Used The Weather Channel Desktop for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.
Key Details of The Weather Channel Desktop
- Local conditions, severe-weather alerts, radar, and forecasts on your desktop.
- Last updated on
- There have been 7 updates
Editors’ Review
Instant access to real-time local weather information is one of the Internet's underrated pleasures. There are Web sites, feeds, gadgets, widgets, e-mail, and IM alerts; just about every Net platform has brought you the weather at some point.
Free desktop utilities that import weather conditions and usually display the local temperature in the system tray are perhaps the most popular Web-based weather-watchers. The Weather Channel is perhaps the most trusted name in coast-to-coast cable TV weather forecasting and related information.
Put the two together and you have The Weather Channel Desktop, a free utility that does what the other weather gadgets do, but much more. But, though free to download and use, its versatility comes at a price: advertising.
The Weather Channel Desktop gives you instant access to the weather-, climate-, and health-related information that comprises The Weather Channel's extensive daily programming. The local radar; traffic, road, and travel conditions and maps; national and international weather news; information related to allergies, colds, and flu; sports and exercise updates; weather trivia; video; and a lot of other useful stuff that is undeniably handy to have in one spot.
To get all that free, you have to look at some ads. The main interface has annoying Flash ads that you can stop but not defeat, and a "mini" mode that apparently only works with the paid upgrade you have many opportunities to buy. Still, if you don't mind animated ads, which are hardly uncommon online, then The Weather Channel Desktop has a lot to offer.
When comparing The Weather Channel Desktop to WeatherBug, a popular alternative, there are clear distinctions in functionality and user experience. WeatherBug provides a cleaner interface with fewer intrusive ads, making it appealing for users who prioritize simplicity. It includes features like hyperlocal forecasts, live radar, and lightning alerts, which are ideal for quick and precise updates.
On the other hand, The Weather Channel Desktop excels with its diverse content, such as health-related weather updates, travel conditions, and even trivia, which are not typically offered by WeatherBug.
However, the downside of The Weather Channel Desktop is its ad-heavy interface, which can feel cluttered compared to WeatherBug's streamlined design.
Bottom Line
If you're looking for a weather app that offers rich multimedia content and extensive features, The Weather Channel Desktop is a great choice. But if you prefer a simpler, ad-light experience with core weather functionalities, WeatherBug might be the better option.
What’s new in version 6.0.0.29
Version 6.00.25 adds:
- Extended support for both 32 and 64-bit versions
- New weather cartoons, weather trivia, and weather word of the day.
Used The Weather Channel Desktop for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.
