Gizmodo Australia » alarm clocks

An Alarm Clock The Size Of Your Bed

Jesus Diaz — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:45:56 +0000

This is exactly what I need: A bed with integrated alarm clock, so I can check the time by passing my fingers over it. OK, not true: What I need is a hammock on a beach and no clocks whatsoever.

But if I’m forced to use it, I won’t complain. Designed by Florian Schärfer, the Melted Clock bed has integrated speakers, touch-sensitive buttons to snooze and control playback, and a haptic, touch-sensitive alarm clock. Not a bad concept.

Still, the hammock and cocktails sound a lot better. [Yanko Design via Unplggd]

I Wouldn’t Mind Being Woken Up By The Milky Way Alarm Clock

Sean Fallon — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:00:00 +0000

So pretty, it almost looks like you could wear it. Actually, I can really see the Milky Way clock working as a watch — especially since everyone hates alarm clocks. Alas, it is only a concept.

[Henrik Amberla via The Design Blog via Unplggd]

Chumby One Review: Totally Frivolous, But Totally Adorable

Dan Nosowitz — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:00:00 +0000

The new Chumby One model ditches the old beanbag casing for a retro TV–inspired look and slashes the price, though the internals are unchanged. It remains a pretty frivolous gadget yet I can’t help really liking it.

The Price

$US100 for a limited time, $US120 afterwards. Includes international power adaptors and AC charger, but battery is sold separately. Starts shipping November 25 to the US and some countries in Europe.

The Verdict

It’s the same questionably essential yet unquestionably adorable Chumby, with a new case and a lower (and very tempting) price. I have no idea what its makers meant the original beanbag Classic (newly renamed) to be used for, but the One is more than a little reminiscent of old-school clock radios. And if you look at it as simply a badass clock radio, rather than an amorphous connected widget device, you really appreciate it. Imagine waking up to Pandora, then rolling over and checking your email and Twitter before hitting snooze for another 10 minutes of sleep. Awesome, right? But what exactly has changed from the Chumby Classic?

Instead of the touchscreen-in-a-beanbag look, it’s now rocking a smooth white plastic casing with a big honking volume knob on the side and a 3.5-inch resistive touchscreen. I really like the design: It’s playful and chunky and thoroughly charming. Some may be bummed that the One loses the beanbag look, which is kind of a signature of the line, but I don’t think it’ll make that much difference. The Classic (beanbag) Chumby required a power cable so it’s not like you could toss it around, and luckily the new design is still distinctive and fun — and if you really want the beanbag, it’s not going anywhere. The One is simply joining the Classic, not replacing it.

The Chumby One does lose a few features found in the Chumby Classic — it only has one USB port compared to the Classic’s two, and the formerly stereo 2W dual-speaker set is now mono speaker with the same wattage. The speaker is noticeably more distorted and muddier, and it could use definitely use improvement, although it’s not horrible and is fine at lower volumes.

But the Chumby One also gains 2GB memory (the Classic has 64MB), a li-ion battery (in addition to AC) and a faster processor. I didn’t notice much improvement in speed, but it’s not like it really needs a whole lot of muscle to display weather and news headlines. The Chumby One’s screen also seems sharper than the Classic’s, and the overall package is shorter and narrower, although thicker. Chumby’s selection of widgets, by the way, is quite good, with a huge selection of clocks, social networking services, news, RSS feeds, games and other fun little time wasters.

I’m conflicted about the Chumby One. On the one hand, it’s totally unnecessary — it can’t really do anything a modern smartphone with a dock can’t do better, and at $US100 it’s sort of expensive for an alarm clock. On the other hand, I’m undeniably taken with this thing. It does a good job delivering the time, weather, news and RSS feeds, running Pandora and waking me up, and it looks adorable while doing it. If you’re comfortable dropping $US100 on a little plastic cube of widgets for your bedside table, go for it.

Awesome retro design with clean and simple UI

Runs widgets admirably

Substantial price cut, but not quite impulse-purchase territory

Doesn’t do anything your smartphone can’t

Mr. Wake Robot Alarm Clock Is An Untouchable Morning Menace

Sean Fallon — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:40:00 +0000

What if Clocky the alarm clock didn’t just run away from you in the morning? What if he could sense your presence and evade capture with an IR sensor? That’s the annoying idea behind Mr. Wake.

