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 Navigation (1.96)
Navigating around your media library is done with the scroll wheel. Unlike the iPod Classic we've reviewed, the scroll wheel seems to have a much larger sweet spot where it registers input. To give a sense of how easily users can jump from one song to another, we perform a standardized timing test: we begin with a specific song playing, then time how long it takes to get another specific song to play. The scroll wheel on the Nano was very responsive. It was also defaulted to a good amount of sensitivity, allowing for fast, precise scrolling. The timing test took 7.65 seconds: compared to other media players' performances, this is about average. You won't be blown away by how quickly you can skip from song to song, but you also won't feel as though you're slogging through mud every time you want to play a new song.
Sorting options (7.50)
The iPod Nano will let you sort your songs by playlist, artist, album, compilation, song, genre, or composer. You can also choose to only display audiobooks or podcasts. Video gets far less specific search options. You can either view all videos, just your movies, or just your TV shows. Overall this is a good list of sort criteria. One option we would've liked to see was the ability to sort by rating.
Search options (6.50)
You can search through your songs on the Nano using the scroll wheel. Additionally, you can turn the device on its side and utilize a cover flow view, which lets you thumb through your albums by their title and art. You can also search through your songs via multitap. If you choose the search feature, you'll get to enter in search criteria using the scroll wheel and select button, much like you were using a label maker. This feature will search through your songs' titles, artists and albums. As long as your search criteria is included in the artist, album, or song name, you'll find what you're looking for.
Playlists (13.62)
Playlists are ridiculously easy to create on the iPod Nano. The only playlist you can make on the fly is the "On-The-Go" playlist. To add songs, you merely highlight a song, album, artist, genre, etc., then press and hold the select button. After a second or so, your quarry will be added to the On-The-Go playlist.
The Nano also has a few special playlists at its disposal. The first is a "shuffle all songs" option, which is nice to have, but boring. Thanks to iTunes, however, you also have access to a trio of dynamically changing playlists. You will be able to sync over a list of your top rated, recently played, or top 25 most played songs. Unfortunately, these three playlists are only updated based on your iTunes listening habits as opposed to how you listen to songs on your Nano. While they're still nice to have, this schism of usage reduces the playlists' usefulness.
Equalizer & Filters (12.00)
Although the Nano's equalizer doesn't allow you to adjust the levels of individual frequences, it does come with 22 presets. Chances are you'll find a preset equalizer setting that's roughly what you would've done with a custom equalizer anyway.
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