Nintendo's Surprise: An Interactive Alarm Clock and a Mysterious Switch Online Playtest
A Nintendo interactive alarm clock? It's a surprising addition to 2024's tech landscape! Alongside the newly unveiled Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo, Nintendo has also launched a secretive Switch Online playtest.
The Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo – Wake Up in a Game World
Free Alarm Sound Updates on the Way!
Priced at $99, the Alarmo uses game sounds to coax you out of bed. Nintendo boasts that it makes you feel like you're waking up *inside* your favorite game. The clock features sounds from titles like Mario, Zelda, and Splatoon, with more free updates planned.The Alarmo's interactivity lies in its insistence on you actually leaving your bed. It won't shut off until you're fully up and moving, turning the act of rising into a "brief victory fanfare." While you can wave your hand in front of it to temporarily quiet the alarm, prolonged slumber will only make it louder.
Setting the alarm involves selecting a game, choosing a scene, and setting the time. The Alarmo's unique "radio wave sensor" tracks your distance and movement speed without using video, prioritizing privacy. Developer Tetsuya Akama explains that this radio wave technology allows for detection even in dark rooms or with obstacles, unlike camera-based solutions.
Exclusive Early Access for Switch Online Members
Nintendo Switch Online members in the US and Canada can purchase the Alarmo early via the My Nintendo Store. A limited-time offer, it's also available in person at the Nintendo New York store while supplies last.
A New Switch Online Playtest – Applications Open October 10!
Apply Now!
Nintendo has announced a Switch Online playtest, running from October 10th to 15th. This playtest involves a new feature for the Nintendo Switch Online service.
Up to 10,000 participants will be selected, with non-Japanese applicants chosen on a first-come, first-served basis. The application period may close early if the participant limit is reached. To apply, you must:
⚫︎ Have an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership by October 9th, 2024, 3:00 PM PDT. ⚫︎ Be at least 18 years old by October 9th, 2024, 3:00 PM PDT. ⚫︎ Have a Nintendo Account registered in Japan, the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, or Spain.
The playtest itself runs from October 23rd, 2024, to November 5th, 2024.
