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LA sues Weather Channel app owner over 'fraudulent' data use
Los Angeles' city attorney has filed a lawsuit against the company behind The Weather Channel app, claiming the app didn't adequately disclose to users how their location information would be used. The lawsuit calls The Weather Company's practices "fraudulent and deceptive" and says they violate California's Unfair Competition Law. "For years, TWC has deceptively used its Weather Channel app to amass its users' private, personal geolocation data -- tracking minute details about its users' locations throughout the day and night, all while leading users to believe that their data will only be used to provide them with 'personalized local weather data, alerts and forecasts," says the suit.
The Weather Channel will bring mixed-reality disasters to broadcasts
It looks like The Weather Channel's broadcasts are about to get a lot more immersive. The channel's parent, The Weather Group, is teaming up with The Future Group, powered by the Unreal Engine, to present broadcasts in mixed reality. And, quite frankly, it looks pretty cool, judging from the pictures included with the blog post.
IBM's new weather app sends emergency alerts without a network
What good is a weather app when the network is down? Not much -- typically. But with an upcoming Weather Channel app for Android, IBM is offering one solution for emerging markets: "Mesh Network Alerts," a new technology that can transmit notifications from phone to phone via Bluetooth and WiFi. It's potentially much more useful than typical emergency alerts from governments, because those don't work when cellular networks go down. The app offers much more than just a mere weather update, in some places it could up saving lives during emergencies.
ICYMI: Birds the magical flying machines
try{document.getElementById("aol-cms-player-1").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: There are three main theories of flight and it turns out, Stanford has poked holes in them by simply training a mini parrot to wear tiny safety goggles, then fly through a laser sheet. The video is more adorable than you could probably imagine so feel free to get your fix here. Meanwhile, NASA's new jet engine could make waves in both increased fuel efficiency and plane design since it relies on slower-moving air currents. The Arctic Sea Ice video is here, but the must-watch in this scenario is the Weather Channel take-down of Breitbart News. The video of the lawn picture maker is here. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
ICYMI: Water-repellent coating, elite air travel and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-590267{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-590267, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-590267{width:570px;display:block;}try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-590267").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: Rice University scientists came up with a new kind of water-repellent coating that is modeled on the lotus leaf. Australians have their first ever remotely controlled firefighting robot that is capable of firing a water cannon up to 90 feet. And Windspeed Technologies, an aerospace engineering firm, just upped the luxe travel game by putting a dome at the top of an aircraft with top 'o the plane seating for those you can pay for it.
Apple TV gets Vevo, Weather Channel, Disney and Smithsonian channels
Apple has added a number of new channels to the Apple TV today, as first noted by MacRumors. The news channels include Vevo, The Weather Channel, Disney, Disney XD and the Smithsonian Channel. Though the Vevo channel has been rumored for some time, the other channels were unexpected. Vevo has issued a press release surrounding the announcement. It reads in part: Apple TV users are sure to recognize the intuitive and efficient design. VEVO viewers are able to quickly browse videos by featured artists including all of the latest premieres. VEVO includes multiple modes of discovery -- you can watch on-demand videos from any genre or simply select any video that piques your interest. If you have something particular in mind, perform a search and we will surface what you're looking for right at your fingertips. As for the other channels, The Weather Channel allows you to set locales to view weather forecasts and also watch shows and reports. Disney, Disney XD and the Smithsonian Channel offer similar access to content, although both Disney channels seem to be US-only right now.
Nintendo to retire Wii network services in Japan, including the Weather Channel
No one disputes that the Wii is old, but old enough to retire? It seems so, at least in the case of a number of its internet services, which Nintendo has scheduled for closure on June 28th. An End of Life notice to Japanese customers reveals that a total of six channels will be put out to pasture, including News and Weather, as will the the ability for Wii Friends to exchange data over Wii Connect24. It's not clear whether these terminations will apply globally, and in any case Nintendo explicitly says that other key services will continue for the time being, such as the Wii Shop Channel. Nevertheless, the latest iteration of the Wii -- the Wii Mini -- wasn't able to connect to any internet services from the outset, so it certainly seems like the game company wants to shift its focus to the future -- and maybe that isn't such a bad idea. The source link has further details along with the obligatory "sorry to everyone" message.
