iPod Software 1.0 for iPod nano and Fifth Generation iPod introduced a Stopwatch feature. You can use the Stopwatch as you exercise to track your overall time and, if you're running on a track, your lap times too.
The Stopwatch menu is located in the Extras menu. To access the Stopwatch from the main menu, select Extras, then Stopwatch, and then Timer (Extras > Stopwatch > Timer) to see its display. Here's an overview of the Stopwatch interface:
- Total time of session
- Current lap time
- Left button (Start function shown)1
- Battery indicator
- Right button (Clear function shown)1
- The left and right buttons' names and functions will change, depending on the current state of the Stopwatch.
Using the Stopwatch
When you first enter the Stopwatch screen, the left button is labeled Start and the right button is labeled Clear. To use the Stopwatch, select the Start button (use the Click Wheel to highlight the Start button, then press the Center button). The Stopwatch creates a new session, and both the total time of the session and the current lap time begin counting:
When these counters begin, the left button changes to Pause and the right button changes to Lap:
If you select the Lap button, the current lap time will be recorded in the session's log, then the Stopwatch resets the lap time to zero and begins counting the new lap's time. The total time of the session will freeze for 5 seconds after you select the Lap button so you can quickly view your total time at the end of that lap. After 5 seconds, the total time of the session displays the correct total time and resumes counting.
If you select the Pause button, both timers will stop counting and the left and right buttons will change to Resume and Done, respectively. If you select Resume, both timers will begin counting again. If you select Done, the Stopwatch records all the final times and creates statistics for your session in a log.
Please note that selecting the Done button does not reset the display. You will see the final times for your total time and lap time displayed:
To reset the display, select the Clear button (appears after you click Done and then select Timer again).
Stopwatch Behaviors
You can play music and use the Stopwatch at the same time. When iPod displays the Stopwatch screen, the Play/Pause, Next/Fast-forward, and Previous/Rewind buttons control music playback as usual. If you're playing music, you'll see an icon in the upper-left corner of the Stopwatch screen that indicates the current playback state:
A play icon indicates that music is currently playing.
A pause icon indicates that a song is currently paused.
You can use the Menu button and the Click Wheel to navigate to other menus without interrupting the Stopwatch.
Note: The Stopwatch will prevent your iPod nano from sleeping if it's counting when running iPod Software 1.0. Both iPod nano and Fifth Generation iPod running iPod Software 1.1 or later can sleep if the stopwatch is running, provided you are not in the Stopwatch screen.
The Stopwatch will automatically stop if any of these three conditions are met:
- The total time counter reaches 24 hours
- iPod goes into hibernation (you can start it again when you wake iPod)
- You connect your iPod to a computer
The Stopwatch feature does not stop if placed into sleep by holding down the Play/Pause button.
Sessions and Session Logs
Each time you select the Done button, the Stopwatch saves and closes the current session and logs it. iPod can store up to five session logs; it'll delete the oldest session log when it records a sixth session.
Each session log includes the following information:
- Date and time of the session
- Total session time
- Shortest lap time
- Longest lap time
- Average lap time
- A list of each individual lap time
Each session log can contain up to 21 laps in iPod nano Software 1.0, and 200 laps for other iPod Software 1.1 and later. iPod won't log laps over the limit, but the lap counter and the total time counter will continue to work.
Viewing a Session Log
To view a session log, select the session from the Stopwatch menu:
Scroll down to see the rest of the session.
Deleting a Session
To delete a session log that you're currently viewing, press the Center button; iPod displays the Delete Session menu:
Select Delete to delete the session and its log. Afterwards, you'll see the Stopwatch menu, which no longer lists the deleted session.