Sleep Cycle
~The Gentle Alarm Clock~
By Annika Fillion
About the App
Sleep Cycle is an alarm clock that has the capability to track your sleep patterns. This allows the app to be able to wake you up during the lightest part of your cycle. This means that you will wake up easier than you would be able to if you were in a deep sleep. This enables you to wake up feeling refreshed and relaxed.
How It Works
Step One- Alarm
Make sure to set your alarm the night before. It will wake you up in a span of 30 minutes; the time varies depending when the lightest stage of your sleep cycle occurs.
Step Two- Location
Place your phone on your nightstand or on your bed to begin recording data when you go to sleep.
Step Three- Results
In the morning, the app will have recorded data on your sleep cycle. The information will include: How long you slept, the amount of time you spent in bed, and the stages of your sleep.
Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock iPhone App Demo
Limitations
There are many features unavailable to members that do not pay for a premium account.You are unable to compare your average sleep cycle data to the world average. You cannot rate your wake up mood, measure your heart rate, or write notes about how you slept.
Battery Life
The app uses a good chunk of your battery. If your phone is not plugged in, on average, 30% of battery will be used during the night. Since I do not have an outlet near my bed, my battery life quickly disappears. If you need to use your phone throughout the entire day, this is a major issue.
User Friendliness
Sleep Cycle is extremely user friendly. There is a walk through when you first open up the app to show you how to use it with simple instructions, and the sleep cycle data is easy to decipher. Anyone would be able to use this app due to its simple design, and easy to use features.
Rating
I would rate Sleep Cycle as a four out of five stars. Overall, it is a good app, but there are many limitations. I would recommend this app to anyone who has a hard time getting up in the morning. This app is a simple solution to ensure that you get your full seven hours of sleep each night, and helps to ensure a better morning routine. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good night's rest.