Introduction
Just yesterday, I made my first review post after an unannounced 2 weeks break. The break was unplanned for and really hard for me because it made it impossible for me to make blog posts and promote FOSS applications which I find interesting and useful based on my personal experiences. Although this didn't stop me from exploring and making use of new apps, I just didn't have the time and opportunity to put together a blog post. I'm glad that I'm back to my former way of making reviews.
In this post, I'll be reviewing the Alarmio app which if we are to consider the name will assume it is just an Alarm Clock app. Actually, that was my original thought when I saw the app and downloaded it. I wasn't per se looking for an Alarm lock app while surfing the web, I was only trying to download my former apps which I had installed on my phone prior to the unfortunate loss of my data to the formatting that happened to my device some days back and I came across this app.
Alarmio truly serves as an Alarm application, but it is much more than just an Alarm application. It has multiple features which are all related to Time/Clock function which I am going to talk about in this article. Normally, I've come across a lot of applications which I ended up not writing anything about or even eventually uninstalling them because maybe they are not convincing enough or are just too common with no special feature distinguishing them from the multiple of other similar apps. But this is not the case of Alarmio, though every device has a clock/time function and one might wonder what the need to download an extra clock app, that has always been my exact thought also until I checked out the features of the Alarmio app and came across the "Sleep Reminder" function, this alone coupled with some other things I'll be discussing in the app review proper made me stick with this app.
In this article, I will be reviewing the app. I'll talk about the app's basic features whilst sharing my opinions alongside. This promises to be another interesting app review, sit back, relax and enjoy this article.
What is Alarmio?
Alarmio is a simple free and open source app that is made to serve as an Alarm app for Android devices but it's packed with other many useful features that enhances and improves the use of the app. In the words of the Project Owner;
Alarmio is a simple alarm clock that implements many useful features while following regular design standards to ensure that it is quick and intuitive to use.
Though the PO description which is short and simple is correct, it didn't really say all that is to be known about this app. This is what I'll be doing with the aid of this post, to talk about what the app is capable of and here it goes.
Review of Alarmio features.
Over time, I've learned and also been advised to always not dwell on features that are too generic or peculiar to similar apps of the app I'm reviewing, in the light of this, I'll only talk about the unique features that are found in the Alarmio app and they are the following;
- User Interface
- Multiple Time-related Functionalities
- Time Zones
- Alarm/Timer Ringtone
- Sleep Reminder
- Slow Wake-Up
Now let's get into the review proper starting with;
App User Interface
The user interface of Alarmio is simple but impressive. As you can see from the picture above, it is divided into 2 parts, the upper layer is for displaying the time in the selected time zones, while the lower accommodates and displays the Preset Alarm sessions. One thing that entertained me is the pictorial display of a person who is resting when there is no Preset alarm session in the alarm clock display, though it as no real direct effect on the function of the app, but it's fun.
Further checks into the UI customizations of the app, there are options to change the theme and also addition and change of background images.
For the theme options, there are basic options;
Day (light theme)
Night (dark theme)
Amoled.
The Night and Amoled theme options are quite similar in the sense that they both make the user interface of the app become dark all over. However, the AMOLED theme is more of black colour and shinier than the Night theme. Night theme is dull, cool and more friendly to the eyes. I prefer the Night theme, as you would have known by now that I am a lover of Night Themes in apps.
Also, there is a 4th option which was included by the developer in the Theme options which is "Schedule". The function of this feature is to automatically switch between the Light/Night Themes (or AMOLED based on user's preference between the Dark and Amoled option) during the day time and night time respectively according to the time settings for night and day which was decided by the user.
Another cool addition of the User Interface is the ability to add a background image. This feature allows users to further customize the app's interface by adding an image of their choice. I tried this feature and it worked flawlessly. I love this feature but the only thing I find disturbing is the inability to remove a background image totally after adding it, it can only be changed and not removed. I think users should be able to revert to the default background.
Comparing Alarmio to my stock Clock app, Alarmio trumps my stock Clock app.
Multiple Time-related Functionalities
As I earlier mentioned in the introduction section of this post that "Alarmio is made to serve as an Alarm app for Android devices but it's packed with other many useful features that enhances and improves the use of the app". This particular feature is one of the reasons for that statement. Because apart from the Alarm function, there is also a stopwatch and countdown function and it also tells time. So this is an all-round Clock app. Comparing Alarmio to my stock Clock app, there is no winner because they both possess all these features down to the end.
Time Zones
Although this might look simple to many people, to me it is important and useful. I can't count the number of times I've had to do mental calculations to determine the time difference in different time zones so as not to contact family and friends at odd hours. Some times I even had to make use of Search Engines to know the difference in time zones. But I am glad that I've gotten a permanent solution to that now as I can choose and view multiple time zones without changing from my personal default time zone. Though my stock Clock app has this feature, I can only select and make use of 2 different time zones at a time but I can select more with Alarmio. Alarmio app comes out top in comparison to my Stock app.
Alarm/Timer Ringtone
Looking at this feature, I shouldn't have highlighted this feature you'll say, as it is peculiar to Alarm/Reminder apps, I also thought so. But my experience with a reminder app that I reviewed yesterday which lack this feature made me include this feature in my review. This app allows users to select and customize their preferred Alarm and Timer Ringtone type right in the app. There is not so much to say about this as it is expected to be present, so that will be all.
Sleep Reminder
Finally, I arrived at the leading reason for retaining this app on my phone. Most times I always 'forget' when it is time to hit the bed as I always do get carried away when I'm busy with activities especially operating my device with internet access enabled. This got to a point that it started affecting my productivity the following day as I always woke up tired due to not getting enough rest. This prompted me to download an app named 'GoTo Sleep' whose major and only work is to remind me to go to bed when it's time. I've been using this app for quite a while now and it's been useful so I couldn't let go even when my device storage is red. Imagine the joy I felt when I found out I could let go of the app now due to the fact that I found an app that does exactly same thing and even more than that.
Alarmio app has this cool feature and therefore help me in optimizing my phone storage and performances as we all know too many apps and processes have effects on the operability of a device. I'm really glad I came across this app.
My stock clock app does not have this, and Alarmio does. One of the reasons I'm using Alarmio in place of my stock clock app.
Slow Wake-Up
This is another cool feature of the Alarmio app. As we are all aware that when an alarm goes off, it does so in an "annoying" manner so to say. I said so because it starts blaring immediately when it's time and makes the user a lose comportment a little bit for a while. There have been times I prefer alarm going off in an ascending manner instead of the sudden sound, and the highest I've come close to this is selecting a ringtone that was programmed to be increasing in decibels with time which is only manageable but not so good. So I was really glad to see this feature in the Alarmio app. My device stock app doesn't have this, and Alarmio once again comes out top.
Summary and Conclusion
In summary, after going through the above-listed features of the Alarmio app, you'll agree with me that the Alarmio app is more than just a mere Alarm app and it's worth having on one's device. After the comparison with my default Clock app, it was established that the Alarmio app is better than my device stock app and I believe it is so for most devices stock app also if not all. So why not give this wonderful app a try and let me know your thoughts.
Thanks.
Resources
All of the images used are screenshots of the app from my device. All other places where other images were used were duly cited.
Github profile:
Thanks for reading.