Snowflake Weather
A mixed outlook from another forecaster Snowflake is all about ‘information density’
£4.99 (offers in-app purchases) FROM Bjango, bjango.com NEEDS iOS 11 or later; watchOS 5 or later
Do we need another weather app? Well, to answer that we need to look at how this the app differentiates itself from the likes of Carrot Weather and Dark Sky…
For the most part, the answer is ‘information density’. You get the feeling Snowflake’s creators really love data. Whether you’re in the Home tab or the details view, figures are hurled your way. Fortunately, Snowflake largely succeeds in making everything meaningful and digestible.
A huge icon and number sit at the top of the Home tab screen, so you can take in the current conditions and temperature at a glance. Below that, a graph outlines what’s coming over the next few days, and an extended forecast underneath that lets you plan further ahead. Need more details? Tap a day to delve into an explosion of facts, or tap the second tab to dig deeper into the current day’s weather, including precipitation chances, sun and moon information, pressure and UV outlooks, and more.
Tailored info
To access the third tab, which houses maps and radars, you’ll have to subscribe for 99p a month. You can then switch between a range of settings – such as radar, wind speeds, and
temperature – assuming they’re covered for your chosen location. We found radar coverage to be quite patchy.
The IAP also opens up customisation options. You get four themes and six icons, and can decide what’s shown in the current conditions area, the app’s Today view widget, and on Apple Watch.
The app has a distinct personality of its own. But there are concerns. On iPad, the design whiffs too much of a ‘blown up’ iPhone app, and it’s terrible at switching between multiple locations, forcing you to delve into a menu within its settings. Also, it sometimes feels a touch unfinished. For example, the wiggly graph that shows sun and moon positions takes up half the screen on iPhone, and yet neglects to add hour indicators across its width.
The second issue is whether Snowflake does enough to stick around. It lacks Dark Sky’s refinement and imminent rainfall graph, and Carrot’s sense of fun. On the plus side, it does deal with info-heavy forecasting in a more pleasing way than, say, WeatherPro. If you feel your current weather app is a bit lightweight, then Snowflake is worth a look; but if you’re happy with Carrot or Dark Sky, it’s unlikely this newcomer will convert you.
CRAIG GRANNELL