Yahoo Weather

First Impression

My old weather app started showing ads that covered the whole screen. I just wanted to know if I needed a jacket for my morning walk. My grandson said to try Yahoo Weather. I downloaded it on my Samsung phone and it opened right up. It showed my town, the temperature, and a lovely picture of some trees. No fuss, no confusing buttons. I thought, “Well, this is nice.” It felt clean and straightforward, which is exactly what I was hoping for.

What It Does Well

It’s very easy to read. The big numbers for the temperature are perfect for my eyes. I love the beautiful photos that change with the weather. Last Tuesday morning, it was drizzly and gray here in Springfield, and the app showed a misty photo of a lake. It just felt right. Swiping left to see the wind speed and humidity is simple. I check the “Feels Like” temperature every day before I decide to work in the garden. Adding my daughter’s city in Phoenix was a breeze—just a plus sign and typing her zip code. For a quick, no-nonsense look at the day, it does the job nicely.

Where It Falls Short

My big issue started about two weeks in. The app suddenly stopped updating the current temperature. It would be 75 degrees outside, but my phone still showed the 68 degrees from 5 AM. I’d have to close the app and open it again to get the right number. This defeated the whole purpose of a quick glance. The radar map, while pretty, is a bit fiddly. I can never quite tell if the rain is going to hit my street or the next neighborhood over. I wish it were a little more precise for someone like me who plans their day around the weather.

Is It Worth the Price?

It’s free, so I can’t complain too much about the price. You get a decent forecast and those gorgeous pictures without spending a penny. There’s a small ad bar at the bottom, but it doesn’t jump around or make noise, so I barely notice it. For a basic, reliable forecast, it’s perfectly fine. If the updating bug hadn’t happened, I’d say it’s a great deal. As it is, you get what you pay for.

Developer & Support

This is where I got really frustrated. When my temperature wouldn’t update, I looked for a “Help” section. I finally found a way to send an email through the app. I explained the problem clearly, mentioning my Samsung Galaxy S23. A full three days later, I got a reply. It was a generic message asking me to check my internet connection and make sure my location services were on. Of course I’d already done all that. I wrote back and never heard another word. It left me feeling completely on my own. If an app has a problem, the company should stand behind it.

Privacy & Safety

I got it from the proper Google Play store on my phone, so I feel it’s safe to have installed. It does need to know my location to work, which makes sense for a weather app. I’m okay with that because I want an accurate forecast for my exact town. The privacy policy is long and full of legal words, like they all are. I just hope they’re not doing anything sneaky with my information. I have to trust that a big name like Yahoo is playing fair.