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'../banner.php' ?> </h2> <h2 align="center">nTren Sound MP3 Watch (cont.)</h2> <p align="left"><strong>Usage and Performance:</strong></p> <p align="left"> In addition to being a very stylish timepiece, the MP3 Watch also functions superbly as an mp3 player. Noticeably absent is a screen of any sort. However, there are two LEDs (a green and red one) that give some sense of what is going on. As common practice, the PLAY button also functions as the pause, on, and off button. As a precautionary measure, the mp3 player can only be turned on when a headphone is plugged into the port. If the headphone is unplugged during play, the player will turn off. When on, the green LED will blink and continue to blink as long as the watch is playing music.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/mp3_watch/11.jpg"><img src="atruereview/mp3_watch/11th.jpg" width="250" height="44" border="0" alt="nTren Sound MP3 Watch"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font></p> <p>The FF and REW buttons should be called the NEXT and PREV buttons because when pressed they jump to the next or previous track rather than fast forward or rewind through a song. Holding these buttons adjusts the volume level in small, but noticeable increments. For the most part, this button arrangement is satisfactory. Although, minor volume adjustments are a chore. When jumping tracks, a screechy beep will sound.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/mp3_watch/13.jpg"><img src="atruereview/mp3_watch/13th.jpg" width="250" height="207" border="0" alt="nTren Sound MP3 Watch"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font></p> <p>Pressing the EQ button will toggle through the MP3 Watch's 5 equalizer modes: normal, pop, classic, rock, and jazz. Though each mode is distinctly different from each other, there are no visual queues that let you know what EQ mode you are in.</p> <p>The watch features a "memory" function that when the player is turned off properly, will remember all the immediate playing conditions including the volume level, EQ mode, and track that was playing. The manual uses the word "properly". I initially assumed they meant that not properly turning off the watch is unplugging the headphone while it is playing. When I did that, the memory function still worked. The only time it does not turn off properly is when the battery runs out.<br> </p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/mp3_watch/14.jpg"><img src="atruereview/mp3_watch/14th.jpg" width="250" height="158" border="0" alt="nTren Sound MP3 Watch"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font></p> <p>Sound quality through the included earphones was decent at best. The overall sound was clean, though it had a tendency to crash with loud base. When used with my reference headphones (<a href="http://www.atruereview.com/akg/index.php">AKG 301 XTRA</a>), the sound quality was excellent, though having to use an adapter is a minor hassle.</p> <p>During playback, when the battery is low the red LED will flash for about 5 to 10 minutes before the player automatically shuts off. When plugged into the computer or AC adapter, the red LED will light up indicating the watch is charging. When fully charged, the red LED will go out and the green LED will light up. Charging from empty to full took a little over 90 minutes. During my informal play test, the watch lasted just over 9 and a half hours.</p> <p>When plugged into the computer, the MP3 Watch functions just like a USB drive. In addition to mp3s, any computer files can be stored on the watch. During file transfers, the red LED will flash. As listed, the watch is only USB 1.1 with a rated max speed of only 5Mbps while the maximum standard for USB 1.1 is 12Mbps. Transferring 100mb worth of mp3s to the watch took 4 minutes 30 seconds. That comes out to be a rate of 370.4 Kbytes per second, or 2.96Mbits per second. However, you consider it, that is slow.</p> <p>nTren calls it the MP3 Watch because it can play mp3s, nothing else. There is no support for wma, asf, ogg, or aac.</p> <p>For me, the MP3 Watch was very comfortable to wear. The vertical length of the metal watch casing is about 55mm. If the length of your wrist is less than that then the watch might feel a bit weird. After about a week of wear, I noticed that some of the function buttons' black label paint had flaked off. Though that did not affect the performance of the watch, it does mildly offset the over esthetics.</p> <p> <strong>Conclusion:</strong></p> <p> nTren's goal was to make a stunning wristwatch that was an mp3 player. I say they succeeded. The MP3 Watch sports a very classic overall look with the only the function buttons giving hint of the watch's alternate identity. Sound quality when paired with decent pair of third party headphones, is superb. With the lack of a screen, navigation through songs has do be done blindly. Overall, the nTren MP3 Watch is one of the most stylish mp3 players and functional timepieces available.</p> <p><strong>Pros:</strong></p> <ul> <li> Great overall look</li> <li> Glow in the dark accents</li> <li> Quick recharge time</li> <li> Stylish display box</li> <li> Retractable USB cable and earphones</li> </ul> <p><strong>Cons:</strong></p> <ul> <li> A bit heavy</li> <li> No screen of any kind</li> <li> Slow file transfer rates</li> <li> Adapter required for standard headphone use</li> </ul> <p><strong>Ratings:</strong></p> <table border="0"> <tr> <td width="95">Esthetics: </td> <td width="88">Excellent</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Packaging:</td> <td>Excellent</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Performance: </td> <td> Good</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Compatibility: </td> <td>Good</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Price: </td> <td> Good</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Overall: </td> <td>Very Good </td> </tr> </table> <p>(Ratings Possible: Terrible, Very Bad, Bad, Fair, Good, Very Good, Excellent)</p> <p><strong>Availability:</strong></p> <p> Because the MP3 Watch is half technology and half fashion, nTren plans to sell it at fashion oriented retail outlets such as Saks 5th Avenue, JC Penny, and Dillards. The watch is currently available at select Neiman Marcus and Fashion Time retail sores. You can also find it at online stores such as <a href="http://www.shopfashiontime.com">Fashion Time</a>, the <a href="http://www.aafes.com">Army Air Force Exchange Service</a>, and <a href="http://www.ntrensound.com">nTren’s own site</a>.</p> <p><a href="atruereview/mp3_watch/ntren.php"></a> <a href="mp3_watch/ntren.php">Previous (Description)</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div id="footer" class="clr"> <div class="rk-1"> <div class="rk-2"> <div id="the-footer">  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </body> </html>