Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

Here it is, its gonna be a WeatherPanel Clone! Freeware and Open source, words from the dev himself: The app is most definitely going to be Open Source and free.

Everyone is getting excited to get WP back!! Haha. Check it out and if you have a feature request put it in the box on second link:

http://code.google.com/p/quickmobileweather/

The second link is kind of a user submission form... If you have ideas or anything to add to the app speak now, this will be going on for a while until the development starts, because I'm not sure how much can be added after development is started:

http://code.google.com/p/quickmobile...erRequirements

This is to keep the WP thread less cluttered and on topic!

The developer will be taking donations and you can take care of him or buy him some coffee right HERE!

Re: Quick Mobile Weather
 

Thanks goes to thecounty for getting the QuickMobile Weather thread started.

Re: Quick Mobile Weather
 

Man, I hope this endeavor works out.
Thanks ahead of time.

Cheers

Re: Quick Mobile Weather
 

Hey, not a problem. If you have any skills you'd like to donate, please feel free. :)

Re: Quick Mobile Weather
 

Well, I'm a web developer in LAMP stack.
However, I cut my teeth with my first tech gig
back in college learning PERL to test a Window's
app. So I learned a little, very little MFC.

Things have changed, but if downloading the CE dev kit
and emulator from this website or some other documentation
can help me help out in some way or another let me know.

Re: Quick Mobile Weather
 

I'd love to have you aboard. If you're up for looking into C++ and/or XML, that's where I'm at right now with development framework... You can check out the Visual Studio Express Edition C++ IDE and the WM 5 SDK as far as the C++ goes. That will give you the tools to develop the app and the XML that goes along with it.

I'm not yet writing code, though. At the moment, I'm trying to put together a solid set of user requirements and then go from there.

On a side note, I may end up going with .NET on this project, which would end up being C# but I'm not sure. I am more comfortable with C# but C++ is more efficient at runtime so I'm still debating... LOL

Either way, though, anyone who wants to be part of this project, please feel free to hang out in this thread and at the Google Code project page linked above. :)

Re: Quick Mobile Weather
 

op, check your pm please.

Re: Quick Mobile Weather
 

Thanks bro, but seriously, thanks goes to you for developing this, you have gotten the ball rolling on something that will be very important around here. I will be updating the first post as I see fit and if you have something you want to add feel free to pm me.

If anyone has updates pm me and I will keep up best I can!

Edit: I'm up for some testing on the square screen and I will also be more than happy to help where I can, although I am no programmer I have a few ideas and can google like no other haha.

Re: Quick Mobile Weather
 

op, feel free to forward my pm to the app guru. (guy in charge)

Re: Quick Mobile Weather
 

Hey guys....I'm not a techie like you all are. Following your ideas & solutions is one thing but putting into action is a no go for me.

BUT...I have a "HTC Touch" (Vogue) through nTelos which is a CDMA. My phone info is below. I will be more than happy to test it out & give any feedback when that time comes. Just let me know. This post updates to my email every day & I am ALWAYS on here looking for new skins & thems for my various programs so hit me up if you need someone to help test it out.

Re: Quick Mobile Weather
 

Good to have you on board!

Re: Quick Mobile Weather
 

Thanks for volunteering to test. Once we get to a point where we can start testing something, I'll definitely let you know.

Also, anyone that wants to officially be included in the project as a contributor via Google Code, please pm or email me your email addresses and I'll set you up as contributors.

Re: Quick Mobile Weather
 

Quick off-topic, I took your thanks V-card haha. Now you are on the road to success! Hahaha. Sorry back on topic...

Re: Quick Mobile Weather
 

Ha-Ha!! YESSSS!! OK...now Focus on the task at hand!! LOL!

Re: Quick Mobile Weather
 

gksmithlcw is ur man bro!

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

Yes. Thanks goes to tcbusch for making this happen. It doesn't seem to be a perfect solution but I'm certainly enjoying the functionality it has brought back to WP!

However, I am still moving forward with this project and I hope everyone else will, as well. This new project, if done correctly, will be far easier to maintain than the venerable WP.

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

That's good news. I am most def on board. I will see what I can contribute!

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

Hey guys...I wanted you to see this....

http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=7357&page=10

Check out posts 95 & 98...Maybe this will help you guys out!!

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

Most definitely! I'm going to have to do some research on how .NET CF 3.5 handles XSL. If support is good, this could provide a very nice skinning engine... And XSLT would transform external data easily to an app's native format...

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

I just want to thank those who have already started donating both money and participation to this project. Given its current state of infancy, I'm very gratified by the response.

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

@gksmith: If there is one problem I have with WP (and I only have 1!!) its when I have too much on my today screen and I scroll down it goes black for a second or two. I thought this was a Touch Pro problem but it seems to do the same with the treo pro. Can this be something that won't happen or is it something that I will have to deal with again? I am jw!

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

@gksmithlcw or to anyone intersted:

Well, I did take C++ and Java back in college years ago.
I haven't really developed either in the real world but remember
enough to look at code and fix things.

Although I haven't done the latter lately I could spend some coin
at Amazon or local book stores to get new references, or use the web,
in addition to looking into C# which is probably a lot like Java since
I believe such was developed by MS instead of really embracing Java
in its struggle with Sun over the market and licensing which is now a
moot point.

I'll attempt to add this to my grand-scheme-of-things project where I develop
a website using frameworks for mvc development to utilize the paradigm to
develop mobile pages as well as pc pages without having to write
two complete sets of code.

I know, pie in the sky..

