Philips HF3490 Wake-Up Light Alarm

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Getting my ass out of bed in the morning is hard enough without being startled by the annoying ear-piercing electronic beeping of the alarm clock. You would think that the people that make these things would come up with a sound that is a little less grating on the nerves. Maybe the gentle soothing voice of Katherine Zeta Jones beckoning me to breakfast? OK, that might be too much to ask, but the folks at Philips might be headed in the right direction with their latest alarm clock the HF3490 Wake-Up Light.

The newest light-based creation from Philips, the HF3490 Wake-Up Light has taken the alarm clock to an entirely new level. Rather than using an irritating digital tone to drag you out of restful REM they have decided that the more natural approach is to use light. After all, who can sleep with a really bright light shining in their eyes? Isn’t that how they keep the prisoners at Getmo awake during their all-night interrogations?

Anyway, the HF3490 is basically a big light attached to an iPod dock. The light starts to glow 30 minutes before the alarm is set to go off and it gradually gets brighter as the minutes tick by. By the time it reaches full luminosity the alarm goes off and you’re ready to hit the ground with a smile on your face. Yeah, right. Interesting concept, but I doubt that it would put me in a better mood at 6:30 am.

The Philips HF3490 Wake-Up Light charges your iPod with the attached dock and it also gives you the option to wake to nature sounds, music from your iPod, or the integrated FM tuner. It also tells the time and will probably take up most of the real estate on your nightstand. You can purchase your own HF3490 for $199.99 at www.amazon.com. Sweet dreams.