My usual inexpensive kitchen timer is now too high-pitched and too soft for me to hear it clearly in other rooms. The Splash 'n' Drop has solved that problem. Its three volume settings and its loud, clear tone are just what I was looking for. It's also lower-pitched than a standard kitchen timer and beeps until it's stopped, so it can't be missed or ignored. (In case this matters, the pulsating tone sounds a bit like a home fire alarm.) It has a clock setting and also a back-light button that illuminates the dial for 4 seconds in case the numbers seems dark. But I find its half-inch high numbers very readable. The control button are easy to understand and navigate. The 2 small magnets on its back hold it securely on my refrigerator but it also has a sturdy "kick stand" if you want to use it on a counter top. One minor inconvenience: you need a small Phillips-head screwdriver to undo the four screws that open the battery compartment.) The first Splash 'n' Drop I received had a defective back-light. I sent it back and a had a perfectly working replacement in 2 days with no hassle.