weather

A picture is worth a thousand words, but even that might not tell the whole story. If you want a unique way to describe where you are, InstaWeather Free can add some cool details to your smartphone photos, such as the city name, location data, and temperature. It's fun for a few shots, but the thrill doesn't last long.

Though the app makes you think it's connected to Instagram, there's no real link. The app can share your finished product on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, though. You can take a picture right from the app and … Read more

Some would have stormed out.

They would have called their agents and stammered that they couldn't possibly work under these conditions.

But not hardy weatherman Andrew Kozak. The sunny front man from Tulsa, Okla., quickly realized that computers are a mere crutch, there to make us believe we don't have to think or imagine. … Read more

LAS VEGAS--If you're stocking up on gear to prepare for the next major hurricane, Eton has unveiled some handy gear for when the power fails.

The ZoneGuard is an emergency clock radio that combines an AM/FM radio and NOAA weather alerts.

It also has SAME (specific area message encoding) technology to broadcast automatic weather alerts, as well as LEDs that flash three colors depending on the severity of the warning.

Developed in partnership with the American Red Cross, ZoneGuard also has optional wireless speakers that you can put in different rooms when you're away from the unit. … Read more

Microsoft's Windows 8 apps are a decidedly mixed bag so far. But one group of apps shows how the new environment can shine with the right software.

I haven't been too impressed with many of the apps Microsoft has created for Windows 8. Some, such as Music and Video, are designed mostly to get you to buy stuff from the company, offering only minimal support for playing your own songs and videos.

Others apps, such as Mail, People, and Messaging, aren't bad but still seem half-baked and in need of further refinements. Mail, for example, still doesn'… Read more

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- 51 percent of people believe stormy weather can interfere with cloud computing.

- No, Samsung did not try to pay Apple its $1 billion fine in nickels.

- Apple's AirPlay might soon work without Wi-Fi.

- Stop douching your noses, people.… Read more

A while back Foursquare launched its Connected Apps platform, which expanded on how you can interact with a check-in after the fact. At first, the release was small with a few developers getting access to the API, but more developers have started making Connected Apps. There are some real gems available now.

Here is a list of five Connected Apps you should connect to your Foursquare account today.

#Mom We originally told you about Hash tag Mom earlier this year, well before Connected Apps were announced. Just this week, it was updated to make it a Connected App as well. … Read more

The Google Crisis Response team has built a Hurricane Isaac Google map that provides a great deal of information and help for those experiencing Isaac's moderately powerful Category 1 intensity, capable of 95 mph wind speeds, heavy rain, and flooding from dangerous storm surge.

Compatible with nearly all modern Web browsers (including Android and iOS), the interactive map provides a clear look at the path of the storm, as well as the latest warnings for residents of impacted cities and counties. The dynamic map offers many helpful options, including the ability to display current radar and cloud imagery, evacuation routes, and active shelter/recovery center locations. … Read more

Say goodbye to turbulence and flying through nasty weather, and many of the costly delays that go along with such airborne unpleasantness.

That's the promise of the latest iteration of Honeywell's IntuVue weather radar system, technology that is designed to allow airline pilots to steer clear of rough weather.

Although IntuVue has been around for several years, offering pilots a three-dimensional view of weather up to about 370 miles in front of them, the newest version of the software adds warnings of up to 10 minutes for turbulence, hail, and lightning.

The IntuVue system, first unveiled in 2008, … Read more

When I meet friends in person these days, I often ask if they have any new apps on their phone I should know about. I've learned about useful new and new-to-me apps as well as frivolous, waste-of-time apps this way (some only work on Android, which I don't have at the moment, but are still worth hearing about). 

I'll tell you about one my favorite newish apps, one I use every day, in a moment, but want to invite you to tell me about your favorites, too (the less commonplace the better, of course). Please tell … Read more