A near perfect alarm clock

I tweeted a few weeks ago that I hate every alarm clock I've ever used.  Some took this to mean that I just hate the idea of alarm clocks or having to wake up.  What I really meant by this quip was that I despise the product design of every alarm clock I've used.  Universally, alarm clock functionality and programing is very poor.  There has been little innovation in over 25 years except to change the skin, improve the speakers and add cd/iPod source options.

I keep a list of features I'd put into an alarm clock and have been committed to either finding a suitable product or working on manufacturing it myself.  It may not be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but there's something valuable to gain by offering the standout version of a product that everyone uses and would be willing to replace if a substantially better option existed.

Well, I've got news.  I've purchased a product that comes close to meeting my expectations.  It's not perfect, but it's close enough to warrant a recommendation for a product line that I've only castigated in the past.

  

The American Innovative Neverlate Executive Alarm Clock has a lot going for it.  Here's a summary of the features that I think set it apart:

• Snooze duration is customizable
• There's a descending snooze option, which reduces the snooze time each time you hit snooze until it won't let you snooze anymore.
• The alarm volume is separate from the radio/sleep volume.
• The alarm duration is customizable.
• The clock illumination can be turned off, not just lowered (helpful if you like your bedroom to be as dark as possible)
• There are three alarm settings, which can be used in any combination: every day and two seven day alarms.
• There's a nap feature, which lets you set a quick alarm without changing your regular alarm.  Default duration is 20 min, but you can quickly adjust up/down from there.
• The snooze button is also a review button.  Hit it and you'll see when the next alarm is set to go off.  If you want to adjust the next alarm, you can easily do so when reviewing without changing your regular alarm.
• The alarm (beep, radio or media source through axillary jack) can be set to escalate in volume.
• You can easily skip the next alarm if you wake up before it goes off
• When you set the alarm, you begin adjusting from 7 am instead of 12 am.  The rotary dial is also quicker than the tradition button hold-down.
• It's small - 5" square
• Has a USB charging port (useful if you want to charge your phone on your nightstand)
• Includes radio station presets

You can purchase the alarm from Amazon link above for $50.  If they added a numeric keypad to set the time, more granular volume and back lighting control, required simultaneously pushing two buttons to turn the alarm off or relocated the off button, displayed the next alarm information without an additional button push and provided the option to have the time announced when the alarm goes off, I think this unit would be perfect.