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Foundation Findings #49 - Weather To Go

Foundation Picks and Product Chart

When reviewing different weather products it became apparent to us that variables such as connection speed, platform type, and screen size could affect how we judged the product. Without these variables, we were able to identify the weather data that was most important to boaters. We judged each product based on the data presented across several categories.

  • On Land Weather Features: One point for each data field - Current Conditions, Temperature, Humidity, Wind Speed, Barometer and Visibility. (0-6)
  • Are hazardous weather announcements displayed? (Yes/No)
  • Is there a radar loop or image? (Yes/No)
  • Always wear a properly fitted PFD
  • Does the product include an on land weather forecast? (Yes/No)
  • Is a marine weather forecast available? (Yes/No)
  • Does the product include present current buoy weather data? (Yes/No)
    Foundation Picks 7/10/2010
               
AT&T - RIM Blackberry Curve
Mobile Mariner $4.99/mo Minimal Land Weather Features No Weather Hazard Announcements No radar image or loop available No standard weather forecasts available Marine Forecasts available Buoy Data reports available
Be Weather Free Minimal Land Weather Features No Weather Hazard Announcements No radar image or loop available Standard Weater forecasts available No marine forecasts available No buoy data reports available
Wind Track $6.99 Some Land Weather Features No Weather Hazard Announcements No radar image or loop available No standard weather forecasts available No marine forecasts available Buoy Data reports available
Weather Channel Free Some Land Weather Features Hazardous Weather Announcements Displayed Radar image and/or loop displayed Standard Weater forecasts available No marine forecasts available No buoy data reports available
Weathereye Free Some Land Weather Features No Weather Hazard Announcements Radar image and/or loop displayed Standard Weater forecasts available No marine forecasts available No buoy data reports available
My Weather Lite Free Several Land Weather Features No Weather Hazard Announcements No radar image or loop available Standard Weater forecasts available No marine forecasts available No buoy data reports available
WeatherBug Free Several Land Weather Features Hazardous Weather Announcements Displayed Radar image and/or loop displayed Standard Weater forecasts available No marine forecasts available No buoy data reports available
AT&T - Apple - Iphone
Boat Weather $2.99 Minimal Land Weather Features No Weather Hazard Announcements No radar image or loop available No standard weather forecasts available Marine Forecasts available No buoy data reports available
Bombora $2.99 Minimal Land Weather Features No Weather Hazard Announcements No radar image or loop available Standard Weater forecasts available Marine Forecasts available Buoy Data reports available
Buoy Weather $9.99 Minimal Land Weather Features No Weather Hazard Announcements Radar image and/or loop displayed No standard weather forecasts available Marine Forecasts available Buoy Data reports available
NOAA Buoy Data Reader $2.99 Minimal Land Weather Features No Weather Hazard Announcements No radar image or loop available No standard weather forecasts available Marine Forecasts available Buoy Data reports available
MarineCast $5.99 Some Land Weather Features Hazardous Weather Announcements Displayed Radar image and/or loop displayed Standard Weater forecasts available Marine Forecasts available Buoy Data reports available
Accuweather Free Several Land Weather Features Hazardous Weather Announcements Displayed Radar image and/or loop displayed Standard Weater forecasts available No marine forecasts available No buoy data reports available
Weather Channel Free Several Land Weather Features Hazardous Weather Announcements Displayed Radar image and/or loop displayed Standard Weater forecasts available No marine forecasts available No buoy data reports available
NOAA Nat'l Weather Serv $1.99 Several Land Weather Features Hazardous Weather Announcements Displayed Radar image and/or loop displayed Standard Weater forecasts available Marine Forecasts available No buoy data reports available
Weather LCD $2.99 Several Land Weather Features Hazardous Weather Announcements Displayed Radar image and/or loop displayed Standard Weater forecasts available Marine Forecasts available No buoy data reports available
T-Mobile - Mobile Internet - Motorola W450
Accuweather Mobile Web (basic) Free Several Land Weather Features Hazardous Weather Announcements Displayed Radar image and/or loop displayed Standard Weater forecasts available No marine forecasts available No buoy data reports available
mobile.weather.gov Free Several Land Weather Features Hazardous Weather Announcements Displayed Radar image and/or loop displayed Standard Weater forecasts available Marine Forecasts available Buoy Data reports available
Weather.com Free Several Land Weather Features Hazardous Weather Announcements Displayed Radar image and/or loop displayed Standard Weater forecasts available No marine forecasts available No buoy data reports available
wunderground.com Mobile Web Free Several Land Weather Features Hazardous Weather Announcements Displayed Radar image and/or loop displayed Standard Weater forecasts available Marine Forecasts available No buoy data reports available
Verizon - Android - Motorola Droid
Offshore Weather Free Minimal Land Weather Features No Weather Hazard Announcements No radar image or loop available No standard weather forecasts available Marine Forecasts available No buoy data reports available
Accuweather Free Minimal Land Weather Features No Weather Hazard Announcements Radar image and/or loop displayed Standard Weater forecasts available No marine forecasts available No buoy data reports available
Imap Weather Free Some Land Weather Features Hazardous Weather Announcements Displayed Radar image and/or loop displayed Standard Weater forecasts available No marine forecasts available No buoy data reports available
Weather Channel Free Several Land Weather Features Hazardous Weather Announcements Displayed No radar image or loop available Standard Weater forecasts available No marine forecasts available No buoy data reports available
WeatherBug Free Several Land Weather Features Hazardous Weather Announcements Displayed Radar image and/or loop displayed Standard Weater forecasts available No marine forecasts available No buoy data reports available
Satellite Services
XM 'Skywatch' on Bushnell Onix 400 Handheld GPS $9.95/mo ++ Some Land Weather Features Hazardous Weather Announcements Displayed Radar image and/or loop displayed Standard Weater forecasts available No marine forecasts available No buoy data reports available
Sirius 'Charter' on Raymarine C120 Chartplotter $29.99/mo + Several Land Weather Features Hazardous Weather Announcements Displayed Radar image and/or loop displayed Standard Weater forecasts available Marine Forecasts available Buoy Data reports available
Key to Available Features
Standard weather features such as conditions,
temp, humidity, wind speed, barometer, visibility
most = Several Land Weather Features some = Some Land Weather Features least = Minimal Land Weather Features
Weather Hazards Alerts: yes= Hazardous Weather Announcements Displayed no= No Weather Hazard Announcements   Radar Images or Loop: yes= Radar image and/or loop displayed no= No radar image or loop available
Weather Forecasts: yes= Standard Weater forecasts available no= No standard weather forecasts available   Marine Forecasts: yes= Marine Forecasts available no= No marine forecasts available
Buoy Data Reports: yes= Buoy Data reports available no= No buoy data reports available                
               

++ $14.00 activation fee
+ $25.00 activation fee

 

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