Lenovo works with Google on smart digital alarm clock with Assistant integration

Lenovo and Google will jointly release a digital clock for the bedside table with Google Assistant support. This so-called Smart Clock is mainly intended for functions related to displaying the time or setting an alarm.

The Smart Clock has a 4″ screen with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels, has 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage memory and a single 3W speaker. The device can be considered a smaller version of the Smart Display, a smart display with Google Assistant that Lenovo announced last year. However, there is no camera for video calling and viewing videos or photos is not possible. There are some functions around the usual alarm clock function and users can use the device further as you can with other Google Assistant devices.

For example, users can play music, request the weather forecast, or control other smart home devices with a voice command. In addition, the top of the device can be touched once to snooze an alarm or twice to silence the alarm. Half an hour before the alarm goes off, the Smart Clock increases the screen brightness, going from a dark to a light color. This should simulate a virtual sunrise, the idea being that this gradual increase in light ensures a calmer wake-up.

Google and Lenovo see this Smart Clock as a new form factor, a new category of device that is distinct from a larger, smart screen. The Lenovo Smart Clock is designed to show users only the information they need when they go to sleep or wake up. There is also a USB connection for charging a smartphone, for example. The smart clock will be released in the spring and will cost $80.