Talking Clock: Time Announcer
Android app that announces the time at intervals you choose — reliable with the screen off, quiet hours, shake-to-hear, fully offline and privacy-first.
4.6★ · ~390 reviews · 10K+ downloads · Google Play
AndroidText-to-SpeechForeground ServiceMaterial You
Designed, built, and operated by Amal Chaitanya
Problem
Most time-announcer apps get killed by Android in the background, miss announcements, or demand internet access and data collection for a simple job.
Why I built it
A time announcer that actually works — precise alarm scheduling, a foreground service Android won't kill, auto-restart after reboot — with zero data collection and no subscription.
How it works
- Precise alarm scheduling delivers announcements every 1–60 minutes, on time.
- Foreground service keeps it alive with the screen off and in the background.
- Auto-restart after phone reboot; battery-optimization guides per device brand.
- Quiet hours, shake-to-hear, custom messages, adjustable voice and volume.
Technology stack
- Native Android
- Text-to-speech engine with 12/24-hour formats
- Material You dynamic theming
- Fully offline — no internet permission
Challenges
- Surviving aggressive battery optimization on Samsung, Xiaomi, and Huawei
- Routing audio correctly to Bluetooth vs phone speaker
- Keeping announcements exact across reboots and Doze mode
What I learned
- Reliability is the feature — reviews reward an app that simply works.
- Answering user reviews directly surfaces real bugs fast.