"wX" Android opensource/free weather app - new beta release 3.4

[Joshua Tee]

The latest version 3.5948 has been uploaded to the URL below as "wX.apk". The next oldest version has been renamed to include the version number and place in the "OLD" folder:

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9OogdTO1kXqYzktaHZzdGdQSEk&usp=sharing

Android 4.2 or later is required.

Changes:
- In SPC SREF save current time selected on exit and restore when activity is entered back into.
- In SPC SREF replace the static title at top with a dropdown ( similar to radar, WFO text, soundings ) that allows management of a list of favorites. The abbreviated code for the parameter is shown so that it fits on one line. This makes navigation to the more then 300+ different parameters far more efficient.
- In SPC SREF ( and now also radar, WFO text, soundings ) the "Remove" option in the dropdown has been changed to "Modify" and once selected in addition to deleting entries you can rearrange entries by selecting to be in "up" or "down" mode. After one of these modes is selecting tapping on any entry will rearrange it.
- The SPC SREF Favorites code has also been ported into SPC Mesoanalysis but this was done very recently. If issues you can use the old SPC Mesoanalysis code by enabling "debug" in settings.
- In settings when GOES was chosen over COD of vis/ir/wv/rad mosaic only the cloud icon and radar mosaic submenu were impacted. Now the entire 4th tab ( "images" ) is given a new set of icons to reflect GOES and they take to the related GOES activity with appropriate sector selected.
- In GOES removed pfalls and gusts, 2 mesoanalysis parameters that no longer seem to work. ( COD in general has more robust mesoanalysis iamges )
- In general I try to minimize movement of icons but the following made sense: On SPC tab swap the thunderstorm outlook with SPC SREF since on certain phones the SPC SREF icon is hidden from view and requires a swipe down. Now it's at the top. On "MISC" tab , move WPC text product viewer down one row, move the recent severe warnings to a submenu in US warnings and put NCEP model viewer in the top row at center right between COD and HRRR viewer. ( for now NCEP still appears at bottom of SPC tab )
- cleanup and few minor bugfix

Please let me know if you have any issues or suggestions on this new functionality.


thanks,
Josh

 

[Joshua Tee]

The release issued earlier today created one bug but also exposed one additional bug in SPC Mesoanalysis.

I've just released 3.5953 in the normal location to fix these 2 bugs and it also contains the following new feature:

In the following activities the initial image zoom level and X,Y position is restored to the same position when you last exited that activity:

SPC SREF
SPC Mesoanalysis
COD Model interface
NCEP Model interface
HRRR Model interface

thanks,
Josh

 

[Joshua Tee]

Pat,
I just uploaded a new wX.apk into the BETA directory that has the "Hydrometeor Classification" product available under "Level 3" submenu in WXOGL radar interface. Color map is similar to COD ( DuPage ).

thanks,
Josh

Hi Josh,

Echo Caleb.....keep up the great work!

Just one issue......and been having this for a bit.....it takes awhile to get the Level 2 SuperRes Reflectivity and Velocity to animate. It can take up to a minute to load and go. I have a Galaxy S5 operating Android 5.0.

Couple of suggestions:
a. I would find the Hydromet Class from the dual polarization radar menu useful, especially come winter time.
b. For what its worth, I'm one of those that likes the TWDR sites. Having those sites in the app can be one of those perks that makes your app stand out on Google Play.

Bet you're going to get a pretty darn good response once you post the app.

Pat

 

[plreardon]

Hi Josh,

Sorry for the delay. Just checked the beta version and the hydrometeor classification addition....thanks. The image popped in right away and has good clarity.

Pat

 

[Joshua Tee]

Hi Josh,

Sorry for the delay. Just checked the beta version and the hydrometeor classification addition....thanks. The image popped in right away and has good clarity.

Pat

thanks Pat for checking it out !

Josh

 

[Joshua Tee]

The latest version 3.5969 has been uploaded to the URL below as "wX.apk". The next oldest version has been renamed to include the version number and place in the "OLD" folder:

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9OogdTO1kXqYzktaHZzdGdQSEk&usp=sharing

Android 4.2 or later is required.

