Sleep Cycle alarm clock – Review
By App Type: Uncategorized
Our rating: 
By: LexWare Labs AB
Version #: 1.0 (iPhone OS 3.0 Tested)
Date Released: 2009-07-23
Developer:
Price: 0.99
User Rating:
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I’m a heavy sleeper, but since becoming a grown-up I have this internal alarm clock that tends to wake me up before my alarm clock actually goes off. Sadly, I rarely wake up rested. Thus, I thought I’d give the Sleep Cycle alarm clock a try. the developer says "Sleep Cycle monitors your movement during sleep using the extremely sensitive accelerometer in your iPhone. Sleep Cycle then finds the optimal time to wake you up during a 30 minute window that ends at your set alarm time."
My results were mixed.
I tried it for a week. The first few times didn’t particularly do anything. Then twice I felt rested when I got up. Then, back to the original morning crank. It’s possible that the supposed effect of using the app just doesn’t work on everyone. Or maybe it was because I was using an iPod touch and not an iPhone.
Upon opening the app, the user finds a toolbar at the bottom with five buttons. The first gives instructions on how to use the app by positioning the iPhone under one’s mattress (make sure it’s plugged in for power). The second is a calibration that you’re supposed to perform for the first two nights to let the program learn from your sleeping habits. The third is a settings tab that lets you select the sound for waking up or to recalibrate the program. The fourth is to set the time of the alarm. The fifth is a graph that gives you information about your sleep cycle.
Overall, it’s difficult to judge this particular app since I got such mixed results. For now, I’ll have to give it a "thumbs in the middle".
Quick Take
Value:Medium.
Would I Buy Again:Perhaps.
Learning Curve:Low.
Who Is It For:Those who wake up grumpy.
What I Like:Simple interface. Unique idea.
What I Don't Like:Mixed results.
Final Statement:A good night's sleep is worth a buck.
O U R T A K E ...
