Oregon Scientific Crystal Weather Station brings some flair to the forecast

Oregon Scientific has been busting out some pretty slick gear lately, and its new BA900 Crystal Weather Station is no exception. The acrylic block features three laser-engraved 3-D icons that light up in color to represent sunshine, precipitation, or cloudy skies, while the radio-controlled atomic clock in the base switches to a temperature readout with just a wave of your hand. We're hearing this thing will ship in December for about $60 -- just in time for that rain icon to be rendered totally inaccurate.

[Via Red Ferret]

[Andy @ Jun 16th 2007 6:41AM]

A radio controlled atomic clock?! In the base?! I didn't realise they'd gotten so small, cheap and needed to be radio controlled!

[Martin Porcheron @ Jun 16th 2007 7:15AM]

@Andy

Oregon Scientific have been pumping out radio controlled atomic alarm clocks and weather stations for years, all of which are small and reasonably priced.

[Andy @ Jun 16th 2007 7:21AM]

Radio controlled? Yes. Reasonably priced? If you like. Atomic? really? Doubtful!

I think what you're meaning is the radio signal is from an atomic clock, but the clock in these things certainly won't be.

[Martin Porcheron @ Jun 16th 2007 7:33AM]

Something interesting though on the subject of consumer atomic clocks from Wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_clock ).

"In August 2004, NIST scientists demonstrated a chip-scaled atomic clock. According to the researchers, the clock was believed to be one hundredth the size of any other. It was also claimed that it requires just 75 mW, making it suitable for battery-driven applications. This device could conceivably become a consumer product. It will presumably be much smaller, much less power-thirsty, and much cheaper to make than the traditional cesium-fountain clocks used by NIST and USNO as reference clocks."

No sources though.

[Andy @ Jun 16th 2007 7:39AM]

I guess you could always say the clock is MADE of atoms and is therefore atomic :)

[Martin Porcheron @ Jun 16th 2007 7:28AM]

Ah yes, tis rather ambigious. But in theory, if the unit updates its time every 24 hours with an atomic clock then it is pretty damn close to been an atomic clock. But yes, I agree that that wont be an actual atomic clock in the unit itself (I mis-understood your initial comment - sorry).

[Jamie Marsden @ Jun 16th 2007 7:21AM]

Andy's point, I believe, is that this is not a "radio controlled atomic clock". It is a clock which is radio controlled by a signal referenced _from_ an atomic clock. Atomic clocks are big.

[noisia @ Jun 16th 2007 7:58AM]

are you guys kidding? talking about if its an atomic clock or not. shure it won't be. but what's really cool about this, is the design. i really like it!

[Robotochan @ Jun 16th 2007 8:36AM]

I'll be getting one come christmas, looks really nice and excellent for those days the curtains stay closed :)

[Greg @ Jun 16th 2007 8:47AM]

i cant find the clock on their website. can anyone help?

[Chuckles McGee @ Jun 16th 2007 9:03AM]

@Greg

Click the "Read" link.

[pikkoz @ Jun 16th 2007 9:46AM]

Eh it's almost 2 years that model hit the shelves here in europe

[Robotochan @ Jun 16th 2007 10:04AM]

I hope it won't end up the price it is here, over £110 (that's about $220 buckeroos) according to Froogle :|

[LinuxIdiot @ Jun 16th 2007 1:44PM]

I really like this design, however the site is Australian and I am not seeing one listed on their American site, I imagine it will appear when they release it in America.

[DJ @ Jun 16th 2007 3:28PM]

If it's labeled with 'Oregon' the rain icon is almost always accurate!

[Jackson Wai @ Jun 16th 2007 4:36PM]

I saw this one in Oregon Shop Hong Kong

[Aaron @ Jun 16th 2007 8:40PM]

Wow, not a bad price for something so nifty. I might just pick one up.

[lOUDsCREAMEr @ Jun 16th 2007 11:00PM]

i'll check the price tmr @Oregon Hong Kong flagship ;)

[pjonas @ Jun 18th 2007 8:11AM]

This clock is available in Paris at "NATURE ET DÉCOUVERTES" in the shopping mall Les Halles for 129 Euros.

[ShadowVlican @ Jun 18th 2007 10:01PM]

since when did Oregon sell their overpriced clocks for $60