Cosmos is a new iOS app for iPhone and iPod touch that takes an existing idea, a timer, and adds a unique blend of uses to make the app fun, interesting, and very useful.
Developed by xinsight, Cosmos enables users to clear out their calendars and note pads and set timers for those events that do not necessarily have to clutter up our daily calendars. Whether it is a short term or long term event, Cosmos handles it perfectly by hiding the event/timer until it is needed. The developer has kindly provided some examples where Cosmos shines:
• Cooking:
– baking bread (plus fermenting, shaping, proofing)
– brewing beer or wine• Gardening:
– countdown to planting season
– tracking harvest dates (e.g. 140 days for tomatoes)• Around the home:
– changing water filter (6 months)
– deep clean of the bathroom (2 weeks)
– tracking when warranties and service agreements expire• Parenting:
– 1-hour of video games
– countdown to a birthday or special event
The app allows users to set up to 64 active timers which can be set using years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, or seconds. The number system ranges from 1 to 500, so whether the event is 1 year or 500 hours, Cosmos has it covered.
For timers that are frequently used, Cosmos conveniently archives timers for quick use. You can further custom name your timer, but unfortunately you can only use a set of six unique sounds for the timer alert. In future updates, I would love to see the ability to choose your own sounds.
Because the app has full multitasking support, you can safely close the app in the multitasking tray and the timer continues to run in the background. In a neat twist, countdown times can also be copied and tweeted!
Overall, the app runs very smoothly, it is super easy to start and restart timers, and the animation moving from regular to archived timers is fun. If you’re looking for a background timer app, or an app to clear out some of your calendar or note pad events, definitely check out Cosmos Timer in the App Store for $0.99.
