Probably the best alarm clock in the world
(and definitely my gadget of the year)
Thursday December 17th 2009, 11:53


It's not that I don't do mornings, but I've never liked a rude awakening. And that's how every alarm clock I've ever owned has greeted me when it's time to get up.

Until now that is because I'm now the proud owner of an aXbo Sleep Phase Alarm Clock.

True, the price tag of £179 isn't for the feint of heart, but I honestly couldn't imagine waking up without one now.

You set the the aXbo Sleep Phase Alarm Clock as you would any other alarm clock - for say 7:30am. But instead of waking you up bang on the dreaded minute, this little beauty identifies sleep phases from your body movements and determines your optimal waking time within 30 minutes of the required time.

So it might wake you up at 7:24am instead. And if it does, you'll wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed. Seriously.

It monitors your body's biorhythms by way of a sensor that is integrated into a wristband that you wear in bed. I actually don't even wear a watch so wasn't sure how I would feel wearing the wristband at night, but within seconds of putting it on you don't even know you're wearing it. And you've no idea that it's monitoring your biorhythms either.

In fact, the aXbo Sleep Phase Alarm Clocks comes with a second wristband for your partner to wear. He or she can choose a different wake up time and can choose a different wake up noise too.

This alarm clock will even help you go to sleep. You can ask it to play calming sounds - like the sound of waves lapping against a shore - and the sounds dim out automatically as soon as you have fallen asleep.

In the interests of scientific investigation, I didn't use the aXbo for two nights and went back to my old radio alarm clock. And hated it.

The benefits of a good night's sleep shouldn't be underestimated. Waking up at the optimum time for your body pays off for the rest of the day. In fact so impressed am with my aXbo Sleep Phase Alarm Clock that it's my Gadget Of The Year 2009.

The aXbo Sleep Phase Alarm Clock is available online from Boots price £179.








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