As a minimalist, my dream is to live in a compact world. When I heard about the new BMW MP3 player watch, I considered it a step in the right direction.
The watch looks exactly as it does in the picture, so I can't say I was surprised by how big it is. I was, however, surprised by how light it is considering the size and the fact that it has an integrated USB cable. I was also very impressed by how well the USB cable is easily tucked away into the strap. Although the watch itself is on the large side, everything else included with it is tiny.
The watch comes complete with a set of earbud earphones and an attachment to use with your own earphones, if you prefer. (The earphones jack on the watch is slightly smaller than average.) It also included a USB extension cable, a charging adapter, a mini installation CD, a mini instruction manual and a mini fold-out quick guide.
The features are quite impressive. You have the ability to play up to 60 songs or five hours of music, and it has a fully-integrated microphone that allows you to record voice memos. In addition, it can store files such as presentations, videos and photos for easy transfer. With 256 MB of memory, this watch can do a lot.
I was anxious to use it as soon as I received it, but I quickly discovered that would take some time. Although I am not a fan of long instruction booklets, the tiny 34-page manual that came with the watch could have offered a little more guidance on how to actually transfer music and files from a computer to the watch. A computer-savvy person will figure it out in a jiffy, but a less-experienced user may have some difficulty building the play list.
One thing I instantly thought the watch was lacking was a digital face. I understand the appeal of having the standard watch face, as it does make for a more professional look, but for a watch that plays MP3s, digital would be a better way to go. You have to remember which songs you have saved in the watch and the order in which they are saved because you cannot see this information. A digital face would also enable you to display saved data files.
One other thing the watch is lacking is a more feminine version. The watch is so big on me that I have to fasten the strap at the second notch. Because it stands out so much on me, it does make for a good conversation piece, but after a few weeks, I went back to my regular watch for everyday wear.
Those two things aside, I tested this watch in almost every arena and found it to be perfect for commuters and avid gym goers. Why carry a separate MP3 player when all you have to do is turn on your watch and plug in your earphones?
