Reverse Clock – simple yet easy to use & versatile productivity countdown clock app
by Paul Wilks
May 29, 2012 7:58 AM –
Install
Reverse Clock is a useful and easy-to-use countdown clock, which features widgets and detailed configuration options. Whether you are counting down to a big event or even if you want to be more productive and commit certain amounts of time to specific projects, Reverse Clock is a handy tool to use.
Price: Free, $2.32
Tested on: HTC One X
Content Rating: Everyone
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Easy to use!
- Highly configurable!
- Let’s you organise your time better!
- Great also for counting down to a specific event!
Cons
- Quite basic user interface- modern Android users might expect more.
- Cannot just set the app to countdown for a set time (eg. 1 hour), you have to specify a future date and time.
Features:
Reverse Clock is an easy-to-use countdown tool that can help you manage your time better, or even let you see how much longer you have to wait for a particular event. The main dashboard UI allows for plenty of configuration. You can name a specific countdown (Project A, Bryan’s Wedding, Start of the Olympics, etc.) and even add a note to it. Then you can select a category- these are represented by a variety of pictures which refer to travel, work, medical, sporting, etc. You can then choose the font colour (of which there’s a choice of 7 colours). Now pick a due date and time. These can be just 1 minute into the future or many years, it’s entirely up to you. Lastly you can decide whether you want this countdown repeated, whether it should have an alarm and also if you require reminders. Adding a widget to your homescreen is very easy. Simply select the widget from your homescreen and then choose which countdown you want displayed. Very simple and intuitive.
The app clearly provides much more configuration and additional options than a simple countdown timer. I think it has a wide variety of applications too. You might only be able to dedicate a certain amount of time to a particular project and need something to accurately govern how much time you commit to it. Many occupations focus a great deal on project time management and this would be an ideal tool to help you maintain that discipline. Furthermore, you might just be interested in counting down to an event; the Olympics, a wedding, a birth, a visit to the dentist, etc.) Arguably it might also help you manage times when you need to take medication. I think the app has lots of possible uses and can be set up and deployed very easily.
The app’s user interface works very well indeed although I perhaps think we are coming to expect better. The kind of menus you get with Reverse Clock function well but look very basic compared to some apps. While it’s serves a different purpose, apps like Any.Do lead the way in great-looking-yet-highly-functional user interfaces. The other small niggle is that you cannot just create an alarm that will sound a set time from now eg. 1 hour, etc. Instead you would have to first check the time now, then set the alarm for an hours time. Also, it would perhaps be good to pause the clock if you need to. These, however, are really only minor criticisms of an otherwise fine app that works really well.
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Reverse Clock – Detailed configuration
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Reverse Clock – Specific countdown started
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Reverse Clock – Alarm, note display etc.
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Reverse Clock – Select Clock color
Usefulness:
Reverse Clock is a great app for counting down time; whether that be the time you’re dedicating to a project or an event you’re looking forward to. Because it also offers a widget and a nice range of configurations such as repeat and color coding- it’s perhaps better than similar apps in the market.
Ease of Use:
The app is very easy to use and this is a real strength. Everything is straightforward and intuitive. However, I did wish there was the ability to simply countdown from a set time (such as 1 hour, rather than having to set the time to 1 hour from the present).
Frequently Used:
It’s an app than can really help productivity, so it might easily be something you use on a daily basis. Alternatively you might be planning a vacation and just need something cool to count the clock down.
Interface:
The interface is very functional and looks OK, but is perhaps a little dated. This does not detract anything from the functionality of the app however, in context, there are better-looking apps out there.