Review: YTime
Score:
83%
Version Reviewed: 1.02
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As a reviewer, every software genre leads to certain expectations. For example, "Oh, not another Sudoku game!" or "Surely not yet another MP3 player?". Hearing of YTime, similar thoughts started running through my mind, although they're quickly replaced by admiration for how polished this utility is. Yes, it's basically a clock, something which S60 already has built-in, but the sheer style and the well-crafted extras mean YTime quickly gets you, the user, through to the point where you decide to fork out the £6/$10 for a registration code to keep the program running.
In simplest mode, YTime presents the time on a clear and attractive clock face, with only two skins at present, though this will doubtless increase in the future. Two extra modes show the 'time' on the earth's surface, showing the parts currently in sunlight (you can scroll around and change the centre point using the navigator key), and the current state of the moon.
In this latter mode, you can use the navigator keys to scroll through the moon's lit state, day by day or month by month, or view a summary screen showing the major phases and their dates and times. Impressive calculations for a humble clock utility. A stop watch mode gives you up to nine independent timers that carry on running and keeping track even if you close the application down or turn off your phone. Perhaps most importantly, YTime is very system-friendly and it's safe to leave it running without having to worry about wrecking battery life or slowing other programs down.
Finally, 'Adjust system time' uses your smartphone's Internet connection to check the time on an atomic clock and then offers to correct your local 'Phone time'. A good idea and superbly implemented.
I've used a fair number of superlatives for a utility that, to be honest, noone really needs. But YTime is attractive, fun to demo to friends, well programmed and the Internet time check is just enough to make me recommend the utility for trial and purchase. I can't wait to see what this slick developer does next.
Reviewed by Steve Litchfield at