App Review: Sleep Cycle

Sleep Cycle is a brand new app for the iPhone that is designed to analyze your sleep patterns and make you feel more rested. It was created by LexWare Labs AB. It was developed using proven sleep science. I don't know about you, but anytime I hear that a product was developed using proven science I automatically think it's a scam. Then I noticed this app had four out of five stars with sixty-six ratings. At this point I was very skeptical, but I decided to read the reviews anyways. To my surprise, every review I read was good with the exception of those written by disappointed iPod Touch owners. This app doesn't support the iPod Touch, which it clearly states in the description. Since the app was only ninety-nine cents and it had so many good reviews, I decided to purchase it. I'm glad I did.

I've used Sleep Cycle for the past two nights, and even though I only got about six hours of sleep each of those nights, I've felt more rested each morning. I definitely recommend this app to anyone reading this who wants to have more energy in the morning. I am extremely happy with this purchase. It is well worth the ninety-nine cents. So, for those of you who are wondering,

Here's how it works:

First, you set the alarm. Then you have to press a button and lay the iPhone face down, next to your head on the mattress. The app then uses the iPhone's sensitive accelerometer throughout the night to determine which state of sleep you're in based on your movements. In the morning, the app looks for you to be in a light sleep phase within a thirty minute window that ends at your set alarm time. The app then wakes you during a light sleep phase, making you feel more rested and less likely to reach for a snooze button. The app also gives you detailed graphs for each night of sleep, so you can see how well you're resting. You also have the option to share your sleep graphs via Facebook or email.

Warnings:

Because Sleep Cycle analyzes your sleep based on your movements, it works best on spring mattresses. The app's description page even warns against purchasing it if you have a Tempur-Pedic. As I mentioned earlier, you'll also read in the description that the iPod Touch is not supported.

Basically, if you follow the directions you will be in love with this app. It is by far one of the most useful apps and most original concepts that I've seen in the App Store.