What it does
A japa counter you have to watch is a distraction from the japa. Japo gives you three ways to count without looking, all free: a tick you can feel for each bead, the volume buttons, and the count on your lock screen.
How it works
- Feel every bead. Each bead gives a soft haptic tick, and the sumeru gives a firmer one as it passes at 108, so you know a round is done without opening your eyes. Settings has a row to test the tick.
- Count with the volume buttons. While the counter is on screen, volume up counts one and volume down undoes one. The media volume does not move, and holding a key counts once, not a stream.
- Keep going from the lock screen. While a sitting is running, the count waits on your lock screen with +1 and Undo. It only ever says "Japa" and a number, never what you chant.
The three ways compared
| Haptic tick | Volume buttons | Lock screen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Eyes-closed sittings | Phone in a pocket or bag | Phone locked between rounds |
| Needs the screen on | Yes | Counter on screen | No |
| Shows your mantra | Yes, on the counter | Yes, on the counter | Never |
| Cost | Free | Free | Free |
What it feels like
On a train, the phone stays in your jacket pocket. Your thumb rests on the volume button, and each press is one mantra. No one around you sees a screen. At home, eyes closed, you pull the strand and count the ticks; the firmer one at the sumeru tells you to turn the round. The japa on a commute page has a plan for exactly this.
Who it is for
Anyone who chants with eyes closed, chants while travelling, or simply does not want a glowing screen in a quiet room.
Frequently asked questions
Why can I not feel the tick on my iPhone?
System Haptics must be on, in the iPhone's Settings under Sounds and Haptics. Japo's own Settings has a row to test the tick.
Does the lock screen show my mantra?
No. It shows only the word "Japa" and the count, with +1 and Undo. Notifications are asked for only when you turn the lock-screen counter on.
Do the volume buttons change my phone's volume while counting?
No. While Japo's counter is on screen, the volume buttons count and undo, and the media volume stays where it was.
Begin your next mala.
Japo is a japa counter that feels like the real thing. Pull a bead with your thumb, feel a soft tick, and pick up exactly where you stopped. Counting, history and goals are free.