INBOX:Gone are the days when the height of sophistication in radio alarm clocks was to have two separate alarms. Today just about anything can wake you up, from a mobile phone to a humble wristwatch to a PC.
But for those who hanker after the days of having an alarm clock by the bed, there is still plenty of choice out there.
The latest option is from Pure, the specialist in digital radios. Its new Chronos II DAB Radio is a revised take on the clock radio.
For starters, it is one of the first clocks to acknowledge the fact that it is on all day and night. In these times, when we're told to reduce our carbon footprint by switching everything off when not in use, this can be important. As a result, the Chronos II is designed to be environmentally friendly, with a power consumption of less than one watt in standby and two watts in operation - very low by any standards.
The clock also comes with packaging and documentation that is made almost entirely from recycled material.
The new radio has both FM and radio data system (RDS) functions. It can send you to sleep to the sounds of an "easy listening" radio station and wake you up with a rock one.
Thankfully, the alarm sounds are mostly designed to wake you gently, rather than with a jolt. And for anyone who found the previous version of the Chronos too bright and difficult to read, the Chronos II has a clock display which automatically adjusts to the room's lighting, while the display text can be paused or scrolled.
The Chronos II should be available at the end of October. It comes in white or aluminium and costs about €100.
If you like the crisp sound of digital audio broadcasting (DAB) radio and you want a dock for your iPod as well, you could probably do worse than take a look at the Chronos iDock (about €150).
Compatible with iPods from "generation four" onwards, the device will charge the player when docked and, like the Chronos II, uses only one watt in standby mode.
It has 30 DAB/FM presets, controllable text scrolling and a line-in for hooking up other MP3 players.
Another alternative is the HouseParty 24/7 Clock Radio from Gear4.com.
This has a stereo speaker, FM radio and alarm. It also features an iPod dock with direct access to your iPod's menus.
However, you can forget about being "green" with the HouseParty clock radio: it features a 12W subwoofer.
For the retro fans among you, check out the Retro iPod Alarm Clock (about €57.60), which comes in 1950s pink or white (see Firebox.com).
This modern take on an old-fashioned alarm clock disguises its speakers as bells, while the clock itself is a dock for your iPod. You can set it to wake you up with any playlist, song, podcast or sound file you like.
