By Evan Ackerman

This is what’s called a sundial cannon, or a noon cannon. Assuming the weather cooperates, at noon exactly the lens on the sundial focuses sunlight onto a pan filled with gunpowder, setting off the cannon to mark the time. Generally, the cannons weren’t loaded with shot, but with all of the novelty alarm clocks out there, it seems like one that automatically shoots you could be really, really effective, in a potentially dangerous sort of way. And hey, it’s even solar powered.

VIA [ Neatorama ]

Since most alarm clocks are designed to sit on a bedside table, mankind has developed the unique ability to read the time at a 90 degree angle while laying in bed. It’s yet another skill that separates us from the animals, but it looks like someone is trying to change that. Designed by Greg Wolos, the Emily alarm clock is supposed to be mounted to the wall or a headboard so that the red LED display ends up being on its side, making it easier to read while lying in bed.

Now I for one refuse to let my angled time reading skills be forgotten, and intend to pass them onto my children and grandchildren. But I also refuse to pay $129 for an alarm clock with less features than a model from the early 80’s.

[ Emily ] VIA [ CraziestGadgets ]

By Chris Scott Barr

I used to have issues with my alarm clocks. I wouldn’t sleep through them per se, rather I would wake up just enough to turn it off and go back to sleep. I eventually outgrew it, as I haven’t done that since my high school days. Plenty of other people have that problem, including the guy who made the above video. He essentially took his old alarm clock and hooked up a pair of 140-decibel electric horns to it. If you’re curious how to do this, and have no regard for your own hearing or the sleeping habits of everyone on your block, then the video will tell you how to do it.

[ KipKay ] VIA [ Technabob ]

Hmmm… I’m still trying to decide if this USB hub/world time travel clock is useful or not. It’s your basic compact alarm clock (with an eye-catching inverted LCD display) that’s also world time-friendly thanks to presets for 25 different cities. But it’s also got a series of 4 USB ports up front, though as far as I can tell it’s only designed to be used as a hub when connected to a PC or laptop, so I’m kind of ‘meh’ about the whole thing. Now if it plugged into the wall and let you charge 4 different devices off of those USB ports I’d have already placed an order, but sadly that doesn’t appear to be the case. $29.99 from the Oregon Scientific website.

[ Oregon Scientific USB Hub and World Travel Clock ] VIA [ Chip Chick ]

There’s been a lot of LEGO this and LEGO that on OhGizmo! recently, and instead of giving you a break, I figured I’d just keep it coming. I mean is there anyone on Earth who actually dislikes LEGO? The obvious answer is no, but I have to say I’m less than impressed with this official LEGO clock radio.

Sure it’s got the LEGO logo plastered everywhere, and a couple of giant knobs on top that serve as volume and tuner dials, but it appears to be completely incompatible with actual LEGO bricks. I mean the top of the radio couldn’t have been made brick-friendly so that ‘kids’ could accessorize and personalize it with their own LEGO creations? I’m all for the company branching out with gadgets like this, but LEGO isn’t about the brand name, it’s about the building blocks! $29.97 from Walmart.

[ LEGO Clock Radio ] VIA [ 7Gadgets ]

The thing I enjoy most about camping is the sounds of birds and other wildlife at the crack of dawn. Conversely, the thing I hate most about camping is the quiet drone of a single mosquito in your tent while you’re trying to fall asleep. It’s almost impossible to figure out where the little bugger is, and when the sound stops, you know they’re up to no good. And that’s why I think this Mosquito Sound Alarm Clock is cruel and unusual punishment. It would definitely get me out of bed in the morning, though at the cost of emotionally crippling camping flashbacks. $25.95 from Danna Bananas.

[ Animal Sound Alarm Clocks ] VIA [ Nerd Approved ]

Yep, another day, another novelty alarm clock. This time it’s a miniature version of DDR that requires you to follow the pattern of the light-up dance pads with your fingers! So if finding the snooze button is a monumental task for you every morning, there’s probably no chance you’ll be able to turn this thing off. But at just $16 from ThumpsUp! it’s not that expensive to replace should it accidentally have a fatal run-in with the wall.

[ Finger Dance Alarm Clock ] VIA [ Chip Chick ]

By Shane McGlaun

The iPod is the most successful and popular digital music player by a huge margin. With the raging popularity of the iPod a world of accessories are available from speaker systems to car chargers and all sorts of gear in between. iLuv is one of the makers of many accessories for the players.

iLuv has announced its latest iPod alarm clock that is compatible with all dockable iPods and with any other DAP using a 3.5mm headphone jack. The clock is called the iMM153 desktop alarm clock with bed shaker. The clock is offered in black, white, blue, and pink colors.

With the iPod docked users can wake to FM radio, iPod music, a buzzer, or the included bed shaker. The FM tuner uses PLL digital tuning technology and has ten programmable presets for your favorite stations. The clock LCD can also be dimmed through ten steps for comfort.

[ iLuv ]

I can’t say the Click Clock, designed by Paul Koh, does anything particularly revolutionary when it comes to alarm clocks. It’s got your basic 12/24 hour setting, a backlight, snooze function and a lock on top preventing you from accidentally making changes when you’re fumbling around in the morning. But what it does have is a distinct and unique looking pixel display that shows both the current time and the alarm setting at all times. In other words, I just think it looks cool, and if you agree you can get one from the MoMA Store for $35.

[ Click Clock ]

Waking up to a rooster’s crow in the morning is a bit too stereotypical for my tastes, but the tweeting of a small bird is the perfect alternative to morning show radio banter. This LED alarm clock from habitat features an electronic bird perched on top that not only moves, but also sings you out of your restful slumber. Get it from habitat.co.uk for about $30.

[ Habitat OKKO Alarm Clock With Moving Bird ] VIA [ Switched On Set ]