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I was excited to get an opportunity to check out Weather Decision Technology's latest smart phone app: the iMap Weather Radio. After all this post will be the third time this season I've asked users to remain aware during this severe weather season! Pay attention to authorities and invest in a means to keep informed. This app will definitely do the job for you. If you take the time to read this whole review, there's a treat for you in the last paragraph!
While the name might suggest that it's a NOAA Weather Radio app, that isn't quite true. But it's the next best thing. iMap Weather Radio uses a smart device's geo-location technology to keep users informed of National Weather Service watches and warnings.
If the app is left active (in other words, running in the background), when a notification is issued for your current location (or one of five other locations users can input), your phone will issue a distinctive alarm tone -- similar to that of a NOAA Weather Radio -- and will read the statement to you.
To me, this was just like when a NOAA Weather Radio issues an alarm tone and then will read the statement.
Like NOAA Weather Radio stations, iMap Weather Radio uses a computer-generated voice to transmit the text of the statement. Which is why this is the next best thing to having a radio itself!
Let's take a tour, shall we?
Once you install the app, you can set up locations. If you select "Current location" and leave the app running, this means the location-finder will ALWAYS be available. Exercise caution with this, since this feature will drain an iPhone battery very quickly. There is a slider bar available that one can use to strike a balance between battery life and accuracy of the location.
When I received the review code, I was concerned that I wouldn't have any good weather with which I could demonstrate this app.
The very next day (April 3rd) was the Dallas tornado outbreak. I set one of my locations for Dallas at lunchtime and then went on with my day.
My phone was beeping for much of the afternoon. Even if the phone is locked and put away, I could hear the alarm tones and the computerized voice saying "Tornado Warning until 3pm". Unlock the phone and open the app to listen to the rest of it.
If the phone is unlocked and the app is open and on screen, the message will automatically play for you. This happened to me at the grocery store, lol!
On April 3rd I spent the afternoon painting my living room. The Weather Channel was on TV in the background, and while they were discussing the watches and warnings as this system moved across northeastern Texas, iMap Weather Radio was keeping up in real-time.
Even if there is no severe weather near your location, you can still use the app to view and listen to general forecast information, similar to how NOAA Weather Radio presents current conditions and forecast data.
Keep in mind that this app almost replaces a NOAA Weather Radio. But not quite. If you are in a poor cell phone reception area or don't have WiFi near your location, this app won't do much good. I still feel a NOAA Weather Radio, which uses VHF radio, is the surest way to keep aware.
I had trouble with only one aspect of the app: the opaqueness of the layering presented. During April 3rd's tornado event near Dallas, the app layered the radar, tornado watch and tornado warnings all upon each other, leaving the user unable to see the map information underneath. There's a ready-to-use option on the map screen to turn the layers off and on, but for quick location-decision-making, this could be a limitation.
In summary, this is a great app that will serve well in lieu of a NOAA Weather Radio, particularly when you're out and about with cell phone service and WiFi available.
iMap Weather Radio is brought to you by Weather Decision Technologies. The app is available to download for the iPad, iPhone and iPod for $9.99 on iTunes. A free copy of the app was provided for review.
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