Simon (kustard) has done it again by producing (or reproducing, and improving-on, in this case) another top little app for iPhone (which also runs on iPad at reduced size). The original, "AstroWeather", based on 7-Timer doesn't seem to be available any more. No matter. The Sky Harbinger app was introduced as part of another thread, but I think that it really deserves its own discoverable thread.
As mentioned, it utilises the same data sources that 7-Timer does which, I've found over time, to be more robust than relying on your mainstream weather services.
Once again - it runs in any of several screen colours, but for we astronomers it happily accommodates with a dark ruby red for preservation of night vision.
Rather than using the pie-graph and "tree leaf" approach for indicating the various parameters, it uses more-familiar bar charts and actual textual information.
Very nice Simon - and thanks a bunch.
1) Uses location services.
2) Sydney looks good for the next few days.
3) Choosing Melbourne from the granular list.
4) Settings page.
5) Melbourne looks dreadful. LOL
Firstly I want to thank everyone who has downloaded the app. It's had a decent amount of downloads, around 250 or so.
Secondly, I've submitted an update to the app last week and it should be approved within the next few days.
Fixes and features:
1) Temperature setting now saved.
2) Spelling mistakes fixed (I hope I got them all).
3) Fixed an issue with the time not being determined correctly.
4) You can now add up to 10 user locations by accessing the "Sky Harbinger" settings under the iPhone settings.
5) Added moon phase information as a percentage of full.
6) Wind Direction and Speed on the same line, touch to toggle between them.
7) Time and Date on the same line, touch to toggle between them.
8) DMS Location and Location Name can be toggled.
9) Added blue colour for temperatures less than 0C/32F.
Hey, Simon -- thanks so much for doing this. It's a great little utility, and, you've made it even better. Will update as soon as it shows up in the App Store.
It is very good thanks.
I am finding it useful for general weather forecasts as well.
My only comment with it is it is oriented 180deg from the way I hold the phone or the iPad. It just means I have to turn the phone around.
Simon I find it takes two goes to get it to work on the iPad 4g sometimes.
First time it starts with just a warning in red that it can not find the network.
Second time it starts as it should.
Blahville (and the variables "Blah" when coding) has a popular place for me during my coding career
Quote:
Originally Posted by gb_astro
Simon I find it takes two goes to get it to work on the iPad 4g sometimes.
First time it starts with just a warning in red that it can not find the network.
Second time it starts as it should.
gb.
Hi GB, there are five (5) possible start up scenarios:
1) Black screen with wait animation then data is displayed.
2) Black screen but no data, this is when the app doesn't receive data from the 7Timer! website, most likely due to server issues on their end or the connection is dropped but the internet is available.
3) Red text 1 - Device is in Airplane Mode or Network is unavailable.
4) Red text 2 - Device has Location Services turned off.
5) Red text 3 - App has Location Services turned off.
I'm unsure why you would be getting the 3rd scenario happening if you are able to get data after a second attempt. The only thing I can think of is that for some reason the app is getting notification that the network is not available by the OS but I'm unsure why that would be. I only have a wi-fi iPad to test on so there might be a small discrepancy between them when in wireless internet mode that is causing your issue. I'll have a look about to see if there is something I need to consider for the iPads.
Terry, I'll add in the 180 degree rotation in the next update, I really should have put it in to start with, sorry for your troubles.
I just installed this on my iPad. Did I miss something in the search, or do you have the just install the iPhone version and use the 2x button for iPads?
It should work on an iPod touch with iOS 5.0 or later.
At the moment there is only the native iPhone version. It will run on the iPad and you can either run it with the small window or at x2. I'll be converting it to run on both iPad & iPhone when I get time.
Slight feature suggestion that I would imagine is easy? You've got the wind directions there. What if you used a colour, or for when it's red/monochrome maybe the lightness of the text, could indicate relative wind speeds?
Hi Troy, I have to fix up the time bug, seems I didn't fix it even though I changed the code so I'm going to be updating it soon.
At the moment you can see the wind speed by tapping the "Wind Dir" text but yeah I can add in text colouring for relative speed. Maybe in monochrome mode I could toggle the direction and speed, make it change every second or so?
