From runaway robots to "sonic bombs," we reviewed offbeat alarm clocks designed to awaken even the heaviest sleepers. Not every alarm clock is created equal. Heavy sleepers know how easy it is to snooze through the overly genteel alarms on your phone. For people who can't get out of bed without a bigger jolt, extreme alarms have popped up in recent years--from relatively simple puzzle-alarm phone apps to alarms on wheels to alarms that shake the bed. Not only are these an innovative way to get chronic snoozers out of bed, but they can be great for those who are hard of hearing, utilizing different frequencies and pitches as well as movement through vibration.

Ancient Amazonians laid out their settlements in circles 700 years ago -- with radiating mounds and roads as may have represented the cosmos -- a study found. Experts led from Exeter used lidar-based sensing equipment mounted on helicopters to see below the canopy of the overlying rainforest in south Acre State, Brazil. The 35 mounded villages were constructed to the distinctive and repeated pattern by the ancient Acreans between around 1300–1700 AD. Deforestation and archaeological digs in Acre State has previously revealed the presence of large earthworks and circular mound villages. However, the full extent of the constructions, their layouts and their organisation across the region had been obscured by the dense forest until now.

Fitbit is releasing Fitbit OS 5.1 for the Sense and Versa 3, with a focus on improving health-tracking and improving voice assistance. The most important innovation is the ability to now take pulse oximetry readings when you're sleeping without the use of a dedicated clock face. That said, the company will also launch seven new SpO2 clock faces to the platform between now and the end of the year. In addition, users can now switch between Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa by choosing which option you'd prefer inside the companion app. And while Google wants to welcome Fitbit under its umbrella, the company isn't neglecting Alexa integrations on the platform, with OS 5.1 offering spoken responses to commands.

It seems like just about everything works with Alexa in some form or another, and the Echo Wall Clock is no exception. This timekeeper is Amazon's latest attempt to make everyday products easier to use--and it kind of succeeds at doing that. When using the clock, you can set multiple timers and reminders, and, instead of using your Amazon Echo speaker to keep track of how much time is left, you can see how much time remains when you look at the analog clock. That's because the Echo Wall Clock, which retails on Amazon for $29.99, has 60 LED tick marks that light up to show you how much time is left. It takes several minutes to get the Echo Wall Clock up and running, and you'll need an Echo speaker nearby to do so.

The firm's latest Alexa-powered addition to its Echo range adds a clock and touchscreen interface to the mix Mon 5 Feb 2018 04.00 EST Last modified on Mon 5 Feb 2018 04.02 EST Amazon's new Echo Spot is one of the most novel takes on a smart speaker yet, and while it is certainly more than just a smart clock, that's what it's best at – an attractive voice-assisted smart desk or bedside-table accessory. The Echo Spot is to the Echo Show what the Echo Dot is to the original Amazon Echo. That is to say, it can do everything the Echo Show can just in a smaller, cheaper ball-shaped device with a circular screen. That includes playing music, answering questions and showing the weather, video from cameras and the like. The Echo Spot is the first of Amazon's small army of voice-assistant speakers that can really be considered cute-looking. The 91mm-tall little black or white ball looks incredibly modern with just three buttons on the top and a crisp-looking 2.5in circular screen on the front.

I'll just come out and say it: Amazon's newest Echo hits the sweet spot. The Echo Spot fills a hole in Amazon's Alexa lineup that I didn't even know was there. With no less than six smart speakers, plus a variety of tablets and apps, I thought Amazon had its bases more than covered. There are Alexa options to handle every room, budget, and situation in need of a smart speaker. And if you can't find something in Amazon's stable, you can choose from a bevy of third-party Alexa-compatible devices.