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Rain start times appear on The Weather Channel for Android and BlackBerry 10

While there are a ton of weather applications for mobile devices, the ability to know when the rain will start and stop is something that sets The Weather Channel apart.
By Matthew Miller, Contributing Writer
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1 of 18 Screenshot by ZDNet

The Weather Channel widget for Android

There are a ton of good weather applications on smartphones, but The Weather Channel just released an update for Android and BlackBerry 10 this week that made it my go-to application for these platforms.

Living in a location 50 miles from where I work in the Puget Sound region means I experience different weather patterns at work and at home, and have to make daily decisions based on the weather. We see a lot of light rain/drizzle in Washington and most of us native Washingtonians don't use umbrellas. However, I have a 1-mile walk from my commuter train to the office and sometimes I do need to cover up. The new Android and BlackBerry 10 version of The Weather Channel offers many improvements, with the key one for me being their "rain start/stop" feature.

The application now informs me when it is predicted to rain and for how long, right from the main screen in the cool new visual bubble. I understand this is the first major redesign for the Android platform since 2009 and I like it better than what I see on other platforms. The BlackBerry 10 app is based on the Android SDK, but is not a simple port and is natively built for BlackBerry 10. As you can see in my screenshots after the Android screenshots, there are some differences between the two applications. However, the awesome new look and the rain start/stop feature are common between these platforms.

According to the press release, the new features include:

  • Easier access to current conditions, severe weather information, hourly forecasts, 36-hour forecasts, and 10-day forecasts

  • An immediate narrative of what to expect, ie, "dry conditions will continue", "expect rain until 4pm", gives users a better idea of how weather will affect their day

  • New localized maps and map layers include past and future radar, severe weather bulletins, and tropical cyclone tracking

  • Beautiful, relevant imagery and weather-triggered backgrounds

  • Simpler user interface for easy-to-use navigation and quicker access to information

  • Improved management for saved locations enables a more intuitive user interface

  • Set up your favorites to take full advantage of new weather widgets and notifications

  • Option to expand detailed weather data that is collapsed for a better visual experience

  • Share weather forecasts, maps, alerts, and more with family and friends to Facebook, Twitter, and other major social networks

  • Automatic updates of localized weather, using your current TruPointSM location, and a new refresh button for immediate updates

  • A better selection of videos.

The application is free and ad supported, so you will see ads on both platforms. I don't find them too annoying, and given that the application is free, I am OK with seeing them. The application looks fantastic on my Galaxy Note II and on the BlackBerry Z10.

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2 of 18 Screenshot by ZDNet

There are three widget options for Android.

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3 of 18 Screenshot by ZDNet

Tapping on the weather bubble shows more details.

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Checking out the forecast.

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More details on Android.

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6 of 18 Screenshot by ZDNet

You can manage locations in The Weather Channel.

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7 of 18 Screenshot by ZDNet

View weather maps.

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8 of 18 Screenshot by ZDNet

More location details on Android.

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9 of 18 Screenshot by ZDNet

Weather patterns in Washington state.

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10 of 18 Screenshot by ZDNet

Forecast summary on BlackBerry 10.

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11 of 18 Screenshot by ZDNet

Manage locations on BlackBerry 10.

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12 of 18 Screenshot by ZDNet

Weather-related videos.

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13 of 18 Screenshot by ZDNet

Settings on Android.

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Severe weather warnings.

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Tap to view more details.

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16 of 18 Screenshot by ZDNet

The main Weather Channel screen on BlackBerry 10.

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17 of 18 Screenshot by ZDNet

Forecast details on BlackBerry 10.

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Settings on BlackBerry 10.

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