CNET Editors' review
It's one world, but keeping track of the time on the other side of the planet requires a little help and a better timepiece than the Windows system clock. One of the best is Sharp World Clock, as clean and accurate a handle as the international timekeepers it displays. You can easily set it to display any number of configurable digital or analog clocks at once in a row or grid; change their sizes, colors, backgrounds, and other aspects; and display national flags for quick visual identification. You can also show day or night indicators, sunrise and sunset times, lunar phases, time zones, and more. It also boasts a zoom-capable world map depicting day and night areas, a configurable alarm clock, a calendar with a reminder feature, and the ability to add your own audio files for alarm sounds.
Both the clocks the program creates and its efficient, intuitive interface are unusually attractive and competently configured without being cluttered or garish, making subtle but effective use of color for highlighting and emphasis, even in the command dialogs. The clocks themselves, and the analog clock faces in particular, have high visual impact and readability, even at distance or a glance, but without resorting to flashy, distracting designs. In fact, they make good use of Vista-style highlighting to achieve the look of real instruments instead of a virtual display.
Sharp World Clock is free to try for 15 days and costs $29. It works in all versions of Windows from 98 to 7.
Publisher's Description
From Johannes Wallroth:
Sharp World Clock is a desktop world clock program with a variable number of re-sizable analog or digital clocks, in a horizontal or vertical line or in a grid arrangement. It provides an accurate time zone or daylight time information. Clocks can be undocked from the main window and resized without loss of quality. Editable configuration presets and selectable colors, background images, and transparency. Analog clocks feature editable clock hands and numbers, country flags, and a graphical representation of the day, night sky and an out-of-office dimmer, and hourly or quarterly chimes and spoken time.
What's new in this version: Version 5.52 updates sky strip on the clocks each minute instead of each hour.
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All versions:
4.7 starsout of 89 votes
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Current version:
0 stars Be the first to review this product -
My rating:
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"The Only Choice In Clocks"
Version: Sharp World Clock 5.47
Pros
I stumbled accross this fantastic application a year back and was very impressed then, amazing too see further improvements and cant beleive how responsive, passionate & commited the delevoper is to the delevopment to this brilliant program for my trading not to mention having family overseas, tens & tens features over any other clock application to describe & rock solid stable, so try it out for free. NO 1 application In Clocks. 9.5/10
Cons
None Found.
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"A GREAT desktop product for HAM RADIO operators!"
Version: Sharp World Clock 5.46
Pros
Easy and fun to set-up. Great for the computer desktop for every amateur radio station. I have mine set up with clocks for major cities around the world and positioned stategically on a world map. I can always see the exact time of day (or night) of any radio station that I contact anywhere on earth! Great for the logbook. There are plenty of great features included in this program. Works flawlessly.
Cons
None the I have found.
Summary
Highly recommended for the serious Ham Radio DX'er!!!
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"Simply the BEST!"
Version: Sharp World Clock 5.42
Pros
I work as an international support person and love this very practical tool. Initially I installed and tested several different software solutions, but decided for SHARP WORLD CLOCK:
It is fully customizable
It has many different features
I like the visual design
The hot keys are practical.
It works perfectly
WOW: I suggested an additional feature I needed... and this was implemented by the software programer in a very short time. Thank you, Johannes!Cons
Absolutely None!
Summary
Go for it! You will not regret it!
This IS the BEST on the market! -
"THE BEST clock out there, paid, trialware or freeware!"
Version: Sharp World Clock 5.33
Pros
Unheard-of amount of customization options
Great transparency options
Chrome-less appearance options
Tons of great built in designs
Use your own alarm sounds
As many clocks as you want 1 to untold!
TOP-FAVE: F-Key options! 1 turns off my monitor!Cons
Can't think of a single one.
Summary
I am always trying out new software and I NEVER write reviews, except... well, when something really get's me mad... but I have to write about this one, because I searched for months (really) to find something this good!
