Mind of it's own

This article from the New York Times raises an interesting question. Does your iPod have a brain, and does it express personal preferences.

Most of the day, either on my iPod or on my iBook, I have the Party Shuffle randomly playing songs from my music library in the background. With a mere 2000 or so songs in my library, from artists wide ranging, I seem to hear an inordinate amount of Patti Smith and Brian Eno. Could be worse.

The writer also mentions the hazard of shuffle,when a long forgotten, inappropiate, Mothers of Invention tune might come on in mixed company. Naming that tune in 3 notes followed by a quick finger to the next button can be your only hope.