Changes:
- New radar product for WXOGL: Hydrometeor classificatio
- In SPC Mesoanalysis if radar overlay is not selected some images will show a solid fill instead of a hatched area. Example for 500mb is show below. ( last image is what is now shown if radar overlay is not used )
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/mesoanalysis/s19/500mb/500mb.gif
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/mesoanalysis/s19/500mb/500mb_sf.gif
- NCEP and COD Models now restore the last used time parameter when starting the activity.
- SPC COMPMAP: This activity had an existing bug in which some images did not show at all. Now most are showing. Additionally the current selections are restored when the activity is started again along with the zoom level and X,Y position similar to most activities that display a single image. Finally, the labels shown in the pullout nav drawer were changed to more verbose labels.
- In the COD mosaic activites CAPE,CINH,SCP parameters were added in mesoanalysis.
- In COD Model interface add H7-H5 Lapse Rates for GFS and NAM


NOTE: This will be the last development release before the 3.6 production release provided no bugs are reported and not resolved by mid-week of next week.

Please let me know if you have any issues or suggestions on this new functionality.


thanks,
Josh

 

[Joshua Tee]

The latest version 3.7015 has been uploaded to the URL below as "wX.apk". The next oldest version has been renamed to include the version number and place in the "OLD" folder:

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9OogdTO1kXqYzktaHZzdGdQSEk&usp=sharing

Android 4.2 or later is required.

Changes:
- wX is now available via the Play Store. You can search for "joshuatee.wx" or access directly at:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=joshuatee.wx

There is a noticeable delay (hour(s)) from the time I upload to the time it's available to devices.
I hope to release via the Play Store at the same time as via this thread unless a new release is considered potentially risky from a stability point of view. The only downside is that if you do want to move to the Play Store as a delivery mechanism you must uninstall your existing wX which means you will loose your preferences.

- Version number was bumped into the 3.7 range to indicate the "freeze" period has passed.
- Fixed pervasive bug introduced by save/restore of zoom/x/y in most single image activities ( If you exited the activity before the image loaded it would crash the app )
- Development environment (SDK) and Android Design/Support libraries updated to latest version.
- target SDK was set to match the latest Android "6.0" and initial testing in emulation shows no issues with 6.0 but impacts on notifications via battery optimizations was not tested.
- SPC Storm reports, NHC summary, and US warnings recieved cosmetic enhancements via "Cards"
- Additional activities in which zoom/x/y are saved/restore include soundings and observations.
- bugfix in NHC in which one text product in submenu wasn't working
- WPC ( really general purpose ) text product viewer now includes an "NHC" submenu for convience.
- minor additions in text to speech translations
- in COD Model add dewpoint depression to GFS
- I'll start a new thread at some point soon since I can't adjust the title and 1st point ( which contains inaccurate download info )

Please let me know if you have any issues or suggestions on this new functionality.


thanks,
Josh

 

[Andrew Kajfasz]

Sweet, for whatever the reason, the Play Store already recognized the app on my phone and showed it as installed already. I didn't have to reinstall it or anything. I was even able to update it through the Play Store without having to do anything other than press the update button and it still has all my settings.

 

[Joshua Tee]

Andrew, thanks for this report. Based on your experience and a change I made in the app's "manifest" ( before the post last Fri but after I tested this on one of my devices ) I think it should work fine for anyone now. If anyone doesn't see the update option in play store please let me know.

thanks,

Josh

 

[Joshua Tee]

Released 3.7031:
- bugfix - SPC Storm reports, some entries were not formatted properly as cards
- bugfix - NHC notifications, on touching the notification the application would crash
- bugfix - notification for local alerts, "read aloud" action was not working
- NHC and SPC Storm reports, move remaining text content to cards
- In Settings->Playlist/Autodownload, Settings->Location and "Modify" in Radar, WFO text, SPC Sounding, SPC SREF, SPC MESO, move most commonly used action to a floating action bu
tton (FAB). As a result of this change the colorAccent was changed which impacts the on/off toggles in all settings activities if running Android 5.0 or later.
- In settings -> playlist -> autodownload moved the trash icon to the top toolbar and removed the bottom toolbar completely as the add button is now in FAB.
- In settings, enable control of UI Elevation impacting shadows for top toolbar, FAB, and cards. Default setting "0" disables Elevation. I'm currently using a setting of 10 and finding it reasonable. This setting only works for Android 5.0 or later.

