Originally, there was a feature in the iPod that possibly made it smarter than any Apple devices since.

Yet, it’s been gone for a long, long time.

My beloved third generation iPod has the ability to affect dynamic playlists—on the fly. Seriously. My iPod nano, which isn’t much newer, lacks this same feature. And anything with a touch screen? Forget it.

I’ll explain: within iTunes, I can create a smart playlist that will consist of the last forty songs played.

For the doubters, this can be useful. Sometimes, we’re away from paper, or driving, or otherwise unable to simply jot a note—and we must rely on our memory to retain it.

We get to where we’re going... and, of course, the thought is gone.

Music affects memory. And if you’re a playlist hopper, like I am, it might be hard to remember what you were listening to when you had that particular thought.

However, if you have a smart playlist on your iPod that magically replays the last forty songs you listened to—without a computer, or the internet—perhaps you have a shot of reviving that memory.

Ask how I know.

Anyway, as I continue lamenting the loss of usability and innovation in Apple products, I recalled wanting to write about this for some time.

Funny how memory works, isn’t it?

What i'm listening to:

Tomorrow
Madi Diaz
Phantom