But I believe the mobile app market is interesting and a place where
none rocket scientist types like myself can develop something.

I don't know exactly when, but i will get my feet wet soon.

Thanks to all for some great work.

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

@BC6 - I can assure you that it would be good to have you on board. If I had the know how I would be helping all I could! Whatever you can contribute to making this app the best weather app since WP will be great!

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

Yep! Hit the project page and jump in!! We're still gathering requirements for the time being so you haven't missed much. :)

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

I'm not sure what would be causing this... I don't have this happen on my Treo Pro, although I don't have to scroll down very often. It sounds like it is a Today screen redraw problem, though, and not a WP problem. I don't know if anything can be done about it but I'll certainly try. :)

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

Hey all, I have been a WP user since way back when the Marsware owner was around and I have stuck with it through its many updates and issues. I was victimized by the battery drain and discovered it was WP by noticing the red update arrows staying red. I just now today looked on wmexperts and learned of what caused it and also this new QMW initiative.

My question is, what exactly are the benefits of creating a WP clone rather than just re-engineering WP or just keep tweaking it?

I know the last issue was the weather source so I have another question. When it comes to weather source, what advantage does creating a new program have over tweaking WP, specifically to prevent the most recent issue from happening again?

Either way I look forward to the new program and will probably drop some change in the hat if you know what I mean. I am aspiring to learn developing so maybe in the future I can be of assistance.

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

So, the main problem with WP is that we have no way to work on it because we don't have the source code. The only thing we can do is keep applying band aid fixes to keep it up and running but, eventually, we're going to run out of band aids and WP will die.

With a new, Open Source app, designed by the community, we'll be able to have a weather app that can be updated by anyone who can read the code as far on down the road as we want to maintain it.

Regarding the latest WP issue and how a new app would help to alleviate such problems, we have been discussing a means of allowing the end user to change weather sources which would prevent one source changing from bringing the app down.

Any contributions you wish to make would be greatly appreciated!

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

Yea, I see what you are getting at. I only notice it with WP though. Not sure why it does it, I had the same problem with the Touch Pro. Oh well, as long as this amazing app takes off I will be very happy with it!

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

Any updates on this yet?

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

I'm still gathering requirements and putting things together in my head. I'm also researching the capabilities of the platform. The project page shows the most current info.

Thanks!

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

One thing I did want to bring up.

Well, first, the app is back to normal on my Mogul, good stuff.

However, I presume my iMac at work uses AccuWeather for its
widget. Checked, yep.

Anyways, there's a 17 degree difference in what WP is reporting
and AccuWeather.com.

Now I realize here in San Francisco, that the readings taken at
the airport, Ocean Beach, the bay are much cooler than those
taken in SF proper: financial district, SOMA, Nob Hill ect.

But a 14 degree swing?

Today is an unusually hot day for SF especially considering
the below average temps of the past few days.

BUT I'd like a bit more accuracy or the possibility of
knowing where the readouts are from.

Pie in the sky: be able to choose different points
of major cities, when available.

Any thoughts?

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

I posted the same thing recently. WP in my area (rochester NY), isn't off by 14º but it is ALWAYS reading probably 4-6º lower than any other weather program in my area (& the others are correct)

~John

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

Yeah, that I'd expect and of course can and must live with
because in the Bay Area, like your area, there are so many
micro climates. Especially in SF, there are hills, the
Pacific Ocean, and the Bay all of which affect the weather
in the vicinity.

But, once you get past a 5-7 degree swing, in my opinion,
readings are dicey and not as helpful.

Right now, AccuWeather is posting 83 on the iMac widget,
and WP is posting 65. Enough said?

Obviously, this is a symptom of where and when Weather.com
gets its readings and not the fault of the plugins we so covet.

Since this project is starting from scratch, at least the design
and product management stage, we might as well flesh these
issues out a bit before the framework becomes concrete.

I just came back from lunch, and even with a nice breeze,
there is no way in hades it's 65 outside in the direct sun
anywhere in this City.

Thanks to all.

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

I'm not sure, exactly, how WP is pulling its data but I give it my zip code and it seems pretty accurate. However, I like the idea and I know WeatherUnderground supports multiple stations. I'm sure other feeds do as well. I'll definitely keep it in mind. :)

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

Interesting.

I tried two different zip codes, one where I live, and one where I work,
and both had the same reading, although they have jumped a degree.

San Francisco is a small town relative to other Metropolises. But
obviously weather is different in any part of town.

SF is probably one of the exceptions, but I'd bet any coastal
town - city probably has micro climates as you approach inland
and visa versa.

I think many of the TV or radio stations have multiple posts
around the City to gather and present data too.

Cheers

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

You are quite right, I'm sure. As I said, I was looking at the Weather Underground feed info a few days ago and it has multiple posts per zip code from what I saw. So, yes, if it isn't ridiculously confusing for the users, I'll definitely include choosing a post as an option.

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

Yeah, sorry about that, didn't mean to beat a dead horse, or a live one. :-D

Went to Weather Underground and put in the same two zips,
and got back 77 and 85.4 degrees respectively.

Nice.

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

Awesome! So we know it works! :) Weather Underground, depending on the exact details of their EULA, is probably going to be the initial data source for QM:W.

Re: Quick Mobile Weather Freeware/Dontationware
 

I just wanted to check weather.com and accuweather.com like you guys have been talking about, and it was 57 for Weather, and 65 for accuweather for San Francisco. Where I live, in central Cali, weather.com had 84 and accuweather had 82. Just me achiming in on it!!