This is the BEST clock I've found for Win 7. It's the most customizable in looks and sounds & has a great, intuitive interface. I LOVE this new version but I am sticking with the earlier release (for now) because I'm so attached to some of the previous versions features! I'm torn between the two versions and have switched installations a few times already, because each version is so dramatically different (check out Johannes' site for the previous version and a bunch of other great stuff). But it's the ONE program I have installed (besides RocketDock) in the past couple of years that I just never get unhappy with (and for me, that really says a lot, I'm not very forgiving)!
[Start of rather lengthy back-story on this] I had promised Mr. Wallroth that I would write a review for his first release of this program (well over a year ago) and am finally doing it, but instead, it's for this version, though I'd like to keep true to my word and cover a bit of the first version. I had to reinstall WinVista (ugh!) a ways back and lost my registration number for the first version with the rest of my data. I sent a note to Johannes via his website to ask if he could help, because I couldn't remember what email address I used for the registration (which I needed to recover the number). I gave him a list of some possibilities and I was elated to have very quickly received a reply with the number! I had mentioned how much I liked his software and gave him a little story about my rather rigorous searches and he asked if I would put that in a review.
I can't believe I can like a program so much. I actually have sentiment toward it. You see, I installed a LOT of junk before, as well as after Sharp World Clock, that not only was ugly, but just didn't work very well. I just wanted a good, working alarm clock for my laptop when my real clock died. I didn't really even need it, but I liked having it there (for occasions I didn't have my 'pocket-watch-that-doubles-as-a-cellphone handy). But I thought, why not put one on my laptop and keep from having to put more stuff in my minimalist (and somewhat small) bedroom.
Finally, I found this gem! I waded through a lot of freeware, but I had ZERO PROBLEMOS with the inexpensive price for this! If 'Windows' ever advances (for real) and this program doesn't work on the next version, ...I'm not gonna upgrade Windows until a version that works comes out!
Cheers!
Ivar -
"The Only One"
Version: Sharp World Clock 5.0
Pros
I can not imagine a feature you would want in a clock app that is not included in Sharp World Clock.
Cons
It makes other clock programs look dumb.
Summary
I have reviewed this app before and version 5 has outdone itself. I like to trade on world markets like forex and I use this program to remind me when markets are opening or close. That is super easy with alarms and office hours. I can only think of about 100 other reasons to use it. If you need an app for even one other time zone I wouldn't bother with the others, I did and this is the one I was looking for. It is fun to configure and is really sharp.
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"Cr�me de la Cr�me"
Version: Sharp World Clock 4.85
Pros
WOW... this is one amazing program! We love it! It's amazing. Everything we need all in one place. This is a clock program we cannot live without!
Cons
None! No cons whatsoever!
Summary
WOW!
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"great product"
Version: Sharp World Clock 4.85
Pros
easy to set up and use very informative
Cons
not any really
Summary
same as above
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"I absolutely love this utility!"
Version: Sharp World Clock 4.85
Pros
I work with a lot of people around the world. I was always trying to figure out is it night or day, what's their offset from GMT, etc. This utility has eliminated all of that for me! I love it!
Cons
I honestly can't think of one!
Summary
I highly recommend this utility to anyone who has to deal with people in different timezones. I use this every, single day. BUY this program. It's simple and effective. LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!
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"Excellent!"
Version: Sharp World Clock 4.85
Pros
Visual
Easy to use/setup/modify
Loved the customisationCons
None that can be seen
30 day trial.Summary
Userful product to have sit on your desktop.
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"Fantastic Utility!"
Version: Sharp World Clock 4.85
Pros
I travel a LOT and have been using the Sharp World Clock for several years. It helps me avoid those calls when you have to say "Oh sorry, I forgot the 9 hour time difference..." Keep up the fine work - I don't know what I'd do without it.
Cons
None that I can think of.
Summary
If you travel internationally - BUY THIS PROGRAM. I don't feel that way about too many pieces of my software but this one is well worth the money. If you avoid a single embarrassing call that wakes someone in the middle of their night, it is money well spent. Stop looking for something free because you'll get exactly what you pay for. This is the BEST!
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