There is more than meets the eye with this product, in the way that it is being produced by that company that regularly makes cool TV sets, special sounding audio equipment and much more, called Sony. Not your usual Sony product, nothing special like the Rolly, nothing new and exciting, but a clock radio, which is “so much more than just a clock radio,” as the Sony officials say. We'll see about that in the lines to come.

This gadget right here is called the ICF-C717PJ and will bring you the time on any wall you wish, as it integrates a projector as well. It is only for showing you the time on the ceiling, not movies or anything, you know, when you hear the alarm clock in the morning, you will not have to turn to see the time, as it will look you straight in the eyes.

Also, it has a universal audio jack so that you can listen to your favorite music directly from your MP3 player, not just from the favorite radio station that can be on any of the AM/FM bandwidths, the ICF-C717PJ is the kind of clock radio that supports both of them. If you are not in the mood for music, the “special” Sony product comes with a generous array of five sounds inspired by nature.

But wait, Sony's latest invention is also a thermometer. Perhaps I should have started with this feature, since it is clearly the most practical of them all. And it runs on both battery and AC adapter. What Sony has managed to preserve from their old bouquet of features that they have gotten us used to is giving their gadget an OK exterior brushed aluminum finish.

Now for the really bad news, which I am sure will make you all sob, the ICF-C717PJ clock radio from Sony will not be available until April. What a shame.


We are just a few, but there are many of you, Softpedia users, out there. That's why we thought it would be a good idea to create an email address for you to help us a little in finding gadgets we missed. Interesting links are bound to be posted with recognition going mainly to those who submit. The address is .