Weather Channel for Android gets tablet optimization, precise weather warnings
The Weather Channel has dwelt mostly on its iOS apps as of late, but don't worry -- it's lavishing attention on forecast-minded Android users today. As of version 4.0, the Android app is optimized for tablets and gives a better heads-up for the conditions ahead from your Nexus 7. Other tweaks are more for feature parity, including precisely-timed warnings for significant weather changes, faster radar maps and higher-detail forecasts. Favorites also help with Android-specific widgets. Should you need to know more about the rain or snow than a Google Now card can deliver, the Weather Channel revamp is ready at the source.
Beat the Traffic acquired by Weather Network owners
Beat the Traffic is a popular third-party navigation app. I've used it quite a few times to navigate the continuous traffic jams of Los Angeles, and the team behind the app has delivered several solid updates. Their hard work appears to have paid off, as Beat the Traffic has been acquired by Canada's Pelmorex Media, which also owns the Weather Channel and another network called MétéoMédia. Pelmorex intends to launch the Travelers Network in October, and says that Beat the Traffic's technology and know-how will be used to grow and develop that property. It will start out as a website and an iPhone app, says Pelmorex, and then grow from there. Meanwhile, the Beat the Traffic app will also continue to grow, so if you're a heavy user, you won't have to worry about that. Beat the Traffic has done some great work with navigation on the App Store, so it's good to see them supported by a larger company. Hopefully the work on the new Travelers Network won't distract too much from the quality iOS app that's already out there.
Daily iPad App: The Weather Channel
Today's Daily iPad App is The Weather Channel for iPad. The Weather Channel has had an iPad app practically since the iPad launched in early 2010, but The Weather Channel has released version 3.0 of the app, and it's a complete rewrite. Besides an entirely new UI, the new Weather Channel for iPad app borrows some features from other popular iOS weather apps like full-screen animated weather backgrounds for local weather forecasts and in-line hourly forecasts. There's also an improved mapping feature which lets you view the current weather in select cities around the world on an interactive spinning globe. Of course, having an entire cable news channel behind your app means it can also do some things the other weather apps can't, like provide instant news updates and stories, complete with a built-in tweet viewer for The Weather Channel personalities like the constantly over-excited Jim Cantore. The app also offers a nice selection of videos, which include weather forecasts as well as clips from Weather Channel TV shows. The problems with the new Weather Channel for iPad app, however, are the same as with the old app: the advertising. There's simply too much of it. There's actually so much it becomes distracting. Yeah, The Weather Channel for iPad is a free app and they've got to make their money back some way, but it would be nice if TWC offered an in-app purchase for $0.99 or so that allowed people to get rid of the ads. Those ads really do keep a good weather app from being a great one. The Weather Channel for iPad is a free download and requires iOS 4.2 or later and if you want to take advantage of the animated backgrounds, an iPad 2 or later.
Weather Channel adventure series links to iPad app
The Weather Channel has recently introduced a new "adventure" series called From the Edge, and instead of the usual weather forecasts and reports, the show seeks out some extreme weather, exploring the world in search of some of the craziest natural phenomena around. What's most interesting about this from our perspective, however, is that the show has a free companion iPad app, designed to connect up viewers to all kinds of extras based around photographer Peter Lik's journeys. The app actually "syncs" up to the show's audio, and it feeds out information in what seems like real time as you're watching. Even if you're not into "crazy weather" programming, it's a really cool idea. Media blogger Steve Smith agrees and says it's a great example of the growing trend of "second screen programming" -- programming for a computer or mobile device that's designed to extend the experience you have while watching television. Not only does it obviously promote the show you're watching, but it gets viewers more connected with the property as a whole, especially since so many of us these days are already browsing the 'net or playing with apps while we watch television anyway. We'll definitely see more of this going forward, on both the TV screen and the one sitting in our laps.
Weather Channel distributes Android app via on-screen QR code
Google's been doing some pretty slick stuff with QR codes lately, and now it looks like The Weather Channel's getting in on the fun -- it's running a little on-screen graphic prompting Android owners to download their app by scanning their TV screens. Sure, it's not the craziest thing in the world -- it just takes you to the Android market listing -- but it's certainly fun, and one of the more mainstream uses of QR codes we've seen in a while. Check the video after the break. Update: We originally said it takes you to the webpage; in actuality, it takes you to the Android market. (Thanks, Caleb!)
