contact@instinctiv.com
Enjoy!
Peter
- by PeytonO March 25, 2009 9:45 PM PDT
- We should be thankful to the innovations brought by technology..because, now we already have portable devices such as video games (i.e. Pandora), cellphones, laptop computers and a lot to mention.Portable radio also belongs to the list. Slacker Radio is actually quite the thing. Slacker radio may well outpace Sirius for ad-free radio that leaves their local based counterparts in the dust, partially because of ease of use, convenience, partially because unlike satellite it's free and also because Slacker isn't staring down the barrel of possible bankruptcy. You won't need installment loans to get this ad free radio, its broadcast for free over the internet. All you need to do is register for free with an email address, and you're good to go ? which you can also do with its counterpart Pandora. No ads, no self important and really annoying deejays, and you pick the play list. Who would stick to normal radio when you could get <a rev="vote for" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/03/18/slacker-radio-amps-competition-online-streaming/">Slacker Radio</a>?
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