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Posts with tag timepiece

Bandai's Gun O'clock: shoot the target or you'll never snooze again

by Darren Murph, posted Oct 21st 2008 at 9:02PM


We've seen no shortage of unorthodox alarm clocks, but Bandai's latest creation is nothing short of spectacular. Rather than making users defuse a bomb or catch a runaway helicopter, the appropriately named Gun O'clock actually forces heavy sleepers to aim a gun and successfully strike the bullseye to shut the undoubtedly obnoxious alarm up. Best of all, those who enjoy challenges can set it to "Hard" mode, requiring them to blast the center target no fewer than five times in order to hush it; after you're satisfactorily awake, you can utilize the game mode to work on your aim. This magnificent wonder is all set to launch in Japan next month for ¥4,095 ($41), but we don't see any obvious signs of it ever coming Stateside. Anyone feeling an online petition? We hear those work really well.

[Via UberReview]

Stephen Hawking unveils the most morbid, amazing $1.8m clock you'll ever see

by Darren Murph, posted Sep 21st 2008 at 1:11AM


We'll warn you in advance, this is only for those who dig the weird, all things Stephen Hawking or clock-making in general. This £1 million ($1.83 million) timepiece took seven years to completely construct, and the initiative was led by inventor John Taylor who designed it in tribute to John Harrison (only the world's greatest clockmaker, it's said). The bizarre Corpus Clock visually explains that it relies on grasshopper escapement to function, and to let you know that time can never be regained once lost, that beast on top actually gobbles down time every 60th second. Oh, and every hour, on the hour, the sound of a "chain dropping into a wooden coffin" is played to really pound home the "time is a destroyer" concept. Thanks for the reminder, Dr. Grim.

[Via Switched]

WatchScale attempts to become the new calculator watch

by Darren Murph, posted Aug 21st 2008 at 9:09AM


Move over, Casio Databank (and similar) -- a formidable opponent just rolled into the ring. While the aforementioned timepiece has been the geek watch of choice for years now, Jennings' WatchScale is all set to give it a real run for the money. This wristwatch not only displays the time in brilliantly blue fashion, but it also weighs lightweight objects (up to 300-grams) with an accuracy of 0.1-grams. We know, you're already bracing for a quadruple-digit (pre-decimal) price tag, but there's no need for worry -- after all, you can procure your own for just $17.90.

[Thanks, Nate]

Stonehenge robotic clock: telling time never looked so fun

by Darren Murph, posted Aug 4th 2008 at 11:28AM


From the same brilliant mind that brought you the RoboStool comes something a bit less useful but equally mesmerizing. Put simply, Norris Labs' Stonehenge is a robotic time teller which rearranges placards in order to express the current time. The concoction utilizes a CrustCrawler Smart Arm and a Parallax Propeller chip along with 14 cards to display the current time, though it does operate, um, a bit slowly. Ah well, it's not like you're in any hurry to see what this thing can do, right? Oh, wait... you are? Head on past the break for a quick look.

[Via OhGizmo]

Continue reading Stonehenge robotic clock: telling time never looked so fun

Casio gets fancy with LED-infused Tough Movement

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 31st 2008 at 4:16PM


Automatic movement? Sweeping hands? Pish posh. Casio's looking to impress a few watch aficionados itself with the all new Tough Movement. Designed to slip inside its Oceanus and G-Shock series of timepieces, the new movement "features a high shock resistance and a hand position correction function using LED." During the 55th minute of each hour, the movement receives time calibration signals from six bases located throughout the world; if the hands are off at all, it automatically corrects things to ensure that you're never a moment off. Reportedly, the first wristwatch to utilize the technology will be the GS-1200, which is currently slated to hit Japan this September for a stiff ¥42,000 ($390).

[Via OhGizmo]

LED Alarm Clock Blocks are too pretty to smash

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 9th 2008 at 8:53AM


If you're a habitual destroyer of snooze buttons, there's at least a smidgen of a possibility that picking one of these up could stop that habit. Seiji's stylish LED Alarm Clock Blocks (¥8,190; $76) rely on a trio of LED-filled boxes to convey the time (right down to the second), and best of all, the trifecta can be arranged however you'd like (horizontally, vertically, etc.) in order to please your fuzzy eyes in the AM. Unfortunately, you'll still have to use that spare travel clock while this thing gets imported from Japan, but you know what they say about the early bird...

[Via technabob]

Tokyoflash's Galaxy: a watch only a nerd could love

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 4th 2008 at 6:10AM


It's true. Any decent mother would wonder what on Earth her child was thinking rocking that thing you see above, and even though all those wonderful ladies of the world would be entirely entitled to that curiosity, we can understand the obsession. On its surface, this timepiece and its cryptic display is unquestionably ugly -- even the "stainless steel" band reeks of cereal box quality. But there's just something about those flashy lights that stirs the soul of nerds everywhere, making it seem quite the bargain at $132.85. It's okay, we won't tell mommy.

[Via BoingBoing]

Crapgadget: revolving USB hub, revolting MP4 watch, lavish amounts of lameness

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 22nd 2008 at 11:11PM


Consider yourselves fortunate. You've had well over two whole months without an episode of Crapgadget, but today, that grace period ends. The most recent laughable load includes an absolutely vile wristwatch that supposedly plays MP3s / MP4s if you can manage to glance away from the bezel and band. Furthermore, we've got a TV tuner and webcam -- in one -- alongside a way-too-expensive WiFi sniffing pen that doesn't do 802.11n. Bringing up the rear is Connectland's 180° X2 Revolving USB Hub, which clearly raises the bar in USB hub design stupidity. Per usual, we're begging for your vote on the crappiest below, but we'll understand if you just can't bear the thought of spending another moment thinking about these pitiful creations.