Comcast adds The Weather Channel HD in Houston, Texas
Typically, we can count on Comcast to bring along at least three newcomers whenever it decides to bulk up an HD lineup, but for whatever reason, it decided to drop just a single, lonely high-definition station on the residents of Houston this week. For those too lazy to check the forecast online, The Weather Channel HD is now showing on slot 289. Who knows -- maybe this is just the calm before the proverbial storm.[Thanks, Stacey and Brandon]
DirecTV & The Weather Channel team up on new interactive TV apps
The Weather Channel's the latest to get a taste of DirecTV's interactive treatment, adding new severe weather alerts, Local on the 8's weather reports, Local On Demand weather and a featured spot on the DirecTV Active application. The Weather Channel HD feed doesn't feature the local on the 8's app yet, but it is on the way, while the Local On Demand feature lets customers click through a bevy of information while still watching TWC live. A ticker at the bottom of the screen plus the red button on your remote should shed more light on the subject for the interested.
The Weather Channel snapped up by NBC
Just as hurricane season gets up to speed, The Weather Channel itself has been swept up by NBC. Along with Bain Capital and The Blackstone Group, the Wall Street Journal reports the weather broadcaster sold from Landmark Communications for $3.5 billion. Don't expect them to abandon those new high definition digs anytime soon however, since it will still be based in Atlanta, although Broadband TV News mentions NBC's own Weather Plus may find itself in dire straights as a result. As long as we still get to see some guy yammering into a microphone about strong wind gusts while leaning almost horizontally to keep from being blown away in 1080i, we'll be happy with the deal.Read - VarietyRead - Multichannel NewsRead - Broadband TV New
Hurricanes in HD, courtesy of The Weather Channel's new field coverage
We're not saying anyone wants a hurricane to strike the United States (or anywhere else) anytime soon, but just in case one did, The Weather Channel's got its new HD cameras, production trucks and studio all ready for Hurricane Preparedness Week. in the meantime, look out for tips from homeowners who've already built up their residences to survive the next big storm, plus tips on what you can do. All of this is will air during the SD/HD simulcast of Evening Edition, which will give people their first look at TWCs new HD field coverage, sure to make the flooding and debris look like its happening on your actual street - even though (hopefully) it's not.
The Weather Channel to broadcast from new HD studio on June 2
Though we had previously heard that The Weather Channel's new HD studio wouldn't open until July, it looks like things will be getting started a touch early. Based on a dedicated page on the network's website, we're told that June 2nd is the date in which it will start broadcasting from an all new "state-of-the-art, eco-friendly" high-definition studio. The channel doesn't hesitate to give props to Cisco for its help in constructing the facility, and it has even posted a slideshow and video to give viewers a look at how it all came together. Head on down to the read link if that sounds like something you'd be interested in.[Thanks, Kevin]
The Weather Channel HD keeps expanding
We've noticed The Weather Channel HD slowly finding its way into various communities but now the network is touting all of its recent additions and letting us know what's on the way. An all new studio opens July 2, resulting in almost all programming originating in HD, especially its famed severe weather coverage going HD from the first day of hurricane season. Comcast, Time Warner, Charter, Cox, DirecTV and Dish already have carriage agreements and have the network online at least in some areas, while RCN, Service Electric Cable, Blue Ridge, ETC and Bresnan subs should either have the channel or receive it soon. If you dig your weather coverage in HD -- and the numbers indicate you do -- it's on the way in '08.
Charter adds Weather Channel HD to lineup
While receiving The Weather Channel HD may not send everyone into jubilant fits of celebration, we're pretty sure Charter Communications' customers won't be kvetching about additional HD options. Apparently, any Charter customer that can currently receive HD programming will be blessed with the new channel, and Becky Powhatan, executive vice president for distribution and business affairs and general counsel for The Weather Channel, also insinuated that customers in every region could benefit from the HD enhancements to the popular "Local on the 8s" segment. So, dear Charter customers, have you seen the channel go live?
The Weather Channel HD to debut later this year
The Weather Channel finally set a timetable for the debut of its long-awaited high definition broadcast for the second half of this year. The 24 hour network says one of its biggest challenges is redoing all of the weather graphics for HDTV, while still looking good on 4x3 SDTV screens. The channel will be one of DirecTV's new stations, but also expects to hit cable networks very soon. Cable headends will have to upgrade their equipment to allow for HD inserts of localized weather broadcasts which should be deployed next year. If you're a fan of those "live from the hurricane" shots, the Weather Channel plans to convert those gradually, along with all of its studio-based shows making the change to 1080i by mid-2008.
