An iPhone Weather App That Shines

Since the App Store launched in 2008, I’ve been perusing the Store searching for the perfect weather app. And up until a few days ago, I was still looking for the perfect one — three years later.

It’s called Shine and the name fits it quite well. It’s everything you want and nothing you don’t want. The botheration with most weather apps out today is that they provide too much information. I could care less about advanced doppler radars, dew points, visibility, etc. I just want to know the weather forecast!

Not only does Shine provide the features I want, but it’s packed with a great UI design as well. The temperature and current condition is shown up-front and large, while the extended forecast is shown below. The slide gestures to change location are a nice perk as well.

This app sounds just like the default weather app on the iPhone…

I assure you it’s not. While the two apps are similar in functionality (both providing limited, yet valuable weather information), the design and UI is where they begin to differ.

Apple hasn’t updated the default weather app since the launch of the iPhone. And anyone that’s opened up the app can tell it was made ages ago (a few years is an eternity in technology time). The design doesn’t meet today’s standards by any means.

Considering Shine was only just launched in May 2011, the designer was able to take advantage of the current design trends and make Shine an attractive-looking app.

As Shine continues to rank higher in the weather category on the App Store, many developers are realizing that a minimal weather app is what users have longed for since the beginning. If other weather app developers want to keep their app relevant, I recommend they introduce a ‘minimal mode’. For weather nerds, the standard app will suit their needs. For people that just want to be informed with the latest weather and nothing else, the minimal mode will please them.

Shine has become the only weather app I use. With the updates-to-come, Shine looks even more promising. Shine is available in the App Store for just under a dollar.

Disclaimer: I received Shine on review from AppThat. The opinions expressed in the above article are 100% mine, and are not influenced by receiving the app for free.

21. May 2011

Why A 15” MacBook Air Would Work

Ben Brooks wrote a post recently that discussed why the 13” MacBook Air is better than its MacBook Pro counterpart. This got me thinking.

I currently own a 15” MacBook Pro (Core i7, high-res) that I use for just about everything. And it’s a love-hate relationship. My MacBook Pro works great as a desktop computer connected to an external monitor. However, when I need to go mobile, it’s just too heavy.

The truth is that while the processing power in the MacBook Pro is nice to have, I’ve never come close to using the processor to its full potential. For what I do, I just don’t need the extra “oomph” or the extra storage. I think this is the case for many people.

The single reason I bought the Pro (over the Air) is the screen size. When I’m working away from the desk, I’m forced to work sans external monitor. I need every inch I can get for Photoshop and other apps that have a lot of components and windows.

You see what I’m getting at here? I want everything the 13” MacBook Air has, but with a 15” screen. I think it’d make a lot of sense for Apple to add a 15” MacBook Air to its lineup of computers. This would leave the MacBook Pro to people that actually need the extra processing power and storage. That’s what it was meant for in the first place.

9. May 2011

Sent from my iPad: On or Off?

I leave it on. I have the same belief in that I think it help explains for when I send short emails and make spelling errors, but I also like letting people know I have an iPad. Not to brag, but because I think it’s a great device.

3. April 2011

Polaroid, Apple, and Steve Jobs

What would I do without Instagram?

21. March 2011

photo: iPad 2, here I come. Yes, if you haven’t guessed, I’ll be the first one at my Apple Store on March 11. Are you getting one?

iPad 2, here I come. Yes, if you haven’t guessed, I’ll be the first one at my Apple Store on March 11.

Are you getting one?

2. March 2011 ·

photo: Sleeping on the job.

Sleeping on the job.

12. February 2011

Sparrow Mail for Mac

I recently came across an alternative mail app for Mac called Sparrow. Sparrow has the interface of Twitter for Mac and makes Mail.app feel ugly. However, the beautiful UI doesn’t come without a few compromises. Overall, Sparrow is a feature-filled app, but there are a few major features absent.

Since I have many email accounts, I like to see all my emails at once. At this time, Sparrow doesn’t offer that and I can only view a single inbox at one time. This is a major annoyance for me, and if corrected, could save me a lot of time.

Something I’ve come to appreciate in Mail is the split view vertically (the email names up top and actual messages on the bottom). It’s just a personal preference, but it’d be nice to have that option.

If those features are implemented, I think I will be able to switch to Sparrow. I use Google Apps for all my email addresses, which counts as Gmail in their system.

Have you used Sparrow? If so, do you like it? Leave your thoughts below.

5. February 2011

photo: iWork ‘11 is officially coming - confirmed by Apple. If you take a look at Apple’s download page and point your attention towards the screenshot of the App Store, you’ll see iWork ‘11 teased in the sidebar. Just a mistake or a hint by Apple?  As of now, the image is still up. Click on the screenshot to visit the website.

iWork ‘11 is officially coming - confirmed by Apple. If you take a look at Apple’s download page and point your attention towards the screenshot of the App Store, you’ll see iWork ‘11 teased in the sidebar. Just a mistake or a hint by Apple? 

As of now, the image is still up. Click on the screenshot to visit the website.

16. January 2011

MacBook Air Used as Testing Line Computer

It’s quite obvious that the MacBook Air seems to be used by Apple as their “testing line” computer. The Air line, more times then not, is the first to adapt new technology from Apple.

Take the unibody design first introduced in 2008. This design was non-existent until the first MacBook Air was released, and later the unibody design was integrated into all models of the MacBook lines. Another first introduced with the original MacBook Air was the multi-touch trackpad – which, again, was later implemented into all of the MacBook lines.

In the newest Air, Apple has implemented solid state memory into all its models. Solid state memory isn’t necessarily a new technology, but its a first for the Mac line. I see this as foreshadowing on Apple’s part – hinting that this technology will soon be implemented into other models of the MacBook line, particularly in the MacBook Pro.

I don’t know if it’s just me, or if other people are noticing this, too. What are your thoughts? Leave a comment.

13. January 2011

photo: I took this a few nights ago with my Nikon D80. I enjoy photographing nature and the things that surround us day to day.

I took this a few nights ago with my Nikon D80. I enjoy photographing nature and the things that surround us day to day.

8. January 2011

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