Now & Zen

Did You Know?

• Now & Zen holds two U.S. patents covering design and utility aspects of its chiming alarm clocks: U.S. Patent No. Des. 390,121 (issued February 3, 1998) and U.S. Patent No. US 6,819,635 B2 (issued November 16, 2004).
• The Zen Alarm Clock has been reviewed by major media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, the Good Morning America television show, The Washington Post, and Good Housekeeping Magazine.

Products

All Now & Zen products were invented and designed by founder and former CEO Steve McIntosh. Early on the company produced a variety of household products, later focusing on alarm clocks and timers. The Zen Alarm Clock uses progressive acoustic chimes to wake people gradually. In 2001 a portable digital version was introduced, and in 2005 the company launched The Zen Timepiece, an alarm clock and timer with a six-inch brass bowl-gong.

Criticism

The Zen Alarm Clock’s New Age branding drew a mixed reception. New York Times critic William L. Hamilton compared it to “a monk losing his temper — om to OM! Now! Tranquil, tenacious — the Dalai Lama as drill sergeant.” Dads Magazine described the triangular model’s look as a “hippie carpenter contraption” but appreciated its gradual, gentle wake-up. The company also saw failures, including The Affirmation Station from 1998, which played personal affirmations at wake-up but was pulled from sale after three years.