# Spy pen problems **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 8, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-pen-problems/535423 "2010-04-08T16:14:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-pen-problems/535423/1 "2010-04-08T16:14:21Z")
I bought one of those [Spy pens](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL8T_1489LI) on Ebay. I thought it’d be a neat toy to goof around with. But it doesn’t play video. It plays audio just fine, but no video. The instructions are very minimal, and half in Chinese. So am I doing something wrong or do I have a faulty device? Anyone else have one of these? ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-pen-problems/535423/2 "2010-04-08T17:10:50Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > But it doesn’t play video. > > It plays audio just fine, but no video. I only watched the first 1.7 minutes of that video, but I didn’t notice anyplace where it even claimed to have playback abilities. It looks like you’re supposed to use the USB to transfer the recording to another device, and THERE you’ll be able to watch the video. Maybe you meant to write that it doesn’t RECORD video? ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-pen-problems/535423/3 "2010-04-08T17:26:51Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > Maybe you meant to write that it doesn’t RECORD video? Nit pick of the year you win. When I plug it into my computer Windows media player pops up. When I hit play the audio plays. Nice, clear sounding audio. Zero video. ---
**Author:** ![NOLA\_Cajun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea666f/32.png) [@NOLA\_Cajun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NOLA_Cajun)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-pen-problems/535423/4 "2010-04-09T19:15:32Z")
Is it an mp4 file? If so and you don’t have the codec for mp4 (which WMP by default does not) then try playing it in a player that can display mp4. Windows Media Player Classic will do this and is free to download. Just search for it. ---
**Author:** ![Stormcrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/0ea827/32.png) [@Stormcrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stormcrow)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-pen-problems/535423/5 "2010-04-09T19:32:58Z")
Mine is refurbished, but it only has pictures of Erin Andrews naked. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-pen-problems/535423/6 "2010-04-10T18:55:38Z")
> [@NOLA\_Cajun](#): > > Is it an mp4 file? If so and you don’t have the codec for mp4 (which WMP by default does not) then try playing it in a player that can display mp4. Windows Media Player Classic will do this and is free to download. Just search for it. I tried this and it worked. However I didn’t care for the MP4 player I tried, it was a pain to use. Some of the others were only trial versions. Do you know of any free ones that are permanent and easy to use? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Goliath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rex\_Goliath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Goliath)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-pen-problems/535423/7 "2010-04-10T18:57:42Z")
VLC is the best free video player by a mile ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-pen-problems/535423/8 "2010-04-10T20:00:53Z")
> [@Rex\_Goliath](#): > > VLC is the best free video player by a mile Got it! And it works good. Thanks folks!🙂 I paid $16 for this pen with free shipping. For that price I’m impressed by the quality of the audio and video. It’s a neat little gadget to goof around with until I get bored of it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spy-pen-problems/535423/9 "2010-04-10T20:07:46Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I paid $16 for this pen with free shipping. For that price I’m impressed by the quality of the audio and video. It’s a neat little gadget to goof around with until I get bored of it. Keep in mind that with 4/15 approaching, this expense may be tax deductible. If you are, indeed, a spy.