# When Will the Ipod ... ?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-ipod/498067>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 29, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-ipod/498067 "2009-05-29T19:06:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-ipod/498067/1 "2009-05-29T19:06:39Z")

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When will the Ipod …

1. Recognize and sort according to “album artist” instead of ignoring it and substituting “various artists” when it’s unwanted?

2. Display metadata for songs that I have painstakingly entered into Itunes, particularly composer and year of recording?

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**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-ipod/498067/2 "2009-05-29T20:56:58Z")

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Only people at Apple in the iPod division know the answers to such questions. Seriously, what kind of answer did you expect to be able to get from the Straight Dope?

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**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-ipod/498067/3 "2009-05-29T22:37:07Z")

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> [@Roadfood](#):
>
> Seriously, what kind of answer did you expect to be able to get from the Straight Dope?

A discussion? Maybe someone has some insight to the issue?

Seriously?

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**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-ipod/498067/4 "2009-05-30T09:59:51Z")

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> [@acsenray](#):
>
> When will the Ipod …
> 
> 1. Recognize and sort according to “album artist” instead of ignoring it and substituting “various artists” when it’s unwanted?
> 
> 2. Display metadata for songs that I have painstakingly entered into Itunes, particularly composer and year of recording?

1. Not sure what you mean by this. iTunes sorts by whatever column you choose in any particular playlist. Are you sure you have the right column selected?

2. I doubt the regular iPod ever will due to issues of screen economy. I’d be surprised if the iPhone and iPod touch don’t already though.

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-the-ipod/498067/5 "2009-05-30T12:55:19Z")

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> [@jackdavinci](#):
>
> 1. Not sure what you mean by this. iTunes sorts by whatever column you choose in any particular playlist. Are you sure you have the right column selected?

I’m not talking about sorting in Itunes. I’m talking about the way the Ipod sorts in cover flow and album mode.

> [@](#):
>
> 1. I doubt the regular iPod ever will due to issues of screen economy. I’d be surprised if the iPhone and iPod touch don’t already though.

There are no screen economy problems. They already put some data (particularly with podcasts) behind a click of the center button. Older Ipods also allowed you to put the cover art behind such a click, saving the “play” screen for track data.