SleepStream App for Apple iPhone: A Review

I am one of those people who think. Well, we all think. But you know when you try to go to bed, but just can't? I lie in bed thinking about my day, then drift off into random thoughts, dreams, memories and worse, what I have to do the next day. Since my mind won't relax even though I am physically relaxing, I have trouble falling asleep. There's nothing worse than watching the clock go from 10pm to 11pm to 1am. So, when I was looking on the iPhone App Store under lifestyle, I saw a few sleep applications. I downloaded the free White Noise and loved it- I will review that later. But, so far Sleep Stream from Explosive Apps has been the only app I paid for, I figured I'd review this first.

SleepStream for iPhone offers a few dozen relaxing sounds effects to help you fall asleep. But, it's more than that. It also offers five settings, which will mix binaural beats with that music. SleepStream's website says of the app, "Drift into deep, restorative relaxation with SleepStream for iPhone and iPod touch. SleepStream plays soothing nature sounds and gentle, calming audio atmospheres, and our unique AutoBlend feature ensures that you enjoy new sound combinations with each use."

I enjoy the variety of sounds it offers- Calming Woodland, Gentle Stream, At the Dock-- everything from nature sounds, ocean sounds, etc. You can listen to the sounds on their own, however, what makes SleepStream unique is that you can also add in those binaural beats- you can choose from five: sleep, relax, meditate, energize and focus. Once I figured out how everything worked, I am happy to report that I fell right asleep. I don't even remember falling asleep, which is great because that means I wasn't lying there struggling to drift into dreamland.

What's also cool is that you can set Sleep Stream on a timer, where an alarm will sound on 20 or 60 minutes. This is perfect for naps, quick reboosting sessions and more relaxation, but when I use it to fall into slumber for the night I just don't use the alarm to wake me up- the application just turns off, as not to disrupt the sleep. When the weather gets nicer, I will probably use Sleep Stream on my lunch break outside to relax with a good book. Or, maybe for a power nap if I can find a nook and cranny at the office.

When I first used SleepStream, I admit, I didn't realize what the settings were for, and when I had it on "Sleep" and up to the highest setting on the slider, the binaural beat overpowered the forest sounds, and I thought something was wrong because I could not hear the music. Then, I realized that settings were for different types of beats to stimulate the brain, and that the slider wasn't the volume button, but rather, controls the mixture of nature sounds and beats. You use the regular iPhone volume to control noise level. Once I figured that out, I was fine. I would say that the app could have better directions on the app itself, but the website does a nice job of showing how it works. The sleep beat is way different than the energize beat- neat to hear the differences.

I did not use the energy binaural beat yet, but am looking forward to trying that. Am thinking that may be something good to listen to with the earbuds in while I get ready for work- but then that means I need to get a holster!

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The Overview:
App: Sleep Stream
App Store Category: Lifestyle
Cost: $1.99
My Rating: 4.5/5
Pros: Great sleep inducer. I fall asleep FAST. Great selection of music, too.
Cons: Controls not very clear for new users.