weather

Window on the weather

If you want to know what the weather is, the saying goes, look outside. MyFreeWeather allows users to do just that, without ever having to get up from their computers. This attractive weather program lets users view illustrated versions of the sky in their selected location, with both the time of day and weather accurately portrayed. With features typical of other weather software and the nifty sky graphics to boot, we think MyFreeWeather is a nice choice for a go-to weather program.

MyFreeWeather's interface is sleek and intuitive, with the sky illustration filling the upper third or so and … Read more

Forecast at your fingertips

We're always on the lookout for a good weather app, something that provides accurate information and is easy to access without getting in the way. AniWeather for Chrome is a great Chrome add-on that presents information from the Weather Channel in an attractive, well-integrated interface.

The add-on appears to the right of Chrome's address bar, displaying an icon representing current conditions along with the temperature. Click the icon and the five-day forecast will appear. The Ani in AniWeather refers to the program's animations, which we really liked; they're subtle, but they make the forecast a little … Read more

'Desktop' app turns iPad into split-screen toolbox

I've now been an iPad owner for exactly four hours. First impressions? It's heavier than I thought, and I'm furious with iTunes for hanging--repeatedly--during my initial sync attempts. (Weird workaround: After successfully syncing my iPhone, the iPad started syncing normally.)

Newspaper apps? Fantastic. JamPad? Dazzling. Netflix? I think a tear escaped my eye. But you know which app I'll probably end up using the most? The ingenious 99-cent Desktop, which divides the iPad screen in half so you can run two apps at once.

Well, OK, not apps, but any of the 10 "applets" built into Desktop. These include a Web browser (complete with thumbnail-enhanced bookmarks, a nice touch); an e-mail composer; Google Maps; unit and currency converters; a calculator; a dictionary; and a weather monitor.

So think of it: when your iPad is pulling desk duty (resting in one of these five cheap/DIY stands, no doubt), you can keep, say, a browser and calculator running all the time. Or a unit converter and iPad stat monitor. It's your choice, and Desktop gives you the option of dividing the screen side-by-side or top-to-bottom. (You can also run any tool full-screen if you prefer.)

Great idea, right? Just one problem: Desktop lacks a few tools it desperately needs, and a few of the tools it has aren't fully baked.… Read more

Weather in your taskbar

Although it's not as fast as just looking outside the window, WeatherBar adds an icon to your Windows 7 taskbar that will keep you on top of current weather conditions. This simple app installs a weather monitor on your Windows taskbar that changes the icon depending on the predicted weather. The progress meter indicates the relative humidity, and the jump list offers a full four-day prediction including highs, lows, and a predictive icon.

WeatherBar offers a standard program window, too. Along with a large version of the four-day predictions, you can enter in a city name or area code, … Read more

Weather dresses go where the wind blows

Not that you need your clothes to tell you what the weather's like outside, but a climate-reflecting garment still counts as a rather cool (or hot as the case may be) idea.

Contributing to the ever-growing field of wearable technology, Montreal-based digital media artist Valerie Lamontagne came up with a series of dresses that wirelessly transmit data like temperature, wind speed, humidity, and rainfall back to the garment. Custom-built circuitboards receive the information and relay it to the clothing's internal circuitry to affect real-time changes in keeping with the natural environment.

The gold, yellow, and brown Sun Dress, … Read more

More views of the Audi Driving Experience in Finland

On Wednesday I gave lip service to the Audi Ice Driving Experience that took place roughly a month ago in Finland. Today's video is a continuation of the current topic, showing the sights and sounds of this yearly event that's been in effect since the mid-'80s. There isn't a whole lot that I can add to what this video displays--it's simply poetry in motion with cars driving around on the beautifully snowy mountainside, and that can hardly be a bad thing. Enjoy.

The 2010 Audi Ice Driving Experience event

So recently we've gotten a look at BMW's xDrive all-wheel traction control system, both in theory and in action. Not surprisingly, German manufacturer Audi thinks its vehicles run and handle better on snowy and icy roads to the point that the company is hosting an event known as the Audi Ice Experience; it's a racing-track-based high-performance practical driving education event that's been around for more than 20 years now. And today we've got video from the most recent Experience held this year in Finland.

The Audi Ice Experience is a winter-specific course that is usually … Read more

A closer look at BMW xDrive technology

All-wheel traction control systems can make a trip on snowy and icy roads an easier time on you and your car. On Monday we got a brief glimpse of the innovative BMW xDrive traction system in action, and in today's video blog we dive into the deeper details of the technology involved and how BMW xDrive works.

For those of you just joining the conversation, BMW's xDrive is an "intelligent" electrical all-wheel traction control system that through Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) sensors can redistribute power between the axles depending on what is felt on existing road … Read more

Gadgettes 175: The Endless Winter Episode (podcast)

It's official: we can't take anymore winter. We need a pick-me-up. Actually, we just discovered that the only thing worse than winter is a glowing blue beam of death designed to act like the sun. Also, shocking news about Rafe Needleman!

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 175

Philips GoLite: cure for winter blues? http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10456661-1.html

Celestial fashion: weather-dependent dresses http://dvice.com/archives/2010/02/celestial-fashi.php

ThinkGeek :: WoodStation Weather Display http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/lights/c317/?ref=c/&cpg=cj… Read more