Gizmodo: hourglass

Hourglass Lantern Drains LED Light Instead of Sand

Sean Fallon — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:15:00 EST

This interesting lantern concept from designer Young Bok Kim puts a modern twist on the ancient hourglass by draining the light from LEDs instead of sand.

By adjusting the dial in the center, you can control how fast the light "flows" from top to bottom. However, I can't see it as being all that practical because it would be hard to tell precisely how "full" the bottom is getting. Still, it would definitely be cool as a conversation piece. [Yanko]

Hourglass Coffee Maker Should Be Renamed 12-Hour Plastic Disappointment

Mark Wilson — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:20:00 EST

We took one look at the electricity-free Hourglass Coffee Maker and thought it a simplistic, design-forward product. And then we examined the brewing process...

To be fair, the basic concept of the Hourglass is simple. You put grounds to soak in the bottom, then you flip it to filter your coffee into the empty chamber. Kind of neat, right?

Except it's not that simple.

The system uses cold brewing, meaning that you load system with grounds and water before waiting 12+ hours to brew. Once it's brewed and you do the fun flippy part, you still don't have coffee. You have something called "coffee extract." So you heat some water and add two shots of the extract. And then you finally have coffee.

On the plus side, the system does promise to brew coffee with far lower acid content than traditional methods. In case you're interested, the Hourglass Coffee Maker goes for $70. [Hourglass]

Hourglass Watch Concept Design

Brian Lam — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 21:10:20 EST

Instead of digital digits, or sweeping hands, this concept watch gives its face an hourglass form. And tells time using LCD pixels like so many trickling grains of sand.–Brian Lam

Hourglass Watch [Table of Malcontents]

Digital Hourglass Demolishes Sand Import Industry

Jason Chen — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 14:49:48 EST

Not quite as DIY-looking as the other digital hourglass, this Digital Timer combines computing technology with century old stylings to make for one dorky looking desk gadget. It has a 100 minute timer and a stopwatch, plus a digital readout in case the virtual sand nuggets are too confusing.

A price of $17.95 makes for a cheap gift for the boss you hate. Hell, give one to your kids as well. You're not a big fan of them either. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Brookstone via Green Head via
uber gizmo]

Hourglass Clock for Mom

Charlie White — Fri, 05 May 2006 14:59:06 EDT

With Mother's Day just around the corner, if you've worn out the flowers-and-candy thing, start thinking gadgets for mom: clocks, beautiful things, even if they're not exactly new, such as this hourglass desk clock.

Designed by David Dear, it shows the hours on the bottom and minutes up top, runs on one AA battery, and will get you some AAA smiles from mom. The price is right, too—it's 33 bucks. What better gift to give the one who gave you all the time you'll ever have?

Product page [via popgadget]