The latest version of Speech Central introduces a significant change to how bedtime listening works. The familiar Sleep Timer and Night Mode have been combined into a single feature called Sleep Assistant. This update is being rolled out across supported platforms.
If you have used previous versions of the app, here is what has changed and why.
Why We Made This Change
For a long time, Sleep Timer and Night Mode existed as mostly independent features in Speech Central Settings. Although this approach worked, it made the features less visible and required users to leave the main listening interface to activate them.
Most people do not think about enabling a sleep timer while browsing Settings. They think about it when they are already listening.
Sleep Assistant brings the features related to bedtime listening together and makes them available directly from the main interface.
Sleep Assistant Is Activated from the Main Interface
The most visible change is where Sleep Assistant is accessed. Instead of opening Settings, you can now activate it directly while listening.
- On mobile phones and some tablets: open the More panel (‘…’) on the player screen.
- On Mac and some tablets: open the Playback section of the main menu.
This makes it possible to start, stop, or adjust Sleep Assistant without interrupting your listening session.
Night Mode Is Now Part of Sleep Assistant
Night Mode has also changed. Previously, it was primarily designed around scheduled activation.
In the new version, Night Mode is part of Sleep Assistant and can be activated whenever you need it. Enable the Sleep Assistant toggle from the main interface, and your selected Night Mode behavior will be applied immediately.
This makes the feature more flexible. You can use the same controls whether you are going to bed at your usual time, listening late at night, or taking an afternoon nap.
More Ways to Customize Your Bedtime Listening
The transition to Sleep Assistant also introduces new customization options for features that were previously associated with Night Mode and Sleep Timer.
For example, you can optionally enable a gradual volume fade-out while the timer is counting down. Instead of stopping playback abruptly, Speech Central can progressively lower the volume before playback ends.
This creates a smoother transition as you fall asleep and makes the feature more than a conventional playback timer.
More Than a Sleep Timer
The new name reflects the feature’s broader purpose.
Sleep Assistant combines optional playback timing, Night Mode behavior, and bedtime listening customization into a single feature that is easier to access and more adaptable to different listening habits.
If you have used Speech Central for years, many of the underlying capabilities will feel familiar. They are now organized around how people use the app rather than where the individual settings were previously located.
We hope Sleep Assistant makes bedtime listening simpler, smoother, and more comfortable.