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The Weather Channel - Review
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Leave it to The Weather Channel, the most trusted brand in weather, to deliver the perfect weather application for your active lifestyle! This highly customizable application has everything you need to stay warm, safe and dry whether you're heading across the country, across town or across campus. Features: -Location-based conditions and forecasts -Fully customizable weather maps -Local, National and International video forecasts -Local and national severe weather alerts -Share Alerts and Forecasts via email -Store and nickname your favorite locations What makes The Weather Channel different? -Accurate: Proprietary technology allows us to report weather conditions within 1.2 miles -Personalized: Because "John's Soccer Practice" means more than a zip code -Efficient: Nothing says "no tennis tonight" like a flash flood warning. Share it with the group. |
The weather application that ships with every iPhone and iPod touch now works well enough if you need basic information so that you can plan your clothing for the day or week. It isn't, however, a dynamic application. After inputting your ZIP code it simply gives you a text page in words and graphics what you might expect.
For those who need more information there have been numerous weather applications available ever since version 2.0 of the iPhone's firmware was released. To that list can now be added an application directly from The Weather Channel.
The application is free but does include advertising. Not a big deal in my opinion. What is a big deal, however, is the fact that the application is easy to use and provides a tremendous amount of information.
When you first start the application it asks permission to use the location services on your device. Much to my surprise, even though I was using it on my iPod Touch which does not include a GPS chip, it provided my location within seconds. (I assume it was using information from my cable company via the WiFi router.) In a clear and concise manner it provided information on current conditions as well as offering me three additional tabs toward the bottom of the screen. They include weather forecasts hourly, for the next 36 hours, or for the next 10 days.
A tab at the very bottom of the screen provides a map view of your current location with an overlay of current conditions. I was impressed by how accurate all the information seemed and how quickly it was accessed and presented.
There is, however, more to the application. Tapping the video icon at the bottom of the screen immediately opens the video player and presents a movie showing current weather conditions. Another tab quickly provides any weather alerts and the last tab offers help and more video.
In addition, the weather map offers a high degree of customization so that you can decide whether you want overlays on it to include radar, clouds, temperature and more.
In all, The Weather Channel's weather app is a huge step above the application included with every iPhone and iPod Touch and is an excellent free alternative if you want a good deal of information at your fingertips.
Quick Take
Value: Very high -- who cares if there are a few advertisements when app is this good and is free
Would I Buy Again: this application now has a permanent place on my eye from
Learning Curve: zero
Who Is It For: anyone who needs to know whether to bundle up in the morning or take an umbrella
What I Like: works well, easy to use and read, presents enough information to help you prepare without presenting too much information and overwhelming you
What I Don’t: nothing that I can find
Final Statement: they did a lovely job at this application and although it's an advertisement for the weather Channel I can live with that.
