More junk: News in the weather app

[j-a-x]

If you want to see JUST the weather data from WeatherKit, no news, no raindrop animations, etc. in a better format (using a single chart for temperature, clouds, rain etc). then you should try my app Weathercaster!

I created it precisely because I don't like Apple Weather but the data source is good. It's been a real uphill battle to promote it though. I'd be happy if you'd share your thoughts!

‎Weathercaster: World Forecasts

‎Weathercaster is the best way to view weather forecasts. Powered by Apple WeatherKit and designed with elegant minimalism, Weathercaster strips away clutter and shows exactly what you need to know using easy-to-read charts. We think everyone can benefit from seeing weather data in this format...

apps.apple.com

 

[bzgnyc2]

If you want to see JUST the weather data from WeatherKit, no news, no raindrop animations, etc. in a better format (using a single chart for temperature, clouds, rain etc). then you should try my app Weathercaster!

I created it precisely because I don't like Apple Weather but the data source is good. It's been a real uphill battle to promote it though. I'd be happy if you'd share your thoughts!

‎Weathercaster: World Forecasts

‎Weathercaster is the best way to view weather forecasts. Powered by Apple WeatherKit and designed with elegant minimalism, Weathercaster strips away clutter and shows exactly what you need to know using easy-to-read charts. We think everyone can benefit from seeing weather data in this format...

apps.apple.com

Hi j-a-x, looks interesting. I like your visualization of temperature as a continuous graph with precipitation overlaid below. It's kind of crazy other weather apps present the same as giant tables rather than graphs. The basic display does have a good dashboard feel -- just what I need to know to plan. At the same time, the history option is nice as I've often wanted to know, 'what just happened?'

App feedback/suggestions:
-Not obvious to me what the bars mean on the main graph
-I do miss the map views from Apple's app -- your graphs are better for quick reference but I sometimes like to see the past/forecast weather patterns overlaid on the map as well. Options for other layers sometimes handy
-Sunset/sunrise times are often handy, too
-The optional wind speed graph is a little messy for me to follow...but maybe that's because I'm not really in the market for that data until I get a boat...
-Dotted lines for past and solid lines for future seems reversed but that's of course a pure style/opinion thing
-Why no Intel compatibility for Mac version?

Commercial considerations:
-Limit to 1 location and constant banner to upgrade in the free version makes it seem more like a demo than a free with upgrades app
-$2/month or $25/lifetime feels a little steep to me for weather app that uses public data and Apple's weatherkit. I agree with those decisions but then as a viewer of existing government data $10/lifetime feels more fitting.

Overall, the most promising alternative to Apple's weather app.

Those are my thoughts and hope helpful.

 

[j-a-x]

Hi j-a-x, looks interesting. I like your visualization of temperature as a continuous graph with precipitation overlaid below. It's kind of crazy other weather apps present the same as giant tables rather than graphs. The basic display does have a good dashboard feel -- just what I need to know to plan. At the same time, the history option is nice as I've often wanted to know, 'what just happened?'

App feedback/suggestions:
-Not obvious to me what the bars mean on the main graph
-I do miss the map views from Apple's app -- your graphs are better for quick reference but I sometimes like to see the past/forecast weather patterns overlaid on the map as well. Options for other layers sometimes handy
-Sunset/sunrise times are often handy, too
-The optional wind speed graph is a little messy for me to follow...but maybe that's because I'm not really in the market for that data until I get a boat...
-Dotted lines for past and solid lines for future seems reversed but that's of course a pure style/opinion thing
-Why no Intel compatibility for Mac version?

Commercial considerations:
-Limit to 1 location and constant banner to upgrade in the free version makes it seem more like a demo than a free with upgrades app
-$2/month or $25/lifetime feels a little steep to me for weather app that uses public data and Apple's weatherkit. I agree with those decisions but then as a viewer of existing government data $10/lifetime feels more fitting.

Overall, the most promising alternative to Apple's weather app.

Those are my thoughts and hope helpful.

I really appreciate that feedback! It means a lot to me, even the more critical parts. I agree, it's weird that so few weather apps use charts, and when they do they're usually really small and cramped. There are some exceptions.... Apple started using charts a few releases ago but only when you tap on a day, then then they make you switch different charts them rather than showing rain, cloud, precip, etc. which is tedious. Funny story, I actually applied to a job at Apple (the weather team is local here in Boston) and put my app ideas and an old prototype app on my cover letter but they wouldn't even talk to me. Couldn't even get a response from a recruiter... So I just built my new SwiftUI/WeatherKit app the way I wanted it!

•The bars in the past on the main graph show actual observed rainfall amounts, is that what you're referring to?
•Sunrise/Sunset are on the roadmap.... also maybe day/night background shading.
•The wind speed with direction arrows is super useful to me when sailing but maybe not for everyone which is why its off by default...
•The lack of an Intel version is a Swift laziness thing. With the latest Swift the same build automatically runs on Apple Silicon and its slightly more complicated to compile for Intel via Catalyst and would require some changes... so I chose the easy route which is just to let the iPad app run as a native Mac app but only on Apple silicon. I wonder if putting the effort into Catalyst/Intel would be worth it or maybe not, especially with new Apple dropping support for Intel.

The pricing questions and demo capabilities are valid. I wonder if I should tone down the banner and allow another location or two... I actually lock the top location as a "demo location" because I chose to make the top location work with the watch/widget and it was a good way to let users try out the watch/widget (rather than disabling them until they pay), and if I didn't lock a demo location at the top it would mean either the watch/widget would become free features or I'd need to disable them for free users.

Feel free to contact me over email via the in-app link and we can discuss further. I'd love to dial things in better to make the app more popular!

Jax

 

[mentaluproar]

I hate it. Any way to disable it?

use carrot weather instead

 

[Fraserpatty]

I don’t know. If it’s only used to broadcast stories that have something to do with the weather conditions and people’s destructive decisions because of it, maybe you SHOULD tell people that there is a severe fire risk and that they should abstain from certain activities.
There is a reason for this and it’s valid. The implementation however will hopefully be dialed in tastefully.

Agree. Now, if only they would display pollen information in a prominent manner too . That’s to do with weather, Health, and news too.