There are 2 ways to use your iPhone to get a good sleep, using music that is on your device or using a "white noise" application available on the iTunes App Store.

Method number 1: Using your music

This is my preferred method of going to sleep. I usually select a slow and peaceful song and set it to repeat.

Many people do not know but you can also set the iPhone to automatically
stop playing the music after a pre-determined time.

In order to do so:
1) Go to Clock -> Timer (see picture 1)
2) Select the time you want the music to be played for
3) In "When Timer Ends", instead of an alarm, select Sleep iPod (see picture 2)


and you're all set. The good thing with this is that even if you use
your iPhone/iPod Touch as an alarm clock, the alarm clock will go off.
Even if the earphones are plugged in. The alarm will go off on the speakers.

Method number 2: iTunes apps

There are a few available apps on the iTunes store (non-exhaustive list) :

• Ambiance (Full: $2.99, Classic: $0.99, Lite: Free)
• iChillout ($0.99)
• aSleep ($0.99, Kids Edition: $0.99, Lite: Free)
• White Noise ($1.99, Storm: $0.99, Lite: Free)
• SleepStream ($1.99)
• Pure Sleep ($0.99)
• ...

All these apps perform more of less the same and most have their unique features. To find your best fit, simply try out the free versions.

Lastly, an interesting looking one should soon hit the app store. Winners of the top prize in the "Schoofs Prize for Creativity"; an annual University of Wisconsin-Madison invention competition that rewards innovative and marketable ideas.

//Developed by electrical and computer engineering senior Justin Beck and psychology and neurobiology senior Daniel Gartenberg, the application serves as a sophisticated alarm clock that wakes users up during the light sleep phase of their cycle, meaning they will be less groggy and more alert during the day. In the morning, users play an easy game that tests alertness, and the software then automatically reconfigures as it learns the user’s unique sleep cycle. Called Proactive Sleep, the software could be on sale in the Apple application store in the next few months.

“We want to build a community around the idea of improving people’s sleep,” says Gartenberg, adding the technology will educate people about optimal sleep habits and could eventually be used to diagnose sleep
disorders." (1) //

They have already found their 100 beta testers, but the final version should be released soon.

More information on their website:http://proactivesleep.com/index.php



(1) http://www.engr.wisc.edu/news/headlines/2009/Feb12a.html