Thanks for the feedback on our new wind meter. Yes, it is the real WeatherFlow behind this product! More info here:
http://www.weatherflow.com/a-wind-meter ... art-phone/
We're pretty excited because it's the first time we've created a consumer product like this (although we've been building professional-grade weather stations for over 20 years). So any and all feedback is much appreciated, especially after you actually get one and try it! We have a money-back guarantee so there's no risk.
@Laughingman, you're correct that our wind meter requires you to face into the wind, just like a traditional handheld wind meter. Vaavud have very a clever design, and there are advantages to non-directional anemometers. We use non-directional spinners on many of our permanent weather stations. But this handheld device is consciously and deliberately designed to be directional. That's for several reasons. Size is one - we wanted it to easily fit in your pocket. A second reason is accuracy: the turbine-style impeller will respond to gusts and lulls better than a horizontal spinner, because there is very little inertia in the impeller compared to spinning horizontal cups. We can also get both lower and higher readings thanks to the inertia savings. But a third and perhaps most important reason for our design is that we believe wind direction is just as important as wind speed at most spots. By facing into the wind, your phone records the wind direction with your report. And the barrel design of the impeller means the wind speed is dead accurate even if it's not aimed directly into the wind.
@POACHER, that's exactly the idea! Keep it in your pocket or car or gear bag, then pull it out when you want to take a reading. Plug it in and start the app, hold it up for 5 or 10 seconds to take a reading, and you're done. Add a message or a picture or a video and share it with your mates - or the world. These readings will be available through all of our websites and mobile brands (ikitesurf, etc.) very soon as we overhaul the "onsite report" system we've had for many years.
@tautologies, our wind meter has an API as well for both iOS and Android. We haven't made it public yet but if you're interested in developing an app for a handheld wind meter, please contact us (
http://help.weatherflow.com/). We also have an api into these onsite reports and the rest of the weather data you see in our websites and mobile apps. Weendy uses this for their forecasts. We'd love it if you wanted to use it in an app too. Just contact us!
@POACHER, no data connection required! No batteries either (other than your phone's battery)! And the Android app is coming very soon - if you want to be on the beta group please send email to
beta@ikitesurf.com
@Laughingman and @icebird and others looking for a pole-mounted streaming option: This device is deliberately simple. It's compact and rugged and accurate but it was not designed to be set up on a pole to stream data continuously. However, that's definitely an interesting idea for the future that we've already been avidly discussing and may begin prototyping this Fall. It would certainly be a better option than other off-the-shelf weather stations out there.
Thanks again and keep the feedback coming!