iTunes 7.0 Special Report: Smart playlists not updating on iPods

MacFixIt reader Ryan Edwards reports an issue with smart playlists on his fourth-generation iPod after updating to iTunes 7.0:

"Just wanted to let you guys know of a problem I've been having with my 20GB 4G iPod since I updated to iTunes 7. I have quite an elaborate system of nested Smart Playlists that I use as a 'iPod Radio.' I rely on it updating dynamically when I'm on the go so that I always have a fresh playlist matching my various specifications. This system worked great with iTunes 6.0.x (except when Apple issued the 3.1 iPod update that broke smart playlists) but now when I synchronize with iTunes 7 all my smart playlists become simple static playlists on the iPod (ie. they don't update to include the most recently played song, etc.)."

If you are experiencing a similar issue, make sure your iPod settings are correct -- designated playlists are listed to synchronize, etc.

Index:

• AAC files and mobile phones: Problems playing, possible fix
• Accessing iTunes media in iMovie, other applications: Problems and fixes
• AirTunes streaming broken? Store issues? Enable IPv6
• Album browser confusion
• Artwork issues: How to make album covers portable, problems dragging and dropping
• Authorization problems: Unable to playback purchased media, more
• Brighter video display
• Downgrading (reverting) to iTunes 6.0.5
• Downloading purchased media: -50 errors, other
• Equalizer not appearing, fix
• Incomplete ID3 tags for converted files
• Inexplicable crashes: Bad plug-ins, other fixes
• iPod synchronization issues: Problems transferring music, crashes, making sure software is up to date
• Make sure you are using QuickTime 7.1.3
• Older versions of iTunes locked out from store
• Play/skip count discrepancies
• Playback problems with audio and video: Fixes (including disabling OSS 3D)
• Podcast problems, inadvertently deleted: Fixes
• Re-purchase required for higher resolution
• Release notes
• Satellite-based connections: Problems downloading media with
• Screen redraw slowness
• Slow music importing/conversion: Fixes
• Smart playlists not updating on iPods
• Store preview problems
• Two tracks playing simultaneously
• Using multiple libraries, selecting library at startup
• Volume Logic incompatibility: Workaround

Resources