Charging and using an iPhone as an alarm simultaneously is typically done through plugging the phone in and leaving it on a bedside table. A new Kickstarter project aims to make waking up fun, called Day Maker: the Charging iPhone Alarm Toaster by Habitco.

Looks, Works, Like a Toaster

Day Maker works by putting the iPhone or iPhones in the toaster, which pops up when the time arrives. Music plays, at least according to a prototype video on the Kickstarter page, with a clock on the front showing the time.

"With Day Maker, a bedside morning station/iPhone charger, you can add a little extra 'Pop' to your day when it's time to rise and shine. And if you're not quite ready to face the day, snooze on effortlessly by pushing your iPhone back into its slot. With Day Maker, waking on a schedule has never been easier or more fun. Or relaxing. Using Day Maker is a pleasure because it works exactly as you would imagine, just like a toaster. Once you set your iPhone's timer, simply load it into an open slot, press down gently, and you're good to go. And for a little added fun, we've even added a pull tab on the back, so you can set and pop multiple iPhones all at once," the makers said on Kickstarter.

Along with the stock iPhone Clock app, the Day Maker will work with a custom app. It will support playlist customization, the ability to see the weather and schedules. Users can even create what's called a "wake sequence," which can be shared with other Day Maker owners, though the feature isn't specifically explained. It could be a combination of the aforementioned app features. It'll be downloaded through iTunes.

See the video of the prototype device below:

Single Slices

Among the reward tiers available for pledges - $125 gets a Day Maker in white, red or grey, though a special offer as of writing nets a device for $100 - is an upgrade if $385,000 is raised. The goal is $275,000, but reaching the higher total allows users to switch to two single Day Makers - "Single Slices." People who order multiple day makers will be able to mix and match Single Slices; a switch pledge option allows users to get involved in the deal.

Manufacturing costs

The $275,000 goal includes multiple expenses: $10,000 for "miscellaneous charges" including travel expenses and app development; $20,000 for production engineering; $25,000 for Kickstarter and Amazon charges - both companies take around five percent of the raised cost; $80,000 for a minimum unit run, including international shipping; and $140,000 for part tooling and electronics.

A late 2012 release is possible, but the team has revised the date to February 2013 to support the iPhone 5, as a commonly asked question has been if the alarm clock will support future iPhones. Shipped worldwide, the charger will also be adaptable to U.S. and European markets.

See the full list of pledge tiers on the Kickstarter page.

(reported by Jonathan Charles, edited by Dave Clark)