Hands-on with the TimeCommand app-enhanced audio alarm clock

Many of us use our smartphones as alarms and the TimeCommand dock takes this experience further with a large display, soothing sleep sound effects, and many more advanced alarm and clock settings. You can use your iPod touch, iPhone, and iPad with the TimeCommand.

Make sure to check out my full ZDNet Mobile Gadgeteer blog post for details on this iOS accessory.

The TimeCommand dock comes in a retail box that shows various device on the dock with most of the features listed.

Here you can see the inner and outer box contents.

The TimeCommand unit is housed in styrofoam and in this shot you can see the power source.

The power source is large because it has an extra outlet for you to plug in a bedside lamp for full control of your bedside experience.

There is a battery compartment on the bottom where you insert batteries for the backup functionality.

The bottom of the TimeCommand dock has rubber feet to help keep the dock from moving around on your end table.

This shot show the seven buttons and dock connector on the top of the TimeCommand.

The seven buttons are large and easy to press with the snooze bar being a very large button.

The dock display is quite large so you can easily see the time and other options.

The power cable plugs into the back of the TimeCommand.

Plug your bedside lamp into this outlet for optimal control.

If you are going to use an iPad with the TimeCommand then you need to attach these two rubber feet to the edge of top of the TimeCommand.

The rubber pieces mount on the outside edge of the dock.

Here you can see my iPad resting on the supports.

The dock connector swivels so you can use the dock with iOS devices that are placed inside cases.

My iPad 2 is mounted on the TimeCommand dock.

You can use the free StemConnect software with your TimeCommand dock and as you can see here you can manage the brightness levels of the dock and your lamp.

There are a number of settings available in the StemConnect software.

You can choose to listen to different sounds in sleep mode.

There are many relaxing sounds available in the software and they really do help you relax and sleep.

You can choose to listen to music on your iOS device or stream internet radio too.

These are the available internet radio stations.

You can choose songs from your iOS device to enjoy through the TimeCommand.

There are detailed help files within the application and with so many functions on the TimeCommand you may actually have to use them.

You can choose from some default alarm sounds or songs from your iOS device. You also have the option to have your light turned on as part of the alarm system.

You have a few settings to change to setup your alarm.

When the alarm is set it appears with a green background. Also note the weather condition shown above the current time.

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