Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

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]

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Filed under: Home Entertainment

Putting two iPhone / iPod docks in an alarm clock is a simple and clever idea that’s so far only shown up in the JVC-PN7 (which we have and love), but it looks like iLuv’s getting in the game as well with the new iMM137. Apart from the two shielded iPhone 3G-compatible docks up top, it’s the usual iLuv kit with 5 watt jAura sound, an aux input, and dual alarms — not a bad deal for an MSRP of $129 that’ll almost certainly be lower at retail when this hits in September.

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Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio

We’ve heard about iHome’s twistable iH41 since CES, but it looks like the outfit finally got its act together and began to ship these out. Designed specifically for the iPod touch and its variable aspect screen, this unit can be flipped for easy orientation switching that enables users to view widescreen videos while it’s docked and charging; when rotated, the digital clock display will also adjust to “complement the position of the unit.” Notably, there’s no mention of iPhone / iPhone 3G compatibility, but you do get a handy remote thrown in should you decide to cough up $79.99.

[Via SlashGear]

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Filed under: Ask Engadget, Digital Cameras, Displays, Misc. Gadgets

Frightening though it may be, the fall semester is just around the corner. You know what that means? You’ll actually have to get up at — wait for it — an appointed time. Carissa, being the proactive student she is, posed this question:

“Going to school in the fall, I’m looking for the ideal alarm clock to beat the late nights and what not and noticed a few digital photo frames / alarm clocks. I want a decent alarm clock that has battery backup and good resolution on the screen for viewing photos. An auxiliary audio jack would be a major plus. Which one do you guys recommend that falls under the 200 dollar mark? Thanks a million!”

Look at that — you all even received a thank you in advance! For those who’ve mastered the art of waking up on time and pretending to be a real live adult, which alarm clock / digiframe hybrid have you found to be supreme? Oh, and you know that question you’ve been hitting the snooze on? Yeah, send it on over to ask at engadget dawt com.

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Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals, Portable Audio

Hey, props for offering up the “first clock radio for Zune” (it’s certainly not the first Zune dock), we’re all quite proud, but it looks like iHome sent in the B team for the design here. The ZN9 Dual Alarm Stereo Clock Radio for Zune actually bears a slight resemblance to an Xbox 360, other than the full-featured Zune interoperability, of course. Outside of that there’s nothing of note here that your grandma hasn’t been rocking bedside since the 80’s. The ZN9 should be available now-ish for $100.

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Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio

Something’s really wrong with the world if more than a few months pass by without a new iPod alarm clock from iLuv, so we suppose everyone’s a-okay for a few more months now. Announced today, the firm has introduced its first pair of HD Radio clocks, and sure enough, one of ‘em plays nice with Cupertino’s darling. The i169 would be that player, which offers up a mostly black motif, dual stereo speakers, remote, iPod dock, AM / FM / HD Radio reception, an auxiliary input and dual alarm settings for good measure. As for the currently available i168, it provides most everything you read up there sans the iPod compatibility, but then again, it only demands $89.99. What about the i169, you ask? It’ll set you back a cool $169.99 when it lands in “early May.” Full release waiting after the break.

Continue reading iLuv kicks out i168 and i169 HD Radio alarm clocks

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Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio

Something’s really wrong with the world if more than a few months pass by without a new iPod alarm clock from iLuv, so we suppose everyone’s a-okay for a few more months now. Announced today, the firm has introduced its first pair of HD Radio clocks, and sure enough, one of ‘em plays nice with Cupertino’s darling. The i169 would be that player, which offers up a mostly black motif, dual stereo speakers, remote, iPod dock, AM / FM / HD Radio reception, an auxiliary input and dual alarm settings for good measure. As for the currently available i168, it provides most everything you read up there sans the iPod compatibility, but then again, it only demands $89.99. What about the i169, you ask? It’ll set you back a cool $169.99 when it lands in “early May.” Full release waiting after the break.

