While the native Windows Phone clock apps does a commendable job of things, some may want to consider alternative timekeeping apps. Timey is one such offering in the Windows Phone Store and while a basic clock, it does a nice job of things. The app also kicks off this month's AdDuplex HERO Apps program.
The HERO Apps program is a promotional campaign for Windows Phone and Windows developers on the AdDuplex Network and partners AdDuplex with myAppFree, AppDeals, PluralSight and Windows Central to deliver a host of benefits to the top apps and games each month. Our role in the HERO App campaign is to offer a little exposure to these titles by sharing them with you, our readers, and today we shine the spotlight on Timey.
When you first launch Timey, you will see the directions of use flash on the screen for just a brief second and then the screen will be dedicated to the current time. Tapping the screen will reveal Timey's menu and swiping at the screen will prompt the app to announce the time.
Menu options include the following:
- Time: Tap this to announce the current time.
- Repeat: If you have the need to hear the time on an automated basis, here you can set the time announcement to repeat every 3,5,10 or 15 minutes.
- Watch Faces: Timey comes with a very basic digital clock style. You also have three additional styles to choose from and one that can be purchased.
- Watch Face Options: Here you can change the font style, background and time display (military or standard) for the clock face. Options will vary slightly based on the clock face in use.
- App Options: Timey options include voice/language selection, audio text options, display the AM/PM and enabling analytics (sends usage data to the developer).
- About: Your typical About screen with developer credits, contact information, etc.
Just a quick note on the Watch Face styles. While you have one option that requires an in-app purchase, I kept getting an error when trying to buy it. Timey is a free, ad-supported Windows Phone app and in purchasing the watch face you also remove the ad-support.
Language options for the time announcements covers thirty-five languages with a total of seventy voice styles.
What is missing from Timey? What jumped out for me is an alarm function and Live Tile support. It would be nice to pin Timey to your Windows Phone Start Screen and catch the time. Alarms could be equally as useful.
What I did like is the ability to customize the announcement that precedes the time. The factory setting announces the time as "It's Seven Forty-Five". With the customization option you can set it to say, "Hey dummy, it is Seven Forty-Five", "Remember to pick up the kids, it's Seven Forty-Five" or whatever your heart desires. Audio announcements are powered by Nuance and it does a nice job of converting text to speech.
The watch face options allow you to tweak the appearance to better suit your styles and some watch face styles support horizontal as well as vertical orientation.
While Timey is a very basic time app, it has a lot of potential. Again, I think adding Live Tile support and an alarm feature would help the appeal of this app tremendously. As is though, Timey does what it does really well.
At last check, Timey was rated at 4.3 Stars in the Windows Phone Store. I'd probably dial it down a little but not much. If you've tried Timey, let us know what you think of things in the comments below.
Download Timey from the Windows Phone Store
AdDuplex HERO Promotion
AdDuplex is a fantastic resource for the cross-promotion of Windows Phone and Windows apps. AdDuplex has launched a new program designed to help developers promote their apps even further with free access to various tools and resources from AdDuplex.
The HERO Apps promotion partners AdDuplex with Windows Central, myAppFree, AppDeals and PluralSight to provide additional benefits to the top apps every month that include:
- Vouchers to advertise on AdDuplex
- One month subscription to Pluralsight Plus
- A featured campaign with myAppFree
- A featured campaign with AppDeals
- A review here on Windows Central
If you are a Windows or Windows Phone developer, you can sign up for the HERO Apps program here at AdDuplex's website. To participate in the program, you will need to apply within thirty days after your app or game has launched on the AdDuplex network.
Windows Central is already partnered with the myAppFree campaign and is proud to be partnering up with AdDuplex with the HERO Apps program. It is another excellent opportunity to help promote both the Windows Phone and Windows platform.
Keep in mind that the HERO Apps are different than what you find with the myAppFree deals. The HERO Apps are free, ad-supported titles that often have the option to remove the ad-support via in-app purchases. The myAppFree deal delivers a paid app or game at a discounted price or for free.