Of course, looking at these videos it is plain to see that Mr. Wake is a moron. I’m pretty sure I could capture him even when my eyes are half open and I’m stumbling around the room. Still, it’s a good proof of concept. Perhaps you can use Vadim Ryazanov’s notes on the build to make Mr. Wake more elusive — although I have no earthly idea why you would want to torture yourself like this. [Let's Make Robots via Make]

Too Cute: Yamaha TSX-W80 Wireless iPod Alarm Clock

Sean Fallon — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:20:00 +0000

Even though the Yamaha TSX-W80 wakes you up at all hours of the morning, you just can’t stay mad at that pretty face. It even features a wireless iPod cradle that streams tunes using Yamaha’s proprietary AirWired technology.

If Yamaha’s MCR-140 is anything to go by, this little digital clock should also produce some great sound. The device is expected to hit shelves in Japan around December — although pricing has not been announced. [Yamaha via Akihabara News via OhGizmo]

This Might Be The Most Ingenious Bedside Clock Ever

Adrian Covert — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:30:00 +0000

There are two things I don’t like when I wake up in the morning — having to look across the room at the alarm clock on my desk, and sitting up to make sense of it. This timepiece acknowledges both issues.

Designed by Greg Wolos, the Emily alarm clock is both wall-mountable and sideways oriented so that it is by your bed and easily readable when you’re in a prone position. It mixes retro looks with some modern styling, but will make your pockets $US130 lighter. It still might be worth it. [Generate Design via Oh Gizmo via Gadget Lab]

Hacked Alarm Clock With 140dB Horns Should Be Murdered

Joanna Stern — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:00:00 +0000

I hate you loud arse alarm clock. Cool hack, but if I had to wake up to this thing I would tear my ears out. Have a listen.

Honestly, while he was at it he could have at least made the snooze button bigger. [KipKay via Technabob]

Sony’s Feature-Packed Alarm Clock Includes Retractable iPod Dock

Dan Nosowitz — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:50:38 +0000

I haven’t used an alarm clock in years, but sometimes I miss hammering on a giant snooze button rather than gently selecting an option on my phone. Sony’s upcoming alarm clock offers that, an iPod dock, and lots more.

Sony’s ICF-CL75iP alarm clock has a 7-inch WVGA screen, 1GB of internal storage (and a USB port for more), a retractable iPod dock and an FM radio. It seems kind of excessive to have an extra screen when an iPod or iPhone is sitting right there, but as it plays video too (MP4, Motion JPEG and AVI), maybe you’d like to wake up to a video instead. It’s available for pre-order now from SonyStyle Canada for $US200 CAD (about AU$217), shipping October 1. [Sony Insider via Engadget]

SonyStyle Canada accepts Canadian orders only (surprise!)…we’ll update this post when Australian availability details are released. _-EH

I Want To Kill Clockman

Sean Fallon — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:00:00 +0000

I don’t know what the hell this alarm clock is saying, but I have the urge to beat the crap out of it. Apparently, Clockman never shuts up—and you’re supposed to choose a version based on your blood type.

That’s right, there are AB, B, O and A Clockmen for some reason only the Japanese can understand. Speaking of Japan, that’s where masochists will be able to score one of these starting in September. [Kaden Watch via Technabob]

Philips iPhone Wake-up Light Awakens With A Bright Halo

Don Nguyen — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:30:00 +0000

Philips is hoping to make waking up a more pleasant experience with their new HF3490 Wake-up Light. The device comes with 20 brightness settings that gradually increase in intensity to ease users in to the waking world.

For heavy sleepers who require more of a jolt, the alarm also comes with four preset nature sounds and an iPod/iPhone dock to add some aural stimulation.
The Wake-up Light isn’t just good for getting out of bed, but can help users drift off to sleep as well; there is “dusk simulation” mode that gradually dims the light and sounds to send users to the dream world. The Wake-up Light ships on August 22, but it can be pre-ordered now for $US199. [Geeky Gadgets]