Combining an alarm clock with 4.3in LCD screen may sound like a novel idea, but with the right functionality it’s certainly a good one. The HANNspree Photo Alarm Clock, however, does feel as though it cuts a few corners, yet its affordable price makes it an ideal gift for kids.

The preset clock-faces have a fair smattering of animal characters that seem more suited for youngsters. The ‘Sleep Mode’ – which plays music for 10, 30, 60 or 90 minutes – is perhaps more for the younger market too.

While the proposal of a calendar may be promising, its functionality is sparse, nor is the FM radio’s output one for the audiophile. The alarm settings don’t preview when selecting them, though, with the chirping bird noises and similar, it’s safer to stick with the radio.

The LCD display is a more promising offering and, despite the fairly low 480 x 272 pixel resolution, does display images well. The view angle is quite reasonable (except, oddly, from below), and JPEG files as large as 20MB were displayed relatively quickly.

However, the sheen of the cover is a bit reflective which disrupts viewing, and, as there’s no internal memory, the side USB socket provides the ability to connect a variety of devices. This would look better if it were on the rear, however, as a USB stick poking from the side doesn’t necessarily add visual appeal.