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More iTunes Math

Posted by Zonk on from the fun-and-learning-like-pb-and-j dept.

markmcb writes "OmniNerd once again digs into the math behind iTunes. The 5-star ratings in iTunes are actually stored in a variable allowing values from 0 to 100, with 20 = 1-star, 40 = 2-star, etc. Known to few, if you set a rating to 30 (manually), it will show up as 1 1/2 stars in the program's GUI. Matt Schinckel provides interesting statistical evidence showing that not only do non-whole, non-half values (e.g., 47) not increase the amount a song will play, but neither do the half-star ratings (with the exception of .5 star)."

2 of 167 comments (clear)

  1. Re:How does it handle values outside the range? by frostilicus2 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I've just tried this - If you insert a value outside the range, iTunes assumes the nearest value to 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 and doesn't crash.

    --
    Nothing sucks like a Vax, nothing blows like a PowerMac G4
  2. why linear? by kavehkh · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Why is the rating system linear instead of exponential. I would like a song that has one more star than another to play TWICE more often.