Color Scheme

The color scheme setting is used to select the coloring for the various display labels in the user interface. Only one of the colors can be selected at a time. The default setting is the orange color scheme.

Background Setup

The background setup group of settings allows a configurable background to be displayed on the main screen. There are three pieces to the configuration of the background display.

Show Background

This switch controls whether the background is displayed or not. If this setting is turned off changing any of the other two settings has no effect. When turned off the standard black background is displayed. The background consists of a patterned image and an optional color overlay. The default for this setting is OFF.

Tint Color

An optional color tint overlay can be displayed over the background image, it will colorize the background. There are a number of primary color choices available. When the setting is selected a table is presented with the various color choices, as well as the option for no color tint. By default no color tint is selected.

Pattern

When the background is displayed there is a pattern image that is used as the basis for the background, the user can change the pattern by tapping on this setting. Selecting this setting will display a table that presents a number of different patterns for the background. By default, the Canvas pattern is selected. NOTE: there is always a pattern selected.

Auto Lock

If this setting is turned off the devices auto locking mechanism will be disabled, allowing the clock to stay visible on the screen until the user closes the application. Care should be be taken when disabling the auto lock setting as the battery could easily drain because the screen will never be turned off. It is advisable to have the device plugged into a power supply if this setting is turned off! If this setting is turned off and the device is unplugged from a power supply a warning alert will be displayed.

Smooth Ticks

By default, the seconds ring rotates smoothly as the time advances, when this setting is turned off the seconds tick by in hard increments instead of a smooth animation.

Rotate Clockwise

By default, the clock is set to rotate its rings in a clockwise direction, turning off this setting will cause the clock to rotate counterclockwise.

Show Weekday

This setting shows and hides the weekday below the date at the top of the screen, by default the weekday is displayed.

Show Date

This setting shows and hides the date and time zone display at the top of the screen, by default the date is displayed.

Hour Padding

This setting controls whether the hour numerals are padded with zeroes, or not. By default the numerals are padded. NOTE: if there is a time zone clock displayed the hour ring of the clock will also be affected by this setting.

24 Hour Time

The clock can display time in either standard or military time, this setting turns on military time. By default, this setting is turned off. NOTE: this setting also affects the time zone clock if one is currently selected.

Time Zone

The clock can display an optional auxiliary clock in a different time zone making it easier to keep track of time in two locales. Tapping on this setting will display a list of over 70 different cities in the major time zones of the world. When one is selected its name is displayed in this setting.

The list of time zone cities displays the name of the city, an abbreviation of the city name (this is used in the clock display), and time zone info such as the offset from GMT. Selecting "None" from the list removes the time zone from the screen, if one is currently present.

Upon exiting the settings the time clock will now be displayed in the lower lefthand corner of the screen. The clock displays the time in the form of an hour ring, the minutes can be read on the primary clock display. Additionally, the city abbreviation, GMT offset, AM/PM,and date are displayed on the clock face. If the clock is currently display 24 hour time the AM/PM will be hidden.

NOTE: due to the display techniques used in the clock, time zones that are not on whole hour offsets cannot be displayed, so they are not presented as options!

Time Zone Transparency

This slider allows the transparency of the time zone clock to be controlled, the further to the left the slider is moved the less the clock will be visible. This allows the clock to be setup to be less intrusive, if needed. The entire time zone clock is affected by this setting regardless of the ring and numeral transparencies. The default is no transparency.

Ring Transparency

This slider allows the transparency of the ring background to be controlled, the further to the left the slider is moved the less the ring will be visible. NOTE: changing the ring transparency will also affect the ring in the time zone clock, if one is selected.

Numeral Transparency

This slider allows the transparency of the ring numerals to be controlled, the further to the left the slider is moved the less the numerals will be visible.NOTE: changing the numeral transparency will also affect the numerals in the time zone clock, if one is selected.

Help

This help screen is displayed by clicking on the Help item in the settings.

Clicking on the Settings button in the navigation bar will return the user to the main settings screen.

About

Clicking on the About item in the settings list will display the about screen, where the current version number for the application can be found.

Clicking on the Settings button in the navigation bar will return the user to the main settings screen.

Screen Dimming

The application has one additional setting that is not in the standard settings screen, this setting is used to dim the screen. The setting is an interactive one that appears directly on the main clock screen. To activate screen dimming double tap anywhere on the screen, this will apply the current screen dimming value to the screen. Tapping on the screen when this feature is active will display a slider that can be used to adjust the amount of dimming. This slider can be used to change the dimming of the screen by sliding in one direction or the other, to the left makes it brighter, to the right makes it darker.

Once the slider has been adjusted it is automatically hidden. A single tap on the screen will redisplay the slider. A single tap while the slider is visible will again hide it. These single taps only work while the screen dimming feature is enabled. To disable the screen dimming double tap on the screen again to turn it off, this will return the screen to the current system screen brightness setting.

By default, the screen dimming is set to 75% brightness, enough dimming to notice that the feature is on when activated!.

The primary purpose of this feature is geared towards toning down the brightness of the screen when the clock is being used as a nightstand clock. Normally, the screen is bright enough that it can cast a light in a darkened bedroom. Using this feature the brightness can be reduced. This can be used in conjunction with the standard system screen brightness or it can be used independently.

General

TimeRings is the perfect app to use as a bedside night clock. The best setup is to plug the device into a docking station that is hooked to a power supply. Then turn OFF the Auto-Lock setting and turn down the screen brightness, lower settings work better for nighttime use as the light is less likely to disturb the occupants of the room. The amount of brightness is controlled by the Screen Dimming feature on the main TimeRings screen.