I'm sorry to say that Spb Weather did not have my town in its drop-down location menu. Nor was my ZIP code in its database. In order to make any use of it at all, I had to go online and download a template for The Weather Channel and input the citycode for my location manually.

The display can be set as simple or complex as you'd like. Tabbed or untabbed; a single city, or multiple. In Figure C you'll find a sampling of the display styles.

FIGURE C


Displays to suit any tastes. Roll over picture for a larger image.

You can also get a more detailed view of the daily forecast for any of your programmed cities, as seen in Figure D.

FIGURE D


Easily get a more detailed forecast of your weather. Roll over picture for a larger image.

Unfortunately, it won't provide a display of the current weather conditions, only the forecast. Another peeve I have is with how it manages a wireless update. Depending on your settings, Spb Weather can initiate a wireless Internet connection and update its data. The problem is, once it dials up, it doesn't disconnect and hang up, leaving you with an open connection. And if you have an open connection, you're being charged for airtime.

If an application can be programmed to initiate a data connection, then it can be programmed to disconnect and hang up.

Considering all of the shortcomings I encountered with Spb Weather, primarily no current weather display and rather limited location offerings, and secondary, that it leaves your data connection open, I really cannot recommend it. I give Spb Weather 2 out of 5.

OUR RATING: 2 of 5

FIGURE E


Pocket Weather from SBSH Mobile Software. Roll over picture for a larger image.

Like Spb Weather, Pocket Weather is a weather forecast application and plug-in for your Today screen. It offers multiple view styles, tabbed and untabbed, unlimited locations (with the ability to display six at a time), a feature-rich WeatherConsole, up-to-date METAR (Meteorological Aviation Report) data, and maps with radar weather images.

Pocket Weather will provide the current temperature, wind speed, air pressure, etc. and a five-day forecast directly on your Today screen. In Figure F, you'll find the various Today screen options.

FIGURE F


Many options for your Today screen display. Roll over picture for a larger image.

And you can customize virtually every aspect of the program, from its appearance, to how frequently it will update, how and when it can connect to the Internet, and what information and images will download. It can even be set to update at a specific time, or within a specific time-frame. Figure G shows the many settings available.

FIGURE G


Settings for everything, and everthing with a setting. Roll over picture for a larger image.

Although it provides far more information than Spb Weather, with a much higher degree of data, Pocket Weather was easier to set up. My home town was actually in its drop-down location menu. Pocket Weather honestly gave me a lot more information than I could use. I have no idea what all that METAR information and radar feeds, in Figure H mean.

FIGURE H


METAR data means nothing to me. Roll over picture for a larger image.

Although it means nothing to me, I'm quite certain that a lot of pilots and sailors will find it extremely useful. In any case, you don't have to look at it if you don't like.

When you compare its cost vs. information and offered features, Pocket Weather is an excellent value. I only have one real complaint, and that's like Spb Weather, it does not disconnect and hang up after dialing in to the weather server. Again, if it can initiate the call and dial in, then it should be able to end the call. Otherwise, SBSH Pocket Weather is an ideal weather forecast application and Today plug-in. I give it 4 out of 5.

OUR RATING: 4 of 5

For more than 20 years, David Gewirtz, the author of Where Have All The Emails Gone? and The Flexible Enterprise, has analyzed current, historical, and emerging issues relating to technology, competitiveness, and policy. David is the Editor-in-Chief of the ZATZ magazines, is the Cyberterrorism Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism and Security Professionals, and is a member of the instructional faculty at the University of California, Berkeley extension. He can be reached at david@zatz.com and you can follow him at http://www.twitter.com/DavidGewirtz.