How to use the online alarm clock
Preparing the newspaper’s print forms before they are needed gives you time to catch missing pages, unclear labels or last-minute corrections. Set the alarm for 1:40 am as an early checkpoint, then use the remaining stretch before 2:00 am to finish the forms and leave the morning edition ready for its next stage.
A press room, printer or late-night radio can easily drown out a quiet signal, so test the alarm volume from the place where you will actually be working. Keep the page open and the computer awake throughout the session; otherwise the browser alarm cannot sound, and the newspaper forms may pass their planned checkpoint unnoticed. If background machinery runs intermittently, choose a volume that remains audible during its louder cycle rather than judging it during a quiet pause.
While preparing an edition at this hour, have a simple drink and a small, familiar snack within reach before 1:40 am, so fetching them does not interrupt a final check. Water or a warm caffeine-free drink suits a short overnight task; a large meal can wait until the forms have been handed on. Keep anything spillable away from proofs, notes and the keyboard, particularly when the room is dim and attention is fixed on the morning pages.
Common questions
What happens if my laptop goes to sleep before 1:40 am?
The tab sleeps along with it and the alarm will not sound on time, if at all. If you are relying on it, change the power settings so the machine stays awake, or keep a phone alarm running as well.
Do I need an account or an app?
Neither. Choose a time and a sound, press Start, and it runs in this browser tab. Nothing is downloaded, nothing is registered, and closing the page leaves nothing behind on the device.
Can I change the sound?
Yes, there is a short list of tones to pick from before you press Start. Softer sounds are easy to sleep through, so a firmer bell tends to be the safer choice for anything early in the morning.
Will it still be right when the clocks change?
Yes. It reads your device's local clock, so the move between GMT and BST at the end of March and October is picked up automatically, as long as the computer's date, time and time zone are set correctly.
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