{
  "id": 4615656,
  "title": "Google Clock is fine, but these 5 features would make it incredible",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/google-clock-is-fine-but-these-5-features-would-make-it-incredible",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-31T09:30:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Android Authority",
    "slug": "android-authority",
    "url": "https://www.androidauthority.com/google-clock-features-upgrades-3701460/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Google Clock may be preinstalled on various Android phones, yet it isn't necessarily the top choice in its category. This app doesn't stand out as an exceptional alarm app, nor does it provide the range of timing features found in specialized alternatives. Its accessibility is the main reason many utilize it. Yet, with a few minor improvements and upgrades, Google Clock could transform into one of Google's standout apps. Upon comparing Google Clock with other timing and alarm apps available on the market, I've identified a few features I'd love to see integrated into the app. Alarm tasks and challenges could be a standout feature, similar to what apps like Chrono and NFC Alarm Clock offer. Completing tasks such as solving a math problem or solving a CAPTCHA could make users more alert when dismissing their alarm. Additionally, options to scan NFC tags or QR codes would encourage users to physically wake up to silence their alarm. Sliding puzzles, photo challenges, and physical challenges, like squats or lunges, are other tasks that could enhance the alarm experience. To address those who have difficulty waking up, Google Clock could incorporate fail-safes, such as a maximum-volume vibration mode that triggers after a certain time. This panic-mode alarm could sound with full sound and fury, or call a contact as a last-ditch effort to wake the user. For those who enjoy snoozing, a snooze limit would be helpful, and a \"Wake up check\" - a secondary alarm or notification that triggers 10 minutes after the alarm is dismissed - would provide a safety net for those who may have accidentally canceled their ringer. Bedtime Mode, a feature I appreciate, integrates into Google Clock's alarm feature and triggers various on-device settings to make phone use more hospitable at night and more accommodating in the morning. However, it hasn't seen any new features in a while. Some upgrades I'd like to see for Bedtime Mode include a built-in Pomodoro timer, which fits with Google's focus on user wellness. A customizable Pomodoro timer would allow users to adjust work and rest intervals, determine how many sessions they complete before a longer rest, and keep a log of their progress throughout the day. Lastly, a list of recent and custom presets for the Timer page would be a valuable addition, especially for those who use the app as a timer for cooking and baking. This feature would reduce the number of button presses required to set a timer.",
  "summary": "Google's principal timing and alarm app should draw inspiration from its third-party rivals.",
  "key_points": [
    "Alarm tasks and challenges could make users more alert when dismissing alarm",
    "Options to scan NFC tags or QR codes encourage physical wake-up",
    "Bedtime Mode upgrades include built-in Pomodoro timer and customizable presets"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}