But the app has other, more significant issues. Melatonin needs to be running in order to work, which means that you have to leave the app running all night. This can drain the battery, of course, but it also forces you to reset the alarm if you answer any calls or text messages in the middle of the night.

This also prevents you from setting the next day's alarm right when you wake up--and are therefore thinking about it--because even if you program a new time, you can't set the alarm until you're going to bed again.

Because of this, the app can't set any automatic alarms. I happen to like the iPhone's built-in alarm clock, despite the abrupt awakening, because I can program it to wake me up at different times on different days, without having to reset it every night before bed. Even if you wake up at the same time every day, you have to remember to tap your little birdy goodnight in order to set the alarm.

So, basically, to fully experience Melatonin, you must the set the alarm every night, then place your iPhone on a stand on top of your bedside table, then be sure to face your bedside table while you sleep. And, of course, you'll need some heavy-duty blackout curtains. It seems like a lot of work just so that you can wake up on time.

The app will satisfy those with a cuteness fetish, and at $1, it definitely won't bust your budget. But overall, Melatonin feels like a good idea that's just too much hassle in practice.