Review: Awaken easier with “Sleep Cycle” for iPhone
After I first got my 3Gs and began traveling, I yearned for a consistent time piece on which I could rely to awaken me in the morning. Fumbling around with cheap alarm clocks in various hotels often left me annoyed – especially when the time was inaccurate and I neglected to notice. Before my iPhone, I used my Motorola Razr’s alarm clock and selected a long ringtone. It sufficed and was reliable, at least (as long as I had my charger).
My first attempt, however, at using the default alarm clock on the iPhone left me unimpressed because the ringtones aren’t appealing. So I began to look for an app that would fulfill my desire for an alarm with a clock display so I would have the best of both. The various apps I tried were an improvement (including local weather, landscape display, better ringtones, wake to your own music, etc.), yet without a cradle, there was no easy way to stabilize it on a hotel nightstand to display the clock.
Without a recommendation, I purchased Sleep Cycle after reading the App store reviews and exploring the developer’s website. I am stunned at how well it works! So how does it work?
Throughout the night, a person’s sleep moves between different sleep phases – from deep sleep to nearly-awake. Sleep Cycle analyzes the movement in the bed to determine in which stage of sleep a person is in and, according to the app itself, “uses a 30 minute window that ends at your set alarm time to wake you up when you are in the lightest sleep phase… a natural way to wake up where you feel rested and relaxed.”
There are some specific steps to take for it function: the phone must be plugged in; the app must be left on (do not lock the phone); the phone is placed face down on the bed and be next to – not under – your pillow (a fact that many make many uneasy since it’s plugged in). According to the developers, it also takes about 2 days of calibrating, so if moving to a different bed it might not immediately function as well, but I have never noticed a problem. On activation, the ringtones are soothingly subtle and get increasingly louder as the vibrate feature of the phone also activates from intermittently to constant. My only gripe is that there is no snooze feature: should my lightest sleep phase be a deep sleep (which has happened maybe twice), I struggled to get up.
In the latest update, the developers added a sleep cycle graph so you can see the different phases of your sleep from the previous nights. This is a neat feature for the curious, such as myself, who notices how accurate it is when I occasionally get up in the night to soothe a 2-year old.
Sleep Cycle works… it works remarkably well. Do I notice that I awaken more relaxed and refreshed? Actually, I’m a caffeine hound and can barely function without my morning java, however, I do wake up in a better mood since using Sleep Cycle. So well, in fact, I have stopped using my alarm clock at home and rely on this app alone as not only my travel but also my primary alarm. No, I don’t have a clock that displays the time from my phone throughout the night. Now I just ignore all the ones in the room and wake up happier.
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12/19/09 Update: I just heard from the developer who is definitely considering a snooze option in future version! They are just checking on the best method to activate the snooze vs. turning the alarm off.
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At the time of this writing, Sleep Cycle is priced at $0.99 in the App Store as a special launch of version 2.0.
Sleep Cycle was bought at author ‘s expense and reviewed on Just Another iPhone Blog. For further information regarding our site ‘s review policies, please see the ‘About ‘ page.
Really an innovative approach. Does the phone feel hot in the bed? I personally would be concerned with rolling on it and crushing it. I also have a 2-yr old, but more times than not soothing means he sneaks into our bed, and between him and the Golden Retriever, I tend to opt to put the phone in a high place. That being said, it seems perfect for traveling (minus me laying on it or it getting hot).
Actually, no the phone doesn't feel hot at all. When you place the phone face down, it enters into power-saving mode and the screen blacks out (like closing the refrigerator door). I initially shared your concern about rolling over on it, but surprisingly when I put it closer to the corner of the bed (I have a king size bed) it remains out of the way.
Given the additional guests that jump into your bed in the night, I agree with removing the temptation (play toy, chew toy, cord, etc).
Does get slightly hot to be honest, not terrible though. I guess it depends on the size of your bed. I just slip mine to the side of my pillow, so it doesn’t get covered. Love the app! Written about it on my blog – http://www.kevcharlton.com/sleep-cycle-iphone-app
Sounds interesting. I'd definitely suggest putting the phone in flight mode. Even if the jury is out on possible negative health effects from EM radiation I'm pretty sure I remember an old Nokia instruction manual recommending not sleeping with the phone on next to ur head. JB settings makes turning the phone, wifi and bluetooth off very simple. I'm tempted to take a punt at 99c.
The app does suggest that if you're uncomfortable with having the phone "on" that close to put it in Airplane mode. In my home, however, the iPhone replaced my landline so that isn't an option for me. Not to mention, when traveling I need an "always on" cell phone in case of emergencies back home.
Depending on the size of your bed, it might not be directly beside your head (mine's a king size and I'm usually at least a foot away from it). You're right about turning off things, though. I use SBSettings launch Settings and turn off notifications (Boxcar) and silence New Mail notices.
If you decide to drop the $1, let us know what you think of it!
It's down to 79c so I splashed out. Happy Christmas me. Not sure how it's going to tell if it's me or my wife who is ready to wake up but I thought even just to get the graphs of when one of us got up for the toilet might be quite amusing! Not sure how long this post will stay open for comments but I'll certainly post something if I can.
Must say I'm a little confused that the app claims great things about its sales but there are no ratings for any versions.. Bit suspicious but hey 79c
There's a calibration feature that should help discern the movements – and I would recommend keeping it on your side instead of between the two of you. Please offer your insights and thoughts after you try it!
When looking at the App Sore, I see 85 total comments and 24 for the current version (as of today, 12/17/09). hmm….?
