Alarm

How to use the updated time picker for Alarms on iPhone and iPad

Sandy Writtenhouse ∙ Updated December 12, 2022

With the many updates and new features that came with iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, one of those small but nice improvements is the date and time picker. Creating a to-do in Reminders or event in Calendar is easier with the enhancements. And so is setting an alarm in the Clock app.

You have options to either tap the numbers to set an exact time or scroll with a flick of your finger. This lets you use the method that’s quickest or easiest for you. Haven’t checked it out yet? Here’s how to set the time for Alarms in the Clock app on iOS.

Want more out of your jailbroken iPhone’s alarm? Aurore can help

Anthony Bouchard ∙ July 8, 2020

I don’t know anybody that still uses a physical alarm clock. Most people I know are using the alarm feature built right into their smartphone because it’s both free and convenient. Sadly, iOS’ alarm functionality leaves a lot to be desired in many areas, and that’s one reason why there are so many jailbreak tweaks in the wild that offer improvements for iOS’ alarm department.

Adding to that list, a newly released jailbreak tweak dubbed Aurore by iOS developer Micheal Wu (zhenguwu) tries to supercharge the iOS alarm experience with a bevy of new features and options. But is it worth it? That’s what we intend to show you in this piece.

Treat your iPhone to the alarm and timer interface it deserves with BetterAlarm

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated May 3, 2023

Many iPhone users rely on their handset's native alarm feature to wake them up each and every morning. Some iPhone users may even rely on the handset’s native timer feature to ensure that they don’t overcook their dinner. Whatever you use your iPhone’s alarm or timer features for, chances are that you may be able to benefit from the likes of a newly released jailbreak tweak dubbed BetterAlarm by iOS developer NoisyFlake.

Right off the bat, you’ll notice that BetterAlarm supplants iOS’ traditional alarm interface with a beautiful new full-screen experience that makes it easier to interface with a firing alarm or timer. Even so, to say that BetterAlarm stops with a full-screen alarm and timer interface replacement would be a grotesque understatement.

This tweak makes you solve math to shut your iPhone’s alarm off

Anthony Bouchard ∙ May 10, 2020

If you use your iPhone’s alarm feature to wake up in time for class or work every morning, then you know just how easy it can be to dismiss the alarm and oversleep. Apple doesn’t seem to have any plans for making this feature more fool-proof in the future, and that’s why we’re turning our attention to a newly released and free jailbreak tweak called You Up? by iOS developer 1di4r.

In a nutshell, You Up? forces the user to solve math problems to turn their firing alarm off. The concept should sound familiar because there’ve been literally countless tweak releases in the past that could do the same thing. What You Up? brings to the table is an aesthetically pleasing interface paired with the fact that the tweak is fully open-source on the developer’s GitHub page.

How to use the Alexa app for your alarms, reminders and timers

Sandy Writtenhouse ∙ April 21, 2020

Siri is a great assistant and HomePod is a terrific smart speaker. But these aren’t the only players in the game, right? Maybe you don’t want to spend the money on an expensive HomePod and appreciate that other assistants exist besides Siri.

Alexa and Amazon Echo are excellent alternatives. Plus, you don’t have to have an Amazon smart speaker to use Alexa because the app works on your iPhone without one.

If you want to give the Alexa app a try for your alarms, reminders, and timers, with or without a speaker, here’s how to set them up.

How to speed up tasks with Automator and Calendar Alarms on Mac

Sandy Writtenhouse ∙ April 19, 2020

Automating tasks is a terrific way to get things done faster. One thing you can do is set your Mac Calendar to automatically open a file for you when an event starts. And you can do this right in the Calendar app itself. But what if you want to open an app for taking notes, add a reminder to your list, or to start your day quicker?

We’ll show you some handy ways to use the Calendar Alarms feature in Mac Automator to speed up those types of tasks.

This tweak lets you delete all iPhone alarms in one fell swoop

Anthony Bouchard ∙ April 12, 2020

Whether you use alarm clocks to wake up every morning for work or you casually use them to wake up for special events that occur every so often, you might find yourself in a situation where alarm times change or you no longer need an alarm you’ve used previously.

If you use your iPhone as an alarm clock and find yourself in either of the two scenarios described above, then you might enjoy a newly released and free jailbreak tweak dubbed Delete All Alarms by iOS developer 0xkuj. Just as the name implies, this tweak lets you delete all your Clock app’s alarms in one fell swoop as opposed to deleting them one-by-one as Apple currently compels you to.

How to use Apple Watch to get through your workday

Sandy Writtenhouse ∙ Updated June 29, 2023

You might not realize it, but if you wear an Apple Watch, that handy wearable can help you a lot throughout your workday. Sure, you might use it to check emails, view your appointments, and even answer calls if your iPhone isn’t nearby. But with some of the built-in apps and features, your Apple Watch can be a helpful tool for getting through a stressful day of work.

Clockator adds haptic feedback to the iPhone’s Clock app

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated December 27, 2021

If you’re anything like me, then you like haptic feedback on your iPhone and wish Apple would implement it more broadly across the mobile operating system. While this could certainly happen in the near future as Apple ponders about how it can make iOS better, jailbreakers won’t need to wait thanks to the plethora of readily available jailbreak tweaks that can already bring haptic feedback to miscellaneous interfaces in iOS.

Clockator is a newly released and free extension by iOS developer CydiaGeek that fits this niche subset of add-ons, and as its name suggests, Clockator introduces haptic feedback to Apple’s native Clock app in various ways.

Sakal displays upcoming alarms on the Lock screen

Anthony Bouchard ∙ December 22, 2019

If you’re anything like me, then you probably set a morning alarm each day of the week to ensure you wake up at the proper time to prepare for work in the morning. But wouldn’t it be nice if iOS gave you somewhat of a heads-up when an alarm was set to go off the following day?

A newly released and free jailbreak tweak called Sakal by iOS developer P2KDev does exactly that, and it does this in a very aesthetically pleasing manner.

Pylarm II makes you solve math problems to dismiss your iPhone’s alarm

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated October 17, 2022

Lots of people use their iPhone’s built-in alarm function to help them wake up in time for class or work each morning, but some people still have trouble getting up because it’s too easy to dismiss the alarm when it goes off.

If you’re in the same boat and need a little bit of extra motivation to wake up each morning, then you might want to try a new free jailbreak tweak called Pylarm II by iOS developer R0wDrunner. This add-on forces users to solve math problems before the iPhone’s alarm can be dismissed.

Sleeper augments your iPhone’s native alarm interface with much-needed features

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated May 17, 2022

The alarm feature found in your iPhone’s native Clock app is particularly useful when you need to wake up at a specific time every morning, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to say that Apple could make iOS’ alarm interface a bit more intuitive.

iOS developer Joshua Seltzer recognized some of the inadequacies that are present in the iPhone’s native alarm interface, and to help combat those shortcomings, has just released a new jailbreak tweak called Sleeper in Cydia.