Since I live in a non muslim country, there is no adhan. One of my PC literate friends ask me to implement a azan playing feature into my existing web app. So I did. Benefit:
you don’t need to install any software on your pc/mac, just go to my web app, and it knows where you are, so then it knows the prayer times for your location and will automatically play the adhan when the time is right.
So she now has my web app open in her pc all the time in one of the the browser tabs. This lead me to an idea.
It consumes quite less power compared to a laptop and it is €50 in price, it has a lot of functionality, it can play internet radio, has fm radio, has a touch screen, can show weather info, can even play youtube and has an app store etc etc …
The main point is that it is quite cheap.
So now what I am thinking is that I will put my software on it, along with the existing functionality of this device and sell it for say 70 €.
You just get it , and put it in your home, you just configure the WiFi, that’s all. It will automatically sound the alarm at the right time.
Now the question. If this was available for purchase would you buy it or do you think this is even useful ?
"no nation has shown less reluctance to adopt the useful invention of others; for example, they have appropriated to their own use large and small cannons and many other of our discoveries. They have, however, never been able to bring themselves to print books and set up public clocks. They hold that their scriptures, that is, their sacred books, would no longer be scriptures if they were printed; and if they established public clocks, they think that the authority of their muezzins and their ancient rites would suffer diminution" Roman ambassador in Istanbul, 1560
I do not think hardware device is such a feasible idea. How many people do you think would purchase it? i would rather focus on the software product. Why dont you make it into a desktop app that sits on the system tray (eg GTalk) and sends a notification/play the Azaan according to your time zone. It would be small in size, plenty of people will download and hence you will be able to reach a wider audience. You could also make its smartphones/tablets version on Android Platform. People buy apps for their cellphones and tablet devices like crazy these days.
Or put halal ads on it and send it to people who sign up for it free of cost.
Did you know that using ads in your apps would make you more money than actually selling the items/sofware for dirt cheap?
