Android Authority proposes five features to make Google Clock great

The first proposed feature is alarm tasks and challenges. Drawing inspiration from third-party apps like Alarmy and NFC Alarm Clock, the author suggests that users should be required to complete tasks—such as solving math problems, scanning an NFC tag or QR code, or performing physical activities like squats—to disable their alarms. This would help ensure that users are fully awake when silencing their alarms, rather than relying on a simple button tap.

The second feature focuses on more robust alarm fail-safes. The author recommends adding a maximum-volume vibration mode that triggers after a set cut-off time if the user hasn't woken up. This panic mode could also sound an alarm on Wear OS devices or even call a contact as a last resort. Additionally, a snooze limit and a "Wake up check" secondary notification were suggested to prevent users from accidentally going back to sleep.

The third area for improvement involves Bedtime Mode integrations and updates. The author notes that Bedtime Mode has not seen new features in a while and suggests adding more sleep sounds, such as brown, pink, and white noise tracks, without requiring Spotify. They also propose expanding the Upcoming events section to include data from Google Tasks, weather forecasts, and departure time guidance for daily commutes. The Sunrise Alarm feature, which gradually brightens the screen, was praised but could benefit from additional control.

While the author acknowledges that Google Clock's accessibility is a key reason for its widespread use, these enhancements would make it more competitive with specialized timer and alarm apps available on the market. The article concludes that integrating these features would transform Google Clock from a basic preinstalled app into a truly indispensable tool.