Actually the jury just came in on this one:
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/12…
Really big really long term study showed no negative effects from the cell phones. Nokia would state that just as a CYA
Excellent info… thanks.
Now, if prescription medicine gets into the studies, there will be many years of ongoing studies to come.
I’m loving the graphs… Now if only there was an app. to record, replay and interpret my dreams!
I suppose there's an app for that… perhaps in the psychic area of App store?
I bought this a couple of days ago, and while it's nice to see a little graph, does it change significantly after calibration?
At the moment it's just like a parabola with a flattened bottom ( _____/ sort of shape). So while it seems to register that i'm moving less during the night, it doesn't look anything like the sample screenshots and the graph never dips into deep sleep or anything like that.
But hey, i reasoned that 60p is worth the punt so i'll report back if it improves!
Those sample screen shots are real data from my own sleep chart. Although I don't have a parabolic graph (apparently I move frequently through the night – verified by hotel overnights), I never noticed that the calibration made much difference. If you sleep alone and are a deep sleeper, that might explain your graph; if you're in your 40's and sleep with a spouse, awakening more often seems normal to me!
Thanks for the response
I'm going to stick at it (at the very least it's an alarm clock). I'm currently at home (student) so i've got my single bed. I don't know if switching to a double (at my uni house) will make any difference. The main problem is that it's not showing i sleep at all, it's almost as if it's too sensitive. Even when i'm in deep sleep (as the line dips slightly) the trace is still in the awake section and there's none of the large ups and downs like in yours.
I'm going to shoot an email to the devs, see if they can give me some advice! But good to know they're your traces so there's some hope.
You're welcome, Josh!
Sounds as if you should contact the dev's. They are nice and I'm sure they will respond. Either something is amiss with the program, OR you toss & turn like mad even when you're in a deep sleep… that or gremlins are jumping on your bed when you're sleeping!
In any event, let us know the outcome.
I have to say this has been one of my most interesting/fun purchases. i've been using it for a week or so now, and i LOVE it. I find it amazing that the days i am seriously dragging when i wake up my "graph" was down in the sleep zone. its really creepy.
i have it on the edge of the bed, and according to the developers if you have a spouse your body should be enough to lessen the impact of their sleep patterns, i think it does b/c my wife tosses and turns like nuts lol
Graham:
How exciting for you that you also are finding it enjoyable and intriguing! I agree, it's a worthwhile purchase!! I wonder what the graphs look like when you awaken and have an "alert" day… is it just as low in deep sleep? My experience is that when my graph is in deep sleep, there was a reason (*hiccup*!).
Thanks also for pointing out that if you're sleeping with someone that your own body should dampen registering it on the graph! My wife is restless too – whether it's due to a cough, a restroom break, or a 2-year old – and I've seen little impact on the graphs (and my sleep…?!)
I've been using this app for a few days now and I find it to be a really good app. It has been working like a charm so far. I enjoy watching the graphs, and according to them Im really close to wake up several times' per night. I would definately recommend it to anyone
Figge: How exciting to hear your results are similar to mine and those who rated it at the App Store! Enjoy!
for me as an airline pilot, sleep is something of rather random time and duration, so it’s important to get the average of 6-8 hours at the end of the month, otherwise something’s wrong
with this app i can see the average sleeping time, and i must also admid that it’s a lot more comfortable to wake up when you’re almost awake, than when you’re far away on another planet… definitly an early morning mood booster, for just under a buck. in dutch we have the expression ‘got out of bed with the wrong foot’ (grumpy for half the day).. maybe this app tells you which foot to get up on…. 
cheers
I'm not sure how this might work for you, hugo. One of the settings is to "calibrate" so the iPhone gets the sense of the surface on which you're sleeping. If you are on many different beds, I wonder how that might impact its performance. I've slept on many hotel beds with this as my primary alarm – and have never used the calibration feature – but I always return home to the same mattress. Additionally, how do you find a place to put it if you're sleeping upright in an airport lounge?!
In America, our saying if someone is grumpy is "you must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed…" – which makes it sound as if we're more promiscuous than the Dutch! HA!
I'm not sure how this might work for you, hugo. One of the settings is to "calibrate" so the iPhone gets the sense of the surface on which you're sleeping. If you are on many different beds, I wonder how that might impact its performance. I've slept on many hotel beds with this as my primary alarm – and have never used the calibration feature – but I always return home to the same mattress. Additionally, how do you find a place to put it if you're sleeping upright in an airport lounge?!
In America, our saying if someone is grumpy is "you must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed…" – which makes it sound as if we're more promiscuous than the Dutch! HA!
I used this for the first time last night, and I am completely satisfied with the results. It showed that when my dad came in to wake me up (yeah i'm eleven
), I told him i'd be ready for breakfast in 5 minutes, but actually went into one of my deepest sleeps of the night! :O Love the app, would definitely pay more if nessecary.
Any one else feel like they wake up seconds before the apps alarm goes off? This happens to me nearly every time i use it, nd it feels really spooky. I guess it's the fact that i'm in a super light phase of sleep and the alarm confirms that i'm awake but i dunno.
On a different matter, if your interested to se what happens when your drunk and use sleep cycle follow the link below:
http://christophercharlesrichards.blogspot.com/
I just bought this and really like the idea. However both nights I've used it I've woken up and sometimes actually gotten out of bed in the middle of the night, but the graph shows me in deep sleep! How is this possible? Doesn't seem very accurate…
The app stopped recording sleep patterns after 21 nights? Any idea why and what I can do?
read the manual!!!