More iPhone clocks
October 21, 2009
There must be hundreds of clock apps in the iTunes App store! And there are a few 24 hour dials in there somewhere.
The Astrock app is a software version of the famous Prague Orloj.
The Earthclock app is a re-interpretation of the Think the Earth watch, but still a pleasing design.
Developers: if you want people to find and buy your 24 hour analog dial apps, don’t expect them to scroll through pages and pages of apps in the App store. Why not let the connoisseurs know directly, by getting your app displayed on this site? (If it’s interesting and relevant to this site, I’ll give it a mention. If it’s just another boring 12 hour clock, don’t expect one!)
Clock in Bern: the Zytglogge
October 4, 2009
This is a recent picture of the Zytglogge, the astronomical clock in Bern, Switzerland:
You can read a lot about it at Zytglogge – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
It’s hard to tell whether everything is working correctly. The picture was taken at 15:46 on Wednesday September 2. So the date seems right – the sun pointer at the bottom left is pointing to Herbstmonat 2, and the tiny window just below the top XII says Mittwoch. The other sun pointer in the zodiac ring is in the constellation of Virgo, which is also correct, I think. It’s only the time of day which I couldn’t easily find. That could be why there’s a simpler clock above it!
More iPhone clocks and watches
June 9, 2009
A few more 24 hour iPhone applications are appearing in the iTunes App Store. If you want to check any of these out, let me know how they work – I have no idea.
Here’s a familiar sight: the famous Shepherd Gate Clock at Greenwich, London. The Shepherd Gate Clock (this link is a link to the App Store) costs a modest dollar. I’m assuming that this is a genuine 24 hour analog clock. The time here is 20:10. It’s going to look a bit odd at midnight, with that sunlit brick wall…
This next one is a puzzle. It’s called iWatch, and it features an attractive rendering of three watches, including this Patek Phillippe watch with a 24 hour rotating dial. What looks like the hour hand is really the minute hand, and what looks like the minute hand is really the second hand. So the time on this picture is about 04:18:49.
(I’m not a big fan of the design, to be honest. The map is coarse, and that font isn’t attractive.) The real puzzle, though, is why this app is suddenly no longer available on the App Store, now that I want to provide a link to it.
The next app, nHands Clock, is a useful clock that lets you add as many hours hands as you like, with colour and labels of your choice. It’s a clever way of showing you the different time zones of people you know:
Finally, this excellent app is called 25h:
The idea is simple:
Feeling overstretched? 24 hours in a day is not enough? Then 25h is a clock for you.
Trick yourself into having 25 hours in a day. Get things done faster and have an extra “hour” for yourself.
Note that 25h does not modify time–space continuum (or your biological clock) to give you an extra hour. It simply makes the rest of your hours appear a little shorter so that enough time is saved for an additional shorter “hour” at the end of the day.
I know some people who set their watches fast – this is an interesting alternative.
Raketa Pocket watch
June 6, 2009
For a fascinating introduction to the world of Russian 24 hour watches, visit the russian24hours.info site, where Andrei writes knowledgeably about their history and variety:
A 24 hour watch is not just about the expanse of a large country or technological achievements – it is about a different way of looking at both time and space.
Here’s an inexpensive and practical pocket watch that I bought recently from the Zenitar store at eBay, with Victor at Zenitar providing excellent service. It’s a mechanical Raketa. I know nothing about it, other than its price, a mere $35!
I had it modified to make the hands luminous: they’re usually given a simple reflective finish that renders them invisible in certain lighting conditions. With the new coating, the extra contrast makes the watch readable in most lights.
It’s starting to look at bit battered. I might have to buy another one every six months!
Clock at staticfree
June 6, 2009
You and Me wall clock
June 6, 2009
I like this idea of this clock. You can attach extra hands to it, to indicate the time for others living in different time zones.
You can buy this from Wrapables.com for about $50. In Europe, try buying it from Charles and Marie.
Longines USAAF chronometer
June 6, 2009
This chronometer was probably used on a World War II USAAF bomber. Graham (on the Watchuseek forum) sold it recently through Bonhams of London.
Airnautic
May 3, 2009
From the Airnautic Watch Company web site:
The guiding design philosophy of AirNautic® Watch Company is to separate day and night as the elemental parameters of the perception of time. The course of the sun determines our regeneration phases and influences the biological processes of all life forms on our planet. In extreme conditions under water, in space, in the labyrinth of a cave system, or in a polar night, the holistic information on time can save lives. Being able to easily and instantly read this information at a glance is part of the philosophy and design concept of the new AirNautic Watch Company.
How can you not want one of these!?
Site move
April 26, 2009
I’ve just completed moving this site over to WordPress. If you’re reading this, we both made the move successfully. Apart from a few broken links, most of it appears to be OK. If anything isn’t working that should be, please let me know (there’s a Contact form on the Welcome page) .
This is a picture of my current screensaver project – a one-handed design. I’m still undecided as to whether I like the diluted precision.
Time is racing
March 29, 2009
The debut release from the San Diego three piece band “Spirit Photography” is called “Time is Racing”. The front cover features, appropriately, this astrolabe clock by Thomas Tompion.
Find them on myspace or at http://www.sacredbonesrecords.com/releases/sbr016/.
