I'm here for you, dude!
I'm a weather app junkie. I'm always looking for the newest and best (for me) weather app. To date I have tried several and I have even purchased more than one. Here is a run down from my investigations and use:
Accuweather: I bought the paid version. It's on sale right now for $.99 which is a good price. It's a good looking interface that does a nice balance of providing information by swiping from page to page. They just redid the interface and I liked the old interface better but that might be just because I was used to it. I find the radar loads fairly quickly and is above average in accuracy. A good all-around weather app. B+
1Weather: It has a kinda neat and interesting interface - very sparse and easy to read. I like how they do many things like the precipitation page which uses little beakers that fill up to show how much precipitation is expected. But overall the app is slow and not very accurate. I don't like their radar at all. I did purchase this app for $1.99 which really only got rid of the ads. C+
eWeather HD: Another app I purchased based on a really neat weather 'clock' that gives you a great representation of what to expect in a 12 hour period at a glance. Also has a lot of really indepth information that many programs do not have - almost too much. But it also has some neat widgets that are very customizable. The radar is just okay, kinda slow to load and not particularly accurate. In the end I grew tired of the lackluster colors and 'busy-ness' of the main interface but I still use some of it's widgets. B+ for innovation and shear amount of information. Could use an update to it's looks though.
The Weather Channel: No paid version so you are stuck with ads. They also just redid the interface which is now cleaner but many dedicated users hate it. The one thing I really like about TWC is their radar loads very fast and is very accurate. They also have a very neat feature with the radar that when you press play to animate it, it gives you an option for 'Past' or 'Future'. This is SLICK! And it also gives the longest radar time spreads which I like. The future predicted radar alone bumps this program up to a B+ for me. I'm going to spend some more time exploring the new interface and see what other goodies are just there. I wish they would do a paid version to get rid of the ads.
Weather Underground: Decent interface. I like that it gives you current weather, next three days and radar on one screen with a slider to go all radar if you want. But their radar is slow to load and not that accurate. There is a neat feature of little boxes on the radar map that are places with outdoor webcams so you can see the actual weather in those locations. C+
WeatherBug Elite: Paid version, forget the cost, maybe $2.99? Great program. Love the interface. Very well thought out and my current favorite. This is the program that I have my HD Widget program bring up. Fast loading and accurate radar with long spread of animation. A page dedicated to webcams that you can see actual weather footage plus lot's of other features. It's just a great program. Solid A.
That's it for my main weather programs. Now onto dedicated Weather Radar programs.
Raindar: My current favorite and the one that launches from my HD Widget. Very fast and great colors and the most accurate of all the instant radars I use. Great program. Bought the paid version for a couple bucks. A+ for doing what it's supposed to.
MyRadar: Not bad, loads very fast but only gives precipitation density and does not differentiate between rain and snow. B-
Radar Now: Kinda ugly interface but loads fast. Like MyRadar though it only gives precipitation density and does not differentiate. Since I'm in New England I need to know when and where it's going to turn from rain, to a mix, and to snow! C+
Rainy Days: Kind of a cross between MyRadar and Radar Now, fast but again no differentiation between rain, snow, etc. Really ugly (blurry) precipitation graphic representation. C
That's it for me. If I could only have 2 it would be WeatherBug Elite for my main program and Raindar for my instant radar. If WeatherBug Elite incorporates that futurecast radar it will get an A+. All the programs have their little niches and pluses and minuses and ultimately it comes down to what you, the user, want and likes in a program. Most have free versions so try them all and then decide. There is no shortage of weather apps out there. Make sure you post some reviews on what you tried and what you liked and didn't like.
Wondered if anyone can recomend the best weather radar app - we live in central ohio and I am overwhelmed by the zillions of apps out there ! thanx
