Alarm clocks that work

No one loves an alarm clock. But if you've missed more than a few morning meetings, you may be ready for one you love to hate.
A money-shredding alarm clock might fit the bill: It shreds bills if you don't get up. Or how about one that dials random numbers, like your boss's, from your cell phone until you wake up? In truth, these are only design concepts. (Whew!)
Instead, consider one of these 10 real alarm clocks that use nightmarish methods to rouse—or at least seriously annoy—heavy sleepers.
A money-shredding alarm clock might fit the bill: It shreds bills if you don't get up. Or how about one that dials random numbers, like your boss's, from your cell phone until you wake up? In truth, these are only design concepts. (Whew!)
Instead, consider one of these 10 real alarm clocks that use nightmarish methods to rouse—or at least seriously annoy—heavy sleepers.
Wake Up, Work Out Alarm Clock
The last thing you may want to do is pump iron before breakfast. That's too bad, if you set this 1.5-pound dumbbell clock ($30; gadgetsandgear.com).
It will shut off only after you've done 30 bicep curls.
What's more, it has internal motion censors too—so you can't cheat!
It will shut off only after you've done 30 bicep curls.
What's more, it has internal motion censors too—so you can't cheat!
Blender Alarm Clock

Do clocks with calming, beach-scape sounds have you dreaming through your scheduled alarm?
Ditch the vacation noise for a cacophony of churning Styrofoam and absurd jingles being played simultaneously by this retro-style blender ($75; beboxx.com).
Nothing says "welcome to the real world" better than this.
Ditch the vacation noise for a cacophony of churning Styrofoam and absurd jingles being played simultaneously by this retro-style blender ($75; beboxx.com).
Nothing says "welcome to the real world" better than this.
Clocky
Addicted to your snooze button? Here's your cure.
This cute, wheeled timekeeper ($39; nandahome.com) rolls and leaps, from up to 3 feet, off your nightstand after one snooze. What's worse, it does so while beeping random patterns and hides until you hunt it down.
It's safe to say you won't be catching any z's catching this clock.
This cute, wheeled timekeeper ($39; nandahome.com) rolls and leaps, from up to 3 feet, off your nightstand after one snooze. What's worse, it does so while beeping random patterns and hides until you hunt it down.
It's safe to say you won't be catching any z's catching this clock.
BanClock
They say time is money, and the BanClock ($76; audiocubes.com) takes this maxim to heart.
It has a time display like the national debt ticker, and you have to feed it hard-earned wages (a coin of any currency will do) to make it shut up.
It has a time display like the national debt ticker, and you have to feed it hard-earned wages (a coin of any currency will do) to make it shut up.
Twist Equation Clock
Early-morning math: Is there a worse combo? We can't think of one.
When this alarm clock goes off, the screen that normally shows the time will display a plus or minus sign. You have to twist the dials to create an equation that makes sense before you can turn it off.
**This product is no longer available. Instead, try this flying alarm clock ($28; newegg.com).
When this alarm clock goes off, the screen that normally shows the time will display a plus or minus sign. You have to twist the dials to create an equation that makes sense before you can turn it off.
**This product is no longer available. Instead, try this flying alarm clock ($28; newegg.com).
Kim, the Talking Clock
Are you dreaming that robots are taking over the planet? Nope, that's just Kim, the talking alarm clock ($56; ltmiller.com).
She comes with gold metallic hair, a green speaker mouth, and a humanoid, robotic voice—but not a standard time display. (Press her silver nose and she'll tell you the time.)
When it's time to get up, she'll flash her red eyes at you while crowing like a rooster. Press her nose and she'll be quiet.
She comes with gold metallic hair, a green speaker mouth, and a humanoid, robotic voice—but not a standard time display. (Press her silver nose and she'll tell you the time.)
When it's time to get up, she'll flash her red eyes at you while crowing like a rooster. Press her nose and she'll be quiet.
Puzzle Alarm Clock
Sometimes all you need is a little push to pop out of bed, and this clock will do the trick.
When the time comes, the clock launches three puzzle pieces into the air. You must return all three pieces to their matching holes before you can shut off the alarm.
Cross your fingers as you fall asleep, hoping the pieces don't fall behind your dresser or roll under your bed.
**This product is no longer available. Try this fun heart-shaped vibrating alarm clock ($30; walmart.com)
When the time comes, the clock launches three puzzle pieces into the air. You must return all three pieces to their matching holes before you can shut off the alarm.
Cross your fingers as you fall asleep, hoping the pieces don't fall behind your dresser or roll under your bed.
**This product is no longer available. Try this fun heart-shaped vibrating alarm clock ($30; walmart.com)
Clockman
He'll greet you at your desired time, sing while you get dressed, and even yell if you anger him.
While Clockman speaks only Japanese for now, his wake-up-and-get-going message isn't lost in translation.
Laser Target Alarm Clock
When the alarm on the Laser Target clock ($35, beboxx.com) sounds, ex-sleepers must hit the bull's eye with a handheld laser remote to silence it.
To make it even more challenging, place the target in different parts of the room each night.
Sonic Boom With Super Shaker
If the four alarms you scheduled to go off 10 minutes apart wake your
neighbors but not you, you might want to try this noisy clock ($34; walmart.com); it has a 113-decibel alarm—about as loud as a jackhammer.
And if the volume alone won't do it, the red flashing lights and accompanying bed-shaker unit (which goes beneath your mattress) should deliver the full sensory message that grave danger awaits unless you get out of bed.
And if the volume alone won't do it, the red flashing lights and accompanying bed-shaker unit (which goes beneath your mattress) should deliver the full sensory message that grave danger awaits unless you get out of bed.
WakingNews Alarm Clock app
ReplyDeleteWakingNews Alarm Clock is yet another beta app release with some potential. It functions primarily as an alarm clock. You set an alarm as usual and it goes off on time as usual. However, this one reads you the news from a variety of sources when it goes off. So it functions a little bit like old school radio alarm clocks. It has several good news sources, including Yahoo Finances, Yahoo Sports, Engadget, etc. However, there are some lesser sources of words there as well. Thankfully, you can choose the sources that play when the alarm goes off. It's in beta so there are definitely bugs. It is also free and has potential.
WakingNews Alarm Clock app
ReplyDeleteWakingNews Alarm Clock is yet another beta app release with some potential. It functions primarily as an alarm clock. You set an alarm as usual and it goes off on time as usual. However, this one reads you the news from a variety of sources when it goes off. So it functions a little bit like old school radio alarm clocks. It has several good news sources, including Yahoo Finances, Yahoo Sports, Engadget, etc. However, there are some lesser sources of words there as well. Thankfully, you can choose the sources that play when the alarm goes off. It's in beta so there are definitely bugs. It is also free and has potential.
WakingNews Alarm Clock app
ReplyDeleteWakingNews Alarm Clock is yet another beta app release with some potential. It functions primarily as an alarm clock. You set an alarm as usual and it goes off on time as usual. However, this one reads you the news from a variety of sources when it goes off. So it functions a little bit like old school radio alarm clocks. It has several good news sources, including Yahoo Finances, Yahoo Sports, Engadget, etc. However, there are some lesser sources of words there as well. Thankfully, you can choose the sources that play when the alarm goes off. It's in beta so there are definitely bugs. It is also free and has potential.