REVIEW: AccuWeather: handy on the go, but flaws could leave you wet

Editor’s Note: Welcome to our weekly feature, Yay or Nay. Every week we’ll review a new wireless application or service from the user’s point of view, with the goal of highlighting what works and what doesn’t. If you wish to submit your application or service for review, please contact us at [email protected].
Application: AccuWeather.com, mobile Web site from AccuWeather Inc.
Running on: Blackberry Pearl 8130 running on T-Mobile USA’s network
Yay: Fast, accurate and up-to-date weather details for users on the go
Nay: Some of the more in-depth services and tools don’t work as well as one might expect. AccuWeather makes the effort to offer all services that a weather-driven, full-on Web site has the capabilities to portray, but doesn’t quite hit the target in a few areas.
We say: Overall, AccuWeather works great for answers to those quick weather questions we encounter from day to day. The service acts as a handy tool when trying to plan for the weather on the go, but its use basically ends there. While there are multi-day forecasts, some more in-depth options are lacking.
Review: We here at RCR Wireless News understand the need for quick answers when trying to plan ahead. In the busy lives of Americans today, it’s usually the last thing on anyone’s mind when it comes to the current temperature outside and how to dress/plan accordingly. Being able to push a button and access AccuWeather’s information is a helpful tool. Simply enter a ZIP code and the application loads the current temperature and conditions of the specified location.
Users can also click for more detailed information on any day which provides predictions on wind, rain, snow, ice and even provides sunrise and sunset time estimates. There’s also a link to view radars and maps of the selected location. This feature, however, is when users enter a gray area. If there is a big storm approaching the radar map will have little blotches of color on top of the map indicating the storm’s path and levels. However, the colors used are not explained anywhere, so its impossible to know which area is getting it worst and who’s next on the list just from looking at the radar. The Storm Center link provides an update on any local or nationwide weather warnings. Weather News is another link that allows users to see what’s going on across the country.
The service also has a link for tracking airport delays, though the option has its flaws. A map is displayed of the entire United States that shows little green dots speckled across the country and a few of them are colored orange or yellow. We assume this means those differently colored dots are airports that are experiencing delays, but there is no way to know because there is no explanation or key explaining colors and symbols.
There seems to be another error in the list of links. Each tool is numbered one through nine, however links five, seven and eight are missing. This could leave one to wonder if there are tools or services that they’re missing out on or if this mobile site just hasn’t quite gotten everything together yet.
For more in depth radar and flight information, stick to the real Internet or make a phone call, just to be safe.