we clock sit on the shelf in the living room by the tv . its a small dark cube as wide as a iPhone and half as tall . innocuous enough to be wife approve . when anyone want to know the time its a hand clap away . easily visible with the sun streaming through the skylight but still subdue enough in evening lighting . I do not use the alarm function in we application but it would chirp I out of a sound sleep . have be run on a pair of AAA battery since I receive it and I would expect they to last a year or so .