Show HN: Timechief – My Smartclock Project (opens in new tab)

(jmorrice.dev)

49 pointsjmorrice2y ago19 comments

19 comments

16 comments · 5 top-level

jacknews2y ago· 6 in thread

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...

bradknowles2y ago

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.

1 more reply

jacknews2y ago

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.

dabluecaboose2y ago

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

jareklupinski2y ago

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 ;) )

1 more reply

chrisldgk2y ago

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.

1 more reply

matmann20012y ago· 3 in thread

Very cool.

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

https://github.com/Mrjohns42/WeatherDash

jmorriceOP2y ago

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.

matmann20012y ago

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.

tomsmeding2y ago

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

totalconfusion2y ago· 2 in thread

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

toast02y ago

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.

jmorriceOP2y ago

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.

jmorriceOP2y ago

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.

yjftsjthsd-h2y ago

> 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!

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

19 comments

16 comments · 5 top-level

jacknews2y ago· 6 in thread

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

jmorriceOP2y ago

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...

bradknowles2y ago

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.

1 more reply

jacknews2y ago

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.

dabluecaboose2y ago

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

jareklupinski2y ago

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 ;) )

1 more reply

chrisldgk2y ago

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.

1 more reply

matmann20012y ago· 3 in thread

Very cool.

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

https://github.com/Mrjohns42/WeatherDash

jmorriceOP2y ago

Very nice! I like!

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.

matmann20012y ago

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.

tomsmeding2y ago

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

totalconfusion2y ago· 2 in thread

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

toast02y ago

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.

jmorriceOP2y ago

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.

jmorriceOP2y ago

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.

yjftsjthsd-h2y ago

I would like to read that!

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse