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In today's world, it's as if every business is trying to bring old technology to life through the power of the Internet. We have smart locks, smart lights, smart vacuums, so why not a smart alarm clock? But with so many people choosing to set alarms on their phones rather than manage an additional device, what is this? First, it is much more fun (and easier) to suspend an alarm with a smack than to press a random software button on the phone you just hit the ground.
Amazon was one of the first to give the idea to do a test with Echo Spot in 2017, but even after more than a year and a half, Google has still not published a real alternative to people invested in Google Home ecosystem. But that's where Lenovo hopes to make a name for itself with its new clock called simply Smart Clock.
What is it?
A smart alarm clock powered by Google Home and the Google Assistant
As
Beautiful design, no built-in camera, dedicated mute switch, simple interface
Do not like it
Can not play videos, audio quality is just acceptable, seems a bit expensive
As part of the Google Home ecosystem, Lenovo's $ 80 smart clock is basically a Google Home Mini with a 4-inch screen. Lenovo has even talked a bit about Google's style with the Smart Clock, which features a simple design with rounded edges and a gray mesh fabric that looks a lot like what you've found on a local Google Home device.
However, I like that. Instead of volume touch controls, Lenovo has opted for dedicated volume increase and decrease buttons, which are much easier to use than those offered on Google Home Mini. But what I like most about Lenovo's smart clock is that after an alarm goes off, you can put it to sleep just by tapping the device.
There is no special repeat button that you have to aim for, all you want is exactly what you want when your sleeping brain only wants 10 minutes more. And since the plastic and fabric construction of the Smart Clock is solid enough, I have never been afraid that it can not stand the blows.
Like any other smart speaker using the Google Assistant, you can use your voice to tell Smart Clock to play music, check the weather, control your other smart devices, or anything else you normally do. Meanwhile, this 4-inch screen has a very simple user interface that allows you to slide your finger to the left to access a screen dedicated to all your alarms, up to access the device settings or to the right to bring back the main dial of the clock. You can also slide your finger down to view a small selection of useful shortcuts for alarms, active routines, currently defined music controls, and what I consider to be its most useful feature: a rocker switch for intelligent lighting nearby.
It's very convenient, because you sometimes want to type something to turn off your room (for example, when the room is sleeping) instead of shouting with Google for help, and since the Smart Clock will probably live on a bedside table or bedside table, it's already in an ideal position. And as long as you make sure that the Smart Clock is added to the correct room during setup, you will not have to tweak or customize it, because the device automatically knows what smart lights are in your room. sleep.
Unfortunately, aside from its wake-up function that slowly illuminates the Smart Clock's display before an alarm goes off, that's about all Smart Clock display can do. You can not use the smart clock to watch YouTube videos, send videos via Chromecast, or make video or audio calls. Now, some people might ask you why you would even want to do these things on something with a 4 x 800 x 480 screen, but at the same time, why not? Especially when you consider that although it costs $ 50 more than the Smart Clock, these are all things that $ 130 Echo Spot can do.
That said, the part about not handling video calls is understandable, because even though the Smart Clock has an ambient light sensor to prevent the screen from blowing your eyes at night, it has no traditional built-in camera, which makes you feel better about a gadget that lives in the bedroom. And if you do not want Smart Clock to listen to you, there is also a dedicated microphone switch.
As for the audio quality of the Smart Clock, it is at the same level as a Google Home Mini. If you listen carefully, the Smart Clock seems to have slightly better bass and perhaps even richer mediums. However, as its speakers are located on its top, which is tilted up and back, depending on its location and location in your room, the sound of the Smart Clock is not always as saturated as you wish.
But my big question about the Smart Clock is not so much about its capabilities or functionality, but about adapting to the more populated lives of people. In a world where so many people simply use their phone as an alarm clock, Lenovo's Smart Clock seems a little superfluous. Simply putting your phone on a stand (or, better still, on a wireless charging stand) offers almost the same kind of functionality as the Smart Clock.
And if you still want a dedicated device for processing voice requests, Google Home Mini at $ 30 is a cheaper and simpler alternative. And that does not even affect Google's recent behavior of launching Google Home Minis for free via promotions with seemingly all big companies. Also, with the price of Google's Nest Hub (formerly Google Home Hub) is currently listed at just $ 99. For just one more Andrew Jackson, you can pick up a more robust Smart Home device that can use its screen for more than just time display.
Thus, the smart clock feels less like an essential part of your smart home arsenal than as a luxury gadget for people who are always enthusiastic or nostalgic for the idea of a dedicated bedside clock, even with more modern sensibilities. like the Lenovo Smart Clock. The smart clock has a place, but as it is pinched on both sides by Google Home Mini and Google Nest Hub, it is rather small. Lenovo's smart clock is cute, useful, and a great addition to rooms that do not already have some kind of smart speaker, but I still hope it will offer a little more. Why, oh why, does not this thing support video?
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- The Smart Clock is basically Google Home Mini with a screen and a handful of convenient alarm controls.
- Even if it has a 4-inch screen, the Smart Clock unfortunately can not play videos.
- The simplified user interface is easy to use and comes with a convenient toggle switch to control nearby smart lights.
- Snapping the smart clock to repeat an alarm will never get old.
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