Just what we need, another alarm clock

(Credit: The Perpetual Kid)

Not to sound Seinfeldian or anything, but what is the deal with alarm clocks? It seems to be the product of choice when gadget makers run out of new ideas. The formula is obvious: Find some marginal feature-ette left on the cutting-room floor, apply it to a piece of hardware and add an alarm clock. Voila! Another factory quota filled.

Witness the "Fred-O-Vision" combo alarm clock and mood light. (Need we say more?) In addition to its dimestore design, this thing plays game show tunes, according to Red Ferret. Even with all this, it manages to tap yet another tired trend by going retro. End of rant. Time to take our Pepcid.