An iPod is a portable device to play music and watch videos on. Here are eight things you may not know the new fifth-generation iPod Nano can do.

Listen to FM radio: The iPod Nano comes with an FM tuner. You can mark favourites while scrolling through frequencies to find stations. The best thing is with the live pause feature, which allows you to pause your radio station and resume your live broadcast when you’re ready.

Record video: Your iPod Nano can also work as a video recorder. A built-in VGA camera and microphone records high-quality video at 640x480 pixels, which is good for sharing by email or uploading online. There are also 15 real-time special effects built in to satisfy one’s filmmaker urges. The only drawback is that the placement of the camera at the bottom of the device can take a bit of getting used to.

Record audio: The microphone means one can record audio as well, known as the voice memo feature. Record a conversation, interview someone, record a lecture, make voice notes and reminders for yourself. Voice memos can be up to two-hours long, after which the iPod automatically starts a new one without interrupting. One may insert chapter marks and labels to audio recordings.

Stay fit: The iPod Nano doubles up as a pedometer. The built-in accelerometer, which is the same thing that lets you change screen orientation by tilting the device, can count your steps, and help you set and maintain fitness goals. It also incorporates with the Nike + iPod Sport kit (to be purchased separately) to monitor speed, distances, times on compatible equipment, such as Nike + shoes.

Play games: The Nano comes with three games—Klondike, Vortex and Maze. The clickwheel and the accelerometer are variously used as controls. With the latter, you can just tilt your iPod in a particular direction to enable movement. Other games can be bought from the iTunes App Store. Log in via the iTunes application and surf around for games of your choice. You need an App Store account to buy or download both paid and free games.

Shake to shuffle: Surprise yourself—give your iPod Nano a good shake and it starts playing a random song. Shake it again and it shuffles the playlist and jumps to a new song. This feature can be set to shuffle either songs or albums. Note that it requires a good, hard, side-to-side shake to enable shuffling; being ordinarily jostled around in a pocket or bag will not set it off. The ‘shake to shuffle’ feature can be turned on or off from the settings playback menu.

Make your iPod speak to you: Want to know the title and artist of the song you’re listening to? Use the clickwheel or the remote controls to have the voiceover speak up with the information without interrupting your song. This feature requires iTunes syncing.

Use remote controls: Can’t be bothered to take your iPod Nano out of your bag or pocket to access controls? Never fear—pause/play and tinker with the volume from the remote controls on the provided headphones.

With a bigger screen and a snazzy aluminium finish in many colours, the iPod has evolved into much more than a portable media player. Maybe, someday soon it’ll take care of deadlines too.

Payal Dhar is a freelance tech writer