NOTE: Google play only allows 500 characters in "whats new" so the authoritative changelog will be found here. apk has been pushed to play store but may take one or more hours before it's available.

thanks,
Josh

 

[Joshua Tee]

Released 3.7057:
- WPC Text prod activity now has "favorite management" similar to other activities such as WFO text and Radar
- Optional ( and default for new users ) new look for main screen using cards.
- If cards are enabled you can enable 4 additional cards ( 2 text prod, 2 images ) for the main screen and for each you can pick from a list of choices. If you tap on the card it will expand the content shown for text producuts.
- Dividers added and vertical spacing increased in settings to make selections easier on big screens.

One additional note is for the dropdown list in the image selection on the main screen you will see entries that reference SPCMESO Favorite #1. These reference the favorites in the SPC Mesoanlaysis activity which can be modified in the top pulldown of that activity or by touching the star icons when the chosen image is displayed. Reasonable defaults are presented if no favorites have been chosen yet.

Also, I welcome feedback to the new look on main screen with "cards" as the existing "look" has been in place for at least 1.5 years now.

Lastly, thanks to all who have provided feedback via google play. And, if you experience any crashes please do select the "report" button which will allow me access to the code area in which it crashed. That alone is only somewhat helpful so additional comments as to what was going on at the time are appreciated.

thanks!
Josh

 

[Joshua Tee]

I should also mention that if you enable additional "content cards" on the main screen they won't populate until:

- the refresh interval has passed ( default 30min )
- you restart the app
- you tap the status area below current conditions ( shows time/data and location for obs ) - this refreshes everything on main screen

Released 3.7057:
- WPC Text prod activity now has "favorite management" similar to other activities such as WFO text and Radar
- Optional ( and default for new users ) new look for main screen using cards.
- If cards are enabled you can enable 4 additional cards ( 2 text prod, 2 images ) for the main screen and for each you can pick from a list of choices. If you tap on the card it will expand the content shown for text producuts.
- Dividers added and vertical spacing increased in settings to make selections easier on big screens.

One additional note is for the dropdown list in the image selection on the main screen you will see entries that reference SPCMESO Favorite #1. These reference the favorites in the SPC Mesoanlaysis activity which can be modified in the top pulldown of that activity or by touching the star icons when the chosen image is displayed. Reasonable defaults are presented if no favorites have been chosen yet.

Also, I welcome feedback to the new look on main screen with "cards" as the existing "look" has been in place for at least 1.5 years now.

Lastly, thanks to all who have provided feedback via google play. And, if you experience any crashes please do select the "report" button which will allow me access to the code area in which it crashed. That alone is only somewhat helpful so additional comments as to what was going on at the time are appreciated.

thanks!
Josh

 

[Joshua Tee]

Released 3.7090:
- Settings for "radar on main screen" and new feature for 2 image and 2 text products on homescreen have been replaced by "Settings->Homescreen" which allows an unlimited number of text products and image products to be displayed on the home screen. Products can be reordered and default products such as 7 day forecast and current conditions can be removed entirely. Help dialogue is present in the submenu within that activity. Cards must be enabled for this to take effect. Double tap on images will zoom in, another double tap will zoomout, image will re-center based on tap location. Single tap on image will take you to the related activity in which the image is from. For text products a single tap will expand the card and show the entire text, not just the first 500 characters. If one is using GOES intead of COD for vis/ir/wv/rad mosaic clicking on the vis iamge will go to the COD activity, this will be fixed in a feature release.

thanks
Josh

 

[Joshua Tee]

3.7113 released:
- Homescreen now supports multiple OpenGL based radar, tap lightning bolt icon in Settings->Homescreen to add.
- SST images added in NHC activity. Radar Mosaic widget can now be configured to show watches/warnings under Widget->Settings.
- Bugfix in current conditions code impacting very small number of US locations ( Grand Junction showed this problem ).
- Search box to add locations now supports suggestions. Suggestions start showing after 2 characters are entered. If a suggestion is chosen it will autopopulate lat/lon and save the location automatically. 350 cities ( the same ones used when radar->show cities is chosen ) are used as the database for suggestions. This will be improved on over time.

NOTE: If you make a config change and the app fails to launch you can access settings by adding the main wX widget and then tapping the rain drop icon to show hourly data. A submenu from within hourly has been added for backdoor access to settings.

 

[Jared Martin]

I really liked the app..but it seemed slow and the layout was a little confusing..just some ideas for future updates

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk