Download the all-new app from the Google Play Store on your Android device, the App Store on your iOS device or from iTunes here.
Weather is something that impacts us all. Most people check weather apps often for the latest updates to help in daily planning and making better decisions based on weather. However, the amount of mobile information we process in a day, and the amount of time we spend on our mobile devices, has become overwhelming: emails, texts, news, the weather – but what if an app could lighten the load and have the weather check in on you? With this latest update, The Weather Channel app has been completely reimagined to help people make quick decisions and confidently go about their day.
Michael Rodriguez, head of mobile apps for The Weather Company, an IBM Business, explains the new app, what's different, the research behind it and why it just may change the face of weather in the future.
1. How has The Weather Channel app evolved since it was first introduced?
The Weather Channel has always been an innovator in weather. We created the first television station devoted to weather, the first weather website, the first digital interactive map, and the first Java weather app. The mobile device experience is intimate and personal, but it must be more relevant.
Throughout our evolution, we've asked how we can be more relevant and useful to people? We don't simply deliver weather forecasts, we equip people around the world with the information they need to make better decisions. We've become essential in that way and built solutions around the best news and information for consumers and businesses. On any device, at any time, in any location, we can help them make better decisions based on weather. And it's paying off. According to App Annie, The Weather Channel was the #1 weather app by combined iOS App Store and Google Play worldwide downloads from 2014 through 2017.
2. So The Weather Channel App is one of the most popular weather apps available. Why change?
We have 45 million users monthly, but that doesn't mean we stop improving. There are a lot of options now in the app stores to get your weather information. People have data for days in almost every aspect of their lives, but we believe they are missing real solutions that help them make better sense of that data and make better decisions. We want to give them more time to enjoy the weather however they choose!
We know we still have work to do. In the last year, thanks to IBM, we've invested in greater user research for a global audience. We learned there is a lot of room to help people better understand, be more confident in the data that backs their decision, and take quicker actions on those decisions – and we need to make this simple for everyone. To do this, we created a new, personalized insight service that serves the right message to the right person at the right time. You'll see this across our experience, but most prominently in our new home screen. This new intelligence, coupled with an incredible visual representation in our charts, graphs, and experience, propelled people forward with delight. In testing, it drove higher satisfaction, engagement and performance. The technology in front of us, as we're now part of IBM, has created incredible opportunity to better serve consumers, and we've learned a lot through education, user research, experimenting and optimizing. We focused on the user needs. We talk to people. And we double down on real problems that need solving.
3. What did that user research find?
We knew we wanted to launch a new app experience that kept what users love but gave them more of what they need. To do this, we surveyed thousands of users, logged more than 100 in-depth interviews and spent countless hours on performance to ensure they get the highest quality experience every time they open the app. We also did final user testing with the actual app once developed, and we will continue to listen to feedback once it launches. As noted earlier, we found three key user problems: A need for greater understanding of the weather that is impacting them; hunger for greater confidence and assurance that they have the best information available to make the best decision; and help in taking quicker action to manage their day with ease.
4. How does that translate to new design and features? What's new about the app?
We came up with solutions based on those findings. New data graphs show trends of how upcoming weather will affect users to improve understanding. We know that visual representations of data can lead to quicker understanding. With machine learning, the app surfaces any major changes in weather to give users a heads up and notify them preemptively, giving them confidence in the data. Controllable alerts offer assurance that they're getting the latest details, so they're never surprised again, without having to constantly check the forecast. Simplified navigation eases users' cognitive loads to help them plan daily activities without added stress.
We also created a new Snapshot function, which is a "storified" display for the app that will give personalized weather highlights for the day. It’s a quick way to see your weather story without going deep into the data. That data is there if you want it, but Snapshot offers a more visual format, and it has tested well with a younger, millennial audience.
This all creates a user experience that makes it incredibly easy to understand what weather means for you.
5. What about the new app might surprise users?
What I hope will be surprising is that the app will help you never be surprised by the weather again. With easy-to-understand visualizations and alerts you want, you can spend less time on your phone and still get the best weather info. It can help you move from being reactive to proactive, taking action like never before. With current science and technology, we have more information to share and can provide it with confidence -- the real value comes from being able to help explain and show how conditions will affect you. We can help you understand what's going on by surfacing it for you in the app. Basically, the app has your back.
