I am disappointed that a device that we all use (and loathe) every day has not progressed much at all in the last 10 or 20 years. I have looked in every store and compared online the options of alarm clocks both cheap and expensive. At best, the alarm clocks out there are basic, at worst they are complex - having too many features that require multiple simultaneous button presses. All seem to suffer from either poor design, poor implementation, or both. The other day I ran into a device powered by Linux called the chumby. At first, the review I read made it seem perfect, but after reading more about it I found that the alarm clock looked more like an after-thought.
So here is what I think a good alarm clock should be able to do:
- Play MP3s, Internet radio including Shoutcast streaming, FM radio
- An alarm that will still operate when running on the battery backup, even if it is a reduced functionality mode (simple buzzer perhaps?)
- Low power consumption (OLED screen, flash memory based storage, etc)
- A “safe mode” backup alarm in case the first alarm does not work (i.e. Internet radio set for the alarm but no connection)
- perhaps check to see if the volume is < 15% for 30 seconds
- let the user set the backup alarm order preference (for example: Internet radio -> internal MP3s -> buzzer)
- If you have turned off the alarm but the light sensor doesn’t sense any light after a specified amount of time, it can activate a second “oh shit, I slept in again” alarm
- iCalendar support (to synchronize the alarm clock with Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird, etc)
- set multiple alarms per day (for multiple users)
- have alarms set for different times on different days of the week (e.g. Mon-7am, Tue-off, Wed-6am)
- choose a different playlist/station for each day (e.g. NPR radio on weekdays, MP3 playlist on Saturday, religious sermon on Sunday)
- import a calendar of holidays and selectively choose which ones will be alarm exceptions
- one time alarms and one time exceptions
- Integrated 802.11 wireless (and maybe Bluetooth)
- support for different types of encryption (WEP, WPA2)
- internal antenna for pleasing aesthetics
- Has an option for automatic Daylight Saving Time adjustments
- Two different volumes, one for the alarm and one for everything else
- Integrated accelerometers to sense movement (so the alarm turns off if you punch it :P)
- A light sensor that can automatically dim the display when the room is dark
- The speaker should be capable of getting very loud (for all of you deep sleepers out there)
- The ability to access network storage for playing music over your home network
- Time synchronization over the Internet (NTP) or by radio signal
- Volume that gradually increases when the alarm first goes off
- The length of time the alarm goes off should be customizable
- A snooze bar that can be programmed to the users specific desire (e.g. the first time it is pressed it sleeps for 10 minutes, the second time it sleeps for 5 minutes, the third time it sets off the buzzer :P)
- USB ports for expansion
- All settings fully customizable with no options hidden from power users (perhaps like the about:config page in Firefox)
- Open source software/firmware (would be nice, but not necessary)
- Can turn on "The Perfect Coffee Pot™" for you
The closest I have ever come to finding my dream alarm clock is the Neverlate Executive Alarm Clock from American Innovative. It has quite a few of the features I have listed here and they somehow managed to have it cost less than many of the other alarm clocks I looked at. I haven’t bought one yet, but I have thought about it several times. Keep the improvements coming, guys!
