A some of you know, I have always been trying to improve the quality of my hyperbusy life.Continuous commitments with different things keep me always short of time to do all what I want to do, and I think I am not the only one!
Recently the Austrian Axbo company was kind enough to send me one of their latest models of clocks for review, the Axbo Sleep Phase Alarm Clock...
How is a sleep alarm clock different from any other clock?
The main difference between a regular alarmt clock and the Axbo Sleep Phase Alarm Clock lies on WHEN the clock wakes you up.
If you know about sleep –and if not you should get informed as this is a crucial part of your life-, you may know that we all go through different cycles while sleeping, falling in and out of deeper and deeper sleep phases as the night progresses.
Some of us sleep better than others, but most of us attain REM sleep at some point during the night. During the deepest phase of sleep, most of our biological functions get regenerated, and ready for the next day. This is also the time where we are truly “recharging our batteries”, if you may. And this is the time that your body does not want you to be woken at!
The reason for this is that, as theory goes, if you are suddenly woken during one of these deep sleep phases, you feel pretty tired. This sensation may last for a few hours or for the whole day, but the end result is always the same: going through chores is harder than usual...you know that you didn’t sleep well...you may be even grumpy because of it.
Now contrary to this situation, it is also said that if you manage to wake someone up softly at the exact time when they are not sleeping deeply, this makes the person feel pretty refreshed and well rested upon awakening, and this sensation can also last for many hours...generally improving the quality of our life.
Now here is where the Axbo Sleep Phase Alarm Clock comes in. This cutting edge clock promises to do just that, getting you to feel each morning “as fresh as a lettuce”, as they say in Spain...but does it deliver?
My experience with the Axbo Sleep Phase Alarm Clock
The clock is set by means of a scroll whell and a couple of buttons quite well hidden on its side.The first time I set it up, I had some difficulty getting used to the scroll whell system, but after that it is pretty instinctive to set up. (I had to look at the instructions again the next day to remember how to turn the alarm off, but that is just me, maybe you have a better memory! J)
The overal waking experience with the clock has been, after almost two weeks of testing, quite satisfactory. The clock, through a sensor in a wrist-strap provided (actually, there are two provided with the clock) detects when is the best time to wake you up in the half hour preceeding your set wake up time. Why does it do this? Simply because at the exact time that you set the clock to, you may be sleeping deeply and it would be a pretty bad time to wake you up!
Thus, based on the information that the wireless sensor on your wrist is sending to it, the clock will wake you just at the “right” time, in the minutes preceeding your chosen wake up time.
Does it work? YES, it sure does! Not only has the clock helped me to wake up feeling refreshed every single time I have used it –about eleven times so far- but it has also allowed me to have a full day work, then go to sleep say...for two hours, and then wake up to keep on working without feeling extremely tired. (in fact, feeling quite ok)
So, in theory, there are at least two ways that the clock can help you: it makes you feel better when you wake up every day, and it allows you to naturally increase your sleep debt on the occassions when you may need it, without using Red Bull, coke, coffee, or any other stimulant, which you know I am not very fond of.
(Of course you will need to recoup the hours that you don’t sleep at some time, since cutting off radically in your sleep can harm your health, unless you sistematically follow a routine to get used to Polyphasic sleep.)
The clock also features some pre-determined sounds (waves, forest...) that you can use to help you sleep. Although I have not used those, it is a great idea to have them there in case you need them!
The Axbo sleep alarm clock is also nice as a present
The clock comes in a pretty double folded cubical box. The futuristic corporate orange black and white colour combination make the box quite pleasing to look at.
This is the first thing I liked about it, since it would ensure a good first impression if you are giving this clock as a present to someone else. (and it is a great present.. I mean who wouldn’t like to feel refreshed when they wake up? Who do you know that doesn’t sleep?)
Usage and features
The clock comes with all the accessories you will need for it, including a lightweight charger with very handy adaptors for different countries: UK, US, European, etc...so wherever you go you’ll be able to use and recharge the clock.
There are also in the package two wristbands, so that the clock can wake up two people at the optimum time. This is quite handy, and together with the software provided –a cool little application that lets you see your sleep patterns in graph form- can analyze the quality of your sleep for the two people using the device.
The clock itself looks pretty nice, a square-shaped all white plastic box with small round corners and a unique, hidden set of three buttons on the top right corner.
The company also offers a power nap option when you register your clock on their website, axbo.com, which is at the moment a software update –easy to do with the USB cable that connects to the clock- but in the future will come already as part of the clock’s functions.
Is the Axbo’s price justified?
I would say...definitely, it is. The clock has proved not only to do exactly what it says it would do, but also to do it effectively, every time. It is also well built and comes with two wireless bracelets.
If you are not spending money on things that can really improve the quality of your life, what are you spending your money on?
The Axbo is definitely one of those devices I bought through the years that I would call “a good investment”. Moreover, I believe that this clock will be able to its job for many more years to come. And this doesn’t happen too often with gadgets!
Also being so minimalistic whitey-modern, the clock looks nice wherever you place it, and with the software updates you could add options to it that are not present in the model you buy, keeping always up to date.
So my final verdict is that yes, the price is ok, if you look at it for what it is: not an alarm clock, but rather an advanced little computer that looks like a clock!
What’s the best about it?
Well, as you know, design is very important for me. And the Axbo clock doesn’t dissapoint on that front. I love the translucent blue-lit screens that you can turn on with the push of a button in the wristband. It is also good that the modern, yet neutral design of the clock and its functionality make it a good present that nobody could dislike on first sight.
Of course, the functions of the clock, which are the most important thing, are also quite satisfactory. The clock really wakes you up at a good time, as it promises.
What could be improved upon?
This product is quite good as it is, so I feel only minor details could be bettered in the clock, none of them affecting either its operation or the quality of your sleep:
- the quality of the wrist strap could perhaps be improved. Somehow I have the impression that it won’t look good for too long if I wear it every day. I don’t particularly like the grey colour either, but understand that any other colour would be a risky choice, and white would get dirty far too soon. (What about black? Yes, I know it would not match the clock, I know J ...but still! Orange would match the brand colours, but looks ridiculous on your wrist!)
Another thing I would get rid of is the weird SPAC little rubber label on the side of the clock. In my opinion, it spoils the general minimalistic design of the clock so much, that I am considering getting rid of it altogether! (don’t tell anybody)
Maybe the Axbo guys could get rid of it or perhaps place it, in tiny letters, painted inside the clock itself. Either case, I don’t know what SPAC means, and I doubt that other people would care for it either. (I was later told by the company that it is the abbreviation for Sleep Phase Alarm Clock)
The size of the clock is also something that I would change in the next models. Does it really have to be that big? It is not like massive or anything, but I have a cluttered drawer on my bed side table, and the clock has had a hard time competing for space with my lamp, a couple of books and my breakfast tray when I work from the bed.
Should it be possible, it would be nice to have the sound quality improved, although I realise that this may be to much to ask for, particularly if in the future Axbo makes this clocks smaller.
In conclusion: a great alarm clock that can help you feel well rested every day
The main promise behind the Axbo sleep alarm clock is that it can help you attain a better quality of life by waking you up at an optimum moment. Does it do this? Yes it does, and pretty well, thank you!
Would I recommend it? Yes, definitely. You can buy it through their website:
Get one of your own and start enjoying better quality of sleep now!
Javier Marti.
Author. Futurist. Consultant.
Founder of Trendirama.com, Trendinews.com and Trendirama.tv
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