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Why did The Weather Channel ruin their app?
- Thread starter TH55
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Some details of why it was ruined would be helpful to the conversation.
So many, many updates to apps and web sites make them so much worse than before - in my opinion. I just think sometimes companies feel they have to update their apps whether needed or not
Good? I use weatherbug now but I feel like it’s not always accurate.
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Well it used to be so much more streamlined and user friendly/efficient. It had the exact same layout as Weatherbug, everything on one screen with tabs and the ability to easily toggle between hourly/daily etc and was much easier to read. Then they completely overhauled it placing style over substance. You can’t even leave it on a preferred city, it always defaults to your current location. I go kayaking so I only really check for the area I go in, not where I live.
I'm not obsessed with weather, nor do I have a need to be kept notified real time (like those who live where severe, life-threatening weather is a regular occurrence), so I just make do with going to the respective web site.
Given the shenanigans that occur behind the scenes with some specialized apps (TWC has been sued for data mining via its app), I avoid them unless they can provide a real, tangible benefit or service that a plain website cannot.
An app from an independent developer may reduce, but won't entirely eliminate the chances of that, and there's really no easy way to tell.
Even well-known browser extensions like Ghostery and AdBlock Plus, whose primary purpose is to "protect" users, have adopted business models that prompt one to question their practices.
One would have to be naive to ignore the fact that many sites try so hard to drive users to download apps not solely for a "better user experience," but for other purposes as well. Yelp is doing such a hard push now that their mobile website is almost unusable.
What are the standout features above the rest? I cannot find it on the Canadian App Store - is it only working and sold in specific regions?
Just a no-nonsense app. Good projections of rain and the graphs and data are all easy to read.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dark-sky-weather/id517329357
Good insight. Reddit might be one of the worst offenders, they literally prompt you to download their app every single time you visit their website.
Unless you actually need accurate forecast data.
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Hello Weather.
Www.forecastadvisor.com for the most accurate provider in your area.
The problem began years ago when the Weather Channel jumped the shark and became the Fox news of Weather. Since then, they have unfortunately absorbed what once were great weather sources like weather underground and destroyed their apps and news as well.
For years, the best source of weather has been to delete all weather apps (apps are for suckers) and instead bookmark source information like the National Weather Service.
Like all I really want is the default iOS weather widget, but with two additions:
1) The ability to tap on any of the upcoming days and see it expand with morning/afternoon/evening details with a couple sentences
2) A second page that shows radar with no fluff
Well, and a third addition, I guess:
3) It to actually load and refresh quickly and dependably. I feel the iOS weather app has forever been one of the most unreliable apps to get to refresh upon pulling it up.
I've gone through so many weather apps over the years and they were all bloated garbage, and I eventually just deleted them all and refused to spend any more money.
1) The ability to tap on any of the upcoming days and see it expand with morning/afternoon/evening details with a couple sentences
2) A second page that shows radar with no fluff
Well, and a third addition, I guess:
3) It to actually load and refresh quickly and dependably. I feel the iOS weather app has forever been one of the most unreliable apps to get to refresh upon pulling it up.
I've gone through so many weather apps over the years and they were all bloated garbage, and I eventually just deleted them all and refused to spend any more money.
Hello Weather uses Dark Sky by default, so your suggestion is a little silly. But you said it in a condescending way, so there's that.
Meh, forecast advisor is pretty limited in my area. Also, it's not an app.
Hello Weather’s subscription allows users to choose from 4 different weather sources. Silly that is not.
I have Dark Sky for precipitation alerts, though they are even bugged at times, but their forecasts are regularly quite off.
You’re missing the point. It lets you see the most accurate weather source for your area, so you can choose an app that uses it.
P.S. Wasn’t trying to be condescending towards you—just DarkSky.
Thanks much for the response. Wish I could try that one out but it’s not on the Canadian App Store at least.