It is hard to top the originality of the wireless speaker lamp, but I guess the tape timer nailed it right on and managed to be more groundbreaking:

Whimsical timer uses a tape measure to track minutes and seconds. Simply pull up on the ring, adjust to desired time and the tape will automatically retract as the seconds tick by.

Other than the uncommon way of displaying the time, it works like all the other normal timers which means that it emits a sound after the time is up. Strangely enough, it doesn't need batteries to work and by the uniqueness of the thing I believe the price is a bargain - $8.

Via Stuffiti