Crapgadget Crapdown, MC Hammer Watch Edition



Read - Golden MP3 / MP4 watch
Read - Plustek TVcam VD100
Read - Revolving USB hub
Read - WiFi sniffing pen

Limited edition Metal Gear Solid 4 watch surfaces

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 20th 2008 at 4:15AM

Need some way to express your adoration for Solid Snake when not inside the house? Then check out this limited edition piece, would you? The Metal Gear Solid 4 watch will reportedly arrive individually numbered from 1 to 500 alongside a "Konami certificate of authenticity approved by Hideo Kojima." You'll also get a nifty gift box to hold the water resistant timepiece in when it's not flanking your wrist, but only if you manage to score one before the legions of other hardcore fans do. Oddly enough, there's some sort of "pre-order" going on in the read link below, but we wouldn't count on that being the most reliable method for procuring the £99.99 ($197) device when it's released in October.

[Via TechDigest]

Wearfone watch phone looks to style up Finns

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 6th 2008 at 12:29AM


Due to exceptionally poor machine translation from the Finnish language (what gives, Google?), we really don't know a whole heck of a lot about Wearfone's admittedly stylish watch phone. Reportedly, similar devices have been around the concept block, but a trio of investors are hoping to actually get this one on store shelves by the year's end. Thanks to our super-scientific methods of deciphering, we've determined that it will boast a touchscreen display, GSM connectivity and the ability to send / receive calls and text messages. Early reports pin the price at anywhere between €500 ($776) and €1,000 ($1,553), but that's the price you pay for having a technologically advanced timepiece that won't get you tarred and feathered in public.

[Thanks, Petteri]

Colossal overhead clock tells time, replaces boring light fixtures

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 1st 2008 at 8:57AM


Realities:United has created a device that will likely bring back fond memories of Coldplay's X&Y tour a few years ago, particularly if you were there for the first 60 or so seconds when a gigantic timepiece such as the one seen above counted down the show's start. Without getting too reminiscent up in here, the artistsspace commissioned project not only keeps track of time impeccably well, but it also replaces those mundane fixtures that have become an unfortunate mainstay in corporate offices. Now, if only the workday would whiz by as quickly as the one shown in the demonstrative video located in the read link, you'd be all set. [Warning: read link directs to video]

[Via MAKE]

CECT Wrist watch phone is borderline wearable

by Darren Murph, posted May 22nd 2008 at 3:55AM


Generally speaking, watch phones are rarely useful. Not so much because of lackluster hardware or incompatible drivers, but due to the fact that no one with any dignity will ever be caught wearing one. The CECT Wrist, however, actually isn't a ghastly looking device at all, and although it's far from being a Sea-Dweller, we can't help but give props for the semi-stylish design. Specs wise, the unit boasts GSM connectivity, a 1.3-inch color LCD, FM radio tuner, multimedia player, 1.3-megapixel camera, handsfree support (Bluetooth) and a battery good for 150 minutes of continuous yappin'. Not too terribly shabby for £150.13 ($293), wouldn't you agree?

[Via GizmoScene, thanks KC Kim]

Watch Tracker tells time, tracks movements and fends off potential friends

by Darren Murph, posted May 17th 2008 at 7:03AM


To be fair, we haven't really noticed a GPS watch that wasn't at least somewhat unsightly, but the Sport Genius Watch Tracker does a phenomenal job at exemplifying ugly. Reportedly, the conglomerate not only tells time, but the built-in GSM / GPS modules enable it to make and receive calls, track your movements and beam out your current location via SMS in case you find yourself in a pickle. It also provides the means for logging runs and points of interest, and you can supposedly upload the data to mapping software to get a visual on what you accomplished. Word on the street has it that this particular wristwatch should be available on the streets of China right now, but there's no telling how many yuan you'll be asked to fork over in order to publicly humiliate yourself.

Urwerk's UR-202 combines turbines and watches just how you always wanted

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Apr 19th 2008 at 6:29AM


Like your Rolls-Royce, Louis Vuitton bags, and priceless, endangered animal collection, the Urwerk UR-202 turbine regulated watch is another expensive item you don't really need. Still... you want it, right? Who wouldn't want this beast, what with its self-winding kinetic motor, telescopic minute hands, orbiting and revolving hour satellites, and fancy, mechanical turbines that we understand almost nothing about. But hey, when your timepiece is more complicated than a jet plane -- and likely more expensive -- you've probably made it. Check out the totally awesome video after the break to see this thing in... uh, action.

[Via OhGizmo!]

Continue reading Urwerk's UR-202 combines turbines and watches just how you always wanted

DIY'er crafts scientific calculator watch, TI-30 is like "what?"

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 16th 2008 at 6:17PM


Calculator watches, a staple of the average's geek wardrobe since before your grandmother was born, have been called out, as David Jones' own homegrown version totally trumps anything out there on the pre-fabricated market today. The cleverly-titled µWatch was born after a Casio CFX-400 bit the dust after years upon years of telling time and determining averages, and while it seems as though a bona fide front panel is still in the works, we're personally hoping that currently unoccupied Design & Construction portal gets updated with a how-to guide. Check out the read link for a few more shots of the early prototype and the current build.

[Via OhGizmo]
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