Show HN: Timechief – My Smartclock Project | Hacker News Reader

Show HN: Timechief – My Smartclock Project

jmorrice.dev

49 pointsjmorrice19 comments

My Timechief Smartclock project. I think it is pretty cool and I want to share it with the world, but there is definitely a ways to go before (low-volume) manufacturing of units.

An alarm clock with NTP. Finally. It reminds me of a Pip-Boy. Consider integrating a light source in to it and maybe some USB outs for charging

This seems like more than just an alarm clock with NTP; it's got weather and stuff.

Sorry for self promotion, but If you want an alarm clock with NTP and iCal, you might take a look at my project. https://github.com/russor/ClockThing I'll try to get some pictures up soon.

Indeed TimeChief is a Smart Clock with rich features planning a closed beta early next year followed by open beta. Currently:

* 90s aesthetic theme

* Configuration GUI

* Weather integration

* Google calendar integration

* Retro sound synthesis

Planned

* More aesthetic themes

* More sensors

* More calendar integrations

* More data displays (weather maps)

About USB charging ports etc. This seems like a bit basic. I think everyone is saturated with options to charge things. These suggestions should be remixed to make them more interesting.

Is the hardware necessary, it looks like it could just be an app on a cheap andorid phone/tablet?

I have thought about that! You would need custom hardware with a passive buzzer (PC speaker) tho for retro sound synthesis but it's not a huge deal.

My thinking is that clocks are an article of furniture. I think it would look best with a custom case that resembles an old terminal. The overall package is going to be part of the appeal.

I do plan on open sourcing on release so anyone can have at it from a different direction.

Edit: I'd love to make a unit with a genuine CRT instead of merely CRT effects...

Definitely looks like it could be an app running on an iPad or other tablet, sitting in a dock. I'd be happy to pay good money for a proper techy alarm clock app on iPad, since I've tried a bunch of those apps and none of them have been suitable. I've spent more on alarm clock apps than if I'd just bought a new physical alarm clock! And yes, I've also bought several new physical "atomic" alarm clocks....

The screen needs to be OLED or high quality backlit LCD. This display looks like it would be much too bright at night, even when turned down to the lowest brightness possible.

It also need to let you change the color of the interface, so that I could have a red that doesn't destroy my night vision, instead of green that would.

Thank you for this comment! I do agree there is an issue with the screen in bedroom situation. It is interesting to hear that people would pay for this as an app.

About changing the colour and otherwise customising themes. Yes.

I agree a custom case with any appropriate buttons would make all the difference.

You could look into old video-doorbell units, which had I think 4" crts.

Looks great anyway.

I for one would 100% buy one if you can get tiny CRTs. It's a shame how rare CRT screens are nowadays

if you turn it into an app, you wouldn't need to worry about manufacturing :)

would be a great way to use those old smartphones everyone has in their drawers... less e-waste!

(i'm making an app that turns your old phone into a mini entertainment center ;) )

I want the clock on my shelf to be beautiful retro clock hardware. That's my vision. Not an old phone.

There are technical reasons not to do this too. I'd like to add in a thermometer so it can have an indoor temperature display.

I have a cheap non-smart clock on my desk here that has an indoor and outdoor sensor, and it would suck if the much fancier clock I am making can't have that feature. I'm sure you can think of other sensors that would be interesting to have on such a unit.

For sure, a hygrometer to go with the thermometer! Humidity is great to know if you’re at a mold risk (too high) or wood flooring damage risk (too low).

A barometric sensor would be neat (with a corresponding indicator for rising/falling), but probably less useful for most people.

The other popular air quality sensors (CO2, CO, VOC, PM2.5, etc.) are a little harder to QC, but the airgradient.com folks seem to have sourcing sussed out for at least some of those.

I feel like a CRT buzzing whining next to my bed (or anywhere in the room) would be quite annoying. I love CRTs and understand the retro appeal of them but I’d prefer something silent instead.

Very cool.

Looks similar to my own project. I think we even used the same case for the display.

https://github.com/Mrjohns42/WeatherDash

Very nice! I like!

I would comment the difference is I have GUIs to set things up, for non-technical users. I did a survey of various projects and found most of them had a configuration step such as "now SSH into the box and input your API key". My mum is never going to do that I'm afraid.

Edit: not to poop on this mode of setting things up, it's good for personal projects but I'm trying to take another step here.

Of course! A setup GUI is almost a required feature if you intend to sell or give it to a non-programmer. That just wasn't the case for me.

This is a big feature and one that most hackers don't bother with because they consider it the least fun part. Advertise it!

> By the way, one of the interesting things that came out of this was me learning to create custom Linux distributions. I ought to devote a blog to the topic. It’s a lot easier than you might think!

I would like to read that!

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