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Comment by jacknews | Hacker News Reader

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...

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.

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

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.

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.

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