alarmclock
Latest
Do-it-yourself volume enhancement device for cellphones
One Riedel Vinum Burgundy with the stem broken off: $20. One 2002 vintage Nokia candybar: free on contract. MacGuyvering an alarm clock loud enough to wake your lazy ass up: priceless.
Pure Digital's creepy-looking Bug Too DAB radio
We're not sure how many adults are into insect-inspired audio gear, but if you live in the UK and you're looking to get your kids hooked on the wonders of DAB radio, then the Bug Too from Pure Digital (not to be confused with the identically-named manufacturer of those disposable digital cameras) may be just the ticket. Sporting the same telescoping display, SD card slot, and of course weird design as the original Bug, this new model adds both an electronic program guide and MP3 playback capability into the mix, and wraps it all up a "stylish" titanium silver finish. You can also pause and rewind live broadcasts, set up to twenty alarms to wake you with live or recorded content (up to 15 hours on a 1GB card), and output the audio via an S/PDIF jack if those bug-eye speakers aren't doing it for you. Developed in collaboration with supposedly renowned designed Wayne Hemingway, the Bug Too is available right now for around $185.[Via T3]
Philips' Streamium WAK3300 WiFi alarm clock
Philips just announced this new wireless WAK3300 alarm clock as an extension to their Streamium range of connected home media devices. So as the name implies, you can stream your tunes over WiFi to this bedside pup from your WACS700 (which also got a drive bump to 80GB) Music Center or via internal storage just in case your home network is down or turned off for the night. We presume (it isn't stated) that the device will accept streams from any device supporting UPnP (such as your PC or SoundBridge) since that's the tech at the heart of both the Streamium lineup and Philips' home connectivity strategy. But we'll just have to wait for the details before getting too far ahead of ourselves on this.
The Giovannoni TimeSphere projecting alarm clock
We've seen plenty of alarm clocks that offer different ways to pull you out of bed no matter how hungover, sleepy, or otherwise incapacitated you are. Almost all of these clocks, however, rely on the same old LEDs or LCDs to actually display the time. The Giovannoni TimeSphere may not rumble or fly around the room, but it will project the time on any surface. Fine, yea, we know it's not the first clock with a projector either, but it is one of the more stylish (if 80s-style cyberpunk designs are your thing), and it is apparently the first with a wireless projection unit -- that's what the ball thing sitting on top is, which you position anywhere you like to get the best view of the time. Also, unlike so many of these alarm clocks we keep telling you about, this one is an actual product, available from Oregon Scientific for the hefty sum of $150.
aXbo Sleep Phase Alarm Clock reviewed
Sure, the aXbo alarm clock sounds quite promising with its ability to monitor your sleep phases and wake you at just the right time, but does it promise too much? Martin Regtien doesn't seem to think so, and after reviewing the Sleeptracker as well, he seems to think the aXbo not only bests its rival, but happens to be one of the best systems on the market for waking up right. Unfortunately, he didn't receive the USB cable with his review unit that allows you to check out your sleep patterns with your computer, but he did have an easy time setting up and using the actual aXbo. Turns out the wristband sensors are plenty comfortable, but though you can set separate alarms for both you and your partner, Martin's wife was wakened by his alarm. He suggests that the makers of aXbo create a vibrating alarm for the ultimate in sleep bliss, but for the casual user the aXbo seems to fit the bill exactly if you're prepared to fork over the $250.[Via Gadget Review]
Lexon's new On-Off alarm clock literally rocks
If all of those new fangled "buttons" that they put on them thar alarm clocks these day are getting you down, you might be interested in the new On-Off clock from Lexon. Designed by Nina Tolstrup, the On-Off LCD alarm clock can have its alarm activated by tilting it into the on position, and the alarm can be turned off by (you guessed it) tilting the clock to the off position. While we're sure this will result in some exciting and violent early morning clock tilting action, we're not so sure how snooze functionality factors in. In any case, the clock should be available May 15th in numerous colors, and for the quite reasonable price of $36.50.[Via Gear Live]
DIY iPod boom box
The new iPod Hi-Fi looks really cool, but who has $350US sitting around doing nothing? Why now whip up your own solution from the parts you probably have sitting around your house right now? That's what Phillip over at Make:Blog did. Buy hacking an iPod speaker unit together with an old pair of Apple Pro speakers, a modified iPod dock and a nano, he's made himself a working, though slightly unattractive, iPod speaker system. Nicely done. Here is a Flickr set for your viewing pleasure.
