Topic: WeatherBox Version 1.0 Coming out Soon!

[shirsch]

yes need to wait until I get home from work to subscribe. How do you get the program after you subscribe and can it be put on more than one computer?

[WeatherBox]

When you subscribe, you will be sent an email with your key, and a link to download the program.

When you open the installer, it will download then you enter your key when you start it up.

[WeatherBox]

Hello all.

Just wanted to make it clear, we have a VERY long list of features and products we will add to WeatherBox over the next few months.  We plan on monthly updates so stay tuned!

[Farmtalk]

Would you care to tell us what kind of features that might entail the future? I am interested in checking the product out. I would love to be able to put something on my website from your product. What products, if any, would we be able to put on there and update?

[Farmtalk]

Hi everybody, I downloaded the product, and I'll tell how it is 

Sir (or mam) would you care if I posted pictures of your software?

[WeatherBox]

It's "sir"

Sure. Post away. Just hit ctrl s to get screenshots. 

I will post a list of "upcoming" feature by tomorrow on the forum.

[Farmtalk]

Awesome, thanks for the quick reply!

Here's what I personally think about the program so far. There are both good things and not so good things, but I think overall it's got a TON of potential to be awesome 

Just some notes, and some of these things I could be dead wrong about, but here's what I've noticed. I use Google Chrome.

1) The layout for me is fantastic. It kind of reminds me of Digital Atmosphere. Everything is nice and neat, and the layout is good.

2) I couldn't get the local radars to load. The national mosaic loads fine and looks good.

3) The ability to change the brightness of the radar is a pretty neat tool in my opinion.

4) It would be cool to be able to load our own color table if that's possible.

5) If the radar could be smoothed, it would be awesome!!

6) The layout with the metar data on there looks super cool to me!!!

7) Infrared and visible satellites look terrific, but again, color table customization would be nice.

I wish it would be easier to zoom in and out and not take as long to load the data.

9) The easy loop settings on the right are very cool

10) Easy overlay setting changes make customization in this product awesome!

11) My main concern: Honestly, I don't feel like spending $10/month for this program. It IS a cool program, and I could see it being a subscription based service. However, I own GR products, which are one time fees. GR3 costs $80 and has a pretty good chunk of what you offer, plus some additional customization options. I feel like the subscription price is a little too high, but that's just my opinion. Do I want to pay a year's data for $100, or a one time fee for another great product of $80?

Overall though, the product is definitely awesome, and I encourage everyone to download it.

[WeatherBox]

Can you post an image of your local radar view? Does it just load a map? Did you try navigating with right click or F1?

- You can edit the color tables for national radar and satellite.
Open windows explorer and browse to %appdata%/weatherbox

There is a dir called colortables.  Edit them with a text editor and just save. 
Then go back to your weatherbox and click on the enhancement you just edited to immediately see the new one.  You don't have to restart weatherbox unless you make a new table with a new name.  In that case, it will show in list after a restart. 

- While you are looking around at files, go into the weatherbox/ dir and find the dir for the radar you were trying to view.  Does one exist? If so, are the images updated?

- The slow loading will be rectified in a later update, but this is some major recoding.
However, when we are done, it will zoom like GR...even the huge 1km visible satellite images!

- We will also be adding GPS so you can see your location next to that towering CU.

- Then there is Time Machine. Coming soon! With a click of a button, you will be viewing all the data as if it was a different date. 

For example: An outbreak or hurricane occurs.  Then 6 months later, you can set weatherbox back to that date and relive or study it.  Data will arrive as if you are there.  We will have option to speed up the time though (2x,4x, etc).

Model data: Users will have access to our model images.  They will be oversized so you can zoom.  Several custom fields.  Also, we will process rach model grid IMMEDIATELY as it arrives on the NOAAPORT so it will be fast. 

Lots of other tools and features will be added over the coming months. 
Subscribers will get auto updates as they occur.   

[Farmtalk]

Sounds like you've got the ball rolling! I'll post some pics when I get back to the dorm.

[WeatherBox]

Posted now on the forum is a list of tentative WeatherBox enhancements.

Please note these are not guaranteed and will likely change with time. Also, they are not in order of priority.

http://weatherbox.proboards.com/thread/22/upcoming-feature-list

[fourwatt]

When is your proposed time for the Alaska update ?
As one stated earlier the radar smoothing would be awesome .
As I just downloaded I will take a couple days to play with it and return with more feedback.
Until the Alaska updates are in though this will not be much of an option for me.

Ken

[WeatherBox]

Hello Ken.

Alaska imagery is on our list, we hope to get it done in the next few weeks. It will involve adding new data sources that cover that area, and a few other adjustments so please bear with us.

[WeatherBox]

Coming soon:

[WeatherBox]

Coming in next update. Configurable watches, outlooks, storm reports.

[WeatherBox]

The latest update is out and adds configurable SPC outlooks, watches, and storm reports.

[WeatherBox]

Just a quick capture of WeatherBox in action yesterday:

http://static.weather-box.com/forumfiles/videos/AR_HIGH_APRIL27.mp4

[txweather.org]

Is there linux support?

[WeatherBox]

Is there linux support?

Not yet Xcom. However, we are planning on making a cross platform version in the coming months. 

[txweather.org]

Thanks for the info!!!

[WeatherBox]

Just wanted to let everyone know that our local radar data is now extremely fast (beginning with version 1.1.0.2).

I have tested many of the top radar apps, websites and PC clients. WeatherBox, along with WeatherTap, consistently beat everyone else (I have not tested every piece of software, but most).  Both update within 1 second of each other. The only difference is you must keep hitting refresh with WeatherTap while WeatherBox just displays it immediately when available.

If data timeliness is important to you, then WeatherBox may be the answer. I know personally that when severe weather strikes I can't wait for that new radar image. Also, we hope to have a mobile version next Spring. This migration to a cross-platform WeatherBox will also mean a more responsive, smooth UI, (for example, zooming in and out without waiting).

On another note, we are hoping to get a "non credit card" free subscription available at some point. I know it's a pain to have to subscribe then cancel, but it's just the system we are using for now.  The nice thing is, you get a reminder email before your trial expires, at which time you can easily cancel if you wish. So if you are like me, and are afraid of "forgetting" to cancel the trial, have no fear.

There are many more updates and enhancements down the road, so stick with us!

[txweather.org]

Waiting for the linux version =]

[Farmtalk]

Are you all still planning on adding the GFS and RAP models at a future point down the road? You've got a good program going! You've definitely perked my interest! 

[WeatherBox]

We will eventually have a full model suite (RAP, GFS, NAM, WRF4km).  Just a lot of other things currently in line.

[Farmtalk]

I think you've got a great program. The models will make it even better. Good job!

[erikmm]

Hi

Have not been testing it, but my main concern is, do you cover Europe also?