Tracking Storms in the Palm of Your Hand

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/18/1045330582676.html' target='_blank'>http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003...5330582676.html</a><br /><br /></div>"A weather-tracking system allowing outdoors enthusiasts to get real-time weather radar, maps, and charts on a handheld device that doubles as a global positioning system and mobile phone might be just slightly ahead of its time. But such a device, the Storm Hawk weather tracking system, is one of the most fascinating items at the 45th Detroit Boat Show. The system combines a Compaq iPAQ 3950 personal digital assistant, a GPS module, a mobile phone wireless modem and Storm Hawk's software to display weather radar overlays on GPS land maps or marine charts for the entire United States."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/stormhawk-20030219.jpg" /><br /><br />More info on the system can be found on the <a href="http://www.storm-hawk.com">Storm Hawk homepage</a>. It's not available just yet, but should be soon.

[jet8810]

WHOA! How much will this baby cost? A lot I would think... 8O

[Pat Logsdon]

Holy Cow! Does that thing have a rotary dial on the back? :D

Cool features, but it looks BIG...

[Da_Brain]

I went to vist this site to see pricing but all I see is:

Send mail to [email protected] with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2001 Stormhawk Technical Education Consultants, L.L.C.
Last modified: March 25, 2002


Any of you see more than this? Perhaps I have a browser problem
? Thanks!

[luebster]

I got the same thing...which was nothing. :(

You should email them:

"Yeah, I got a question. Where's the content?" :wink:

In all seriousness, the link at the very top of the thread has good info...the system, which includes the PPC, goes for $2K....a little too steep for having fun watching the latest Doppler loop on my PPC, but VERY WORTHWHILE to boaters.

[wxrman]

This $US2,000 ($A3,360) weather system represents a tiny fraction of the costs for a boat that sells for $US200,000 ($A336,000) but a significant chunk for a boat that sells for $US20,000 ($A33,600).

If the demand proves to be there, competing companies likely will jump into the market, and the price will drop. Only 20 years ago a basic loran electronic navigation unit for recreational boats sold for about $US3,000 ($A5,000). Today, a GPS electronic navigation unit that's far superior to loran can be bought for less than $US100 ($A170).

It's nice, but expensive..

[msprague]

According to the website the software is $549.99 and the service requires a monthly fee as low as $9.95 per month. So if you have compatible hardware already you don't need to buy theirs. I hope it will work with Bluetooth GPS and Bluetooth phone.
http://www.storm-hawk.com/products/products.html
Note: The link in the front page story needs a hyphen.

[wxrman]

come from a company that's known for it's excellent radar equipment...

I'm not quite sure how they plan to impliment this but they inked a deal with xm radio. I am thinking that they might try to deliver radar imagery via xm radio. No plans are mentioned, but it would be intesting to have an xm radio receiver that could "plug in" to a ppc and deliver xmradio and possibly radar imagery, as well.

The company name is Baron Services.

http://www.baronservices.com/News/Wilson_Release/Lemon_Release/RadTec_Release/RTNDA_Release/xm_release.html

That's the press release...

I'll be honest with you, though. As the tv industry is currently in a downward trend, I wouldn't expect these guys to do much immediately.

[TawnerX]

I think XM has a pretty good chance of surviving after GM's funding and their plan to include radio into GM cars. XM has a very nice programming, something worth listening beyond the usual FM babbles. All they need is cheaper radio and easier subscription method. (ie. too darned expensive)

Who knows with that CE for car, and big display, XM radio + rich traffic weather data, the future of computer in a car is actually here.

[Janak Parekh]

http://www.storm-hawk.com/products/products.html
Note: The link in the front page story needs a hyphen.
Thanks msprague. My bad. It's fixed now.

--janak

[gfunkmagic]

I dunno, that thing looks too massive and bulky to be worthwhile IMO. They need to come up with a more integrated and sleeker concept...