An MP4 watch is a small portable video and music flash-based media player which can be worn on the wrist like a wristwatch. (See

MP4 Player A portable media player (PMP) (also including the related digital audio player (DAP)) is a portable consumer electronics device capable of storing and playing digital media such as audio, images, and video files. The data is typically stored o ...

for the origin of the 'MP4' moniker.) Most devices are actually functional digital watches as well as being media players. Users can watch video on the

LED A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor Electronics, device that Light#Light sources, emits light when Electric current, current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy i ...

OLED An organic light-emitting diode (OLED or organic LED), also known as organic electroluminescent (organic EL) diode, is a light-emitting diode (LED) in which the emissive electroluminescent layer is a film of organic compound that emits light i ...

color screen and listen to the audio played back over small built-in speakers, earphones, or a wireless headset in the case of

Bluetooth Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances and building personal area networks (PANs). In the most widely used mode, transmission power is limi ...

MP4 watches. MP4 watches typically require the user to convert video files to smaller resolution or particular file formats before they can be played back. This led to the development of "MP5" watches that could play all the popular video file formats natively. MP4 watches are also known as "video watches", "MP4 player watches", and "watch MP4 players".

Development

The first commercially available MP4 watch available to consumers in America was one manufactured by the Chinese electronics manufacturer Shenzhen Adragon Digitek in September 2006 and the now discontinued Aigo F209. Gadget blogs have tracked the evolution of MP4 Watches from the large and unwieldy through successive design improvements making them more realistically "wearable" gadgets. Like standard MP4 Players, MP4 watches are most commonly manufactured in Mainland

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

. While the form factor has yet to be picked up by well-known brands, a number of

original equipment manufacturer An original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is generally perceived as a company that produces non-aftermarket parts and equipment that may be marketed by another manufacturer. It is a common industry term recognized and used by many professional or ...

s currently offer MP4 watches with a wide range of styles. There are indications that well-known consumer electronics brands will not sell MP4 watches, instead moving straight to cellphone watches, which incorporate video functions and arguably supersede the MP4 watch concept.

Function and design

MP4 watches are traditionally square by design and can have metal, plastic or leather straps. Screen size varies between 1 and 2 inches including some in "widescreen" dimensions. While MP4 watches are principally marketed as ultra-portable video and timekeeping devices, watches today may also include functions such as: *Digital camera capture and video camera recording *Text file readout *MP3 player *Video games *Audio recorder functions *File storage and file transfer

Notes

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