Continue reading iLuv kicks out i168 and i169 HD Radio alarm clocks

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Filed under: Household

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We’ve seen some fairly sinister alarm clocks in our day — ones that fly around, nearly make you go deaf and “explode” if you don’t get up in time, for starters — but this DIY creation is definitely lobbying for top honors. The Turing Alarm Clock, which has admittedly been making the rounds of late, starts making racket just as any other alarm clock when the time comes, but rather than letting you smash the snooze button, it forces you to answer math questions with varying levels of difficulty before quieting down. Evil? Sure. Effective? You betcha. Check the video after the jump.

[Via Hack-A-Day]

Continue reading Homegrown alarm clock tests your math to gauge alertness

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Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Video

When it comes to iPod docking alarm clocks, few can face-off with XtremeMac’s Luna. Now there’s the Luna X2. Normally we’d shred the puffery found in phrases like “world class iPod audio system,” “crystal clear display,” and a design meant to “complement any room’s decor.” However, their first-generation Luna was so well received that we tend to believe their boasting. For the moment, anyway. Your $120 (pre-order) gets you a pair of fully customizable, independent alarms, aux-in, AM/FM radio, and same audio performance found in the original Luna. Only now in a newly designed chassis which reflects the new iPod reality: the white iPod is dead.

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Unless you’re waking to a playlist, you’re likely subjecting yourself to a constant AM rehash of the same alarm drudgery. The kind of fitful start which makes any netizen long for the gray and death-accented cubicle release of work. Enter Sleep.FM, “the social alarm clock.” The beta service allows your friends and family to record custom audio alarms which playback on your PC or other Internet enabled device. “Honey I’ve left, and I took the kids,” has never been so arousing. Tear-jerker of a demonstration after the break.

[Via The Red Ferret Journal]

Continue reading Sleep.FM brings social networking to the alarm clock — forgets to ask why?

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Household

If you thought the original Neverlate 7-day alarm clock kept your eyes peeled, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Years after the original took bedside tables by storm, American Innovative has finally unveiled the Neverlate Executive, which boasts a sleeker design along with a myriad new amenities. For starters, this version includes a pair of 7-day alarm banks, Daily Reminders and a full-blown Preferences Menu that enables you to control everything from the backlight brightness to the alarm duration. You’ll also find an AM / FM tuner, which as you may expect, allows users to assign different stations to each alarm; furthermore, the line-in, headphone and USB jacks add even more connectivity options, and the Descending Snooze feature forces you to wake up after you slam it too many times. Interested consumers can get their pre-order in now for $59.95, and truthfully, that’s a small price to pay when staring termination (due to chronic tardiness, of course) in the face.

[Via Gizmag]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We were already fans of the Rottaliana MultiPot, which disguised a device-charging station and a lamp as a flowerpot, but we tend to charge our devices in the bedroom — which means the company’s new MultiBook is even more useful. Appearing at first to be just another hardcover book, the MultiBook opens to reveal several plug outlets and a lamp, and also features an alarm clock with a concealed display on the spine. That pretty much covers all the bedside bases — but given the surprising violence with which we greet our alarm clock every morning, it might be best to keep all this stuff separate. Only available in a 220V version right now for €152 ($222), no word on when it might come stateside.

[Via Oh Gizmo]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We were already fans of the Rotaliana MultiPot, which disguised a device-charging station and a lamp as a flowerpot, but we tend to charge our devices in the bedroom — which means the company’s new MultiBook is even more useful. Appearing at first to be just another hardcover book, the MultiBook opens to reveal several plug outlets and a lamp, and also features an alarm clock with a concealed display on the spine. That pretty much covers all the bedside bases — but given the surprising violence with which we greet our alarm clock every morning, it might be best to keep all this stuff separate. Only available in a 220V version right now for €152 ($222), no word on when it might come stateside.

[Via Oh Gizmo]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Household, Peripherals, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Yeah, what you see above actually is yet another iPod speaker / alarm clock mashup, but being that it’s from Boynq, it looks noticeably better than most of the alternatives. The interestingly designed device does quite a few things aside from wake you from your slumber, as it also includes an FM radio and line in / out ports to compliment the built-in equalizer and 20-watts of amplification. Best of all, this thing plays nice with every dock-connecting iPod ever created (including the iPhone “on models produced after January 1st”), and the remote controllable snooze practically guarantees that you’ll never be on time for anything again. Talk about user friendly. [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via The Red Ferret Journal]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!