weather

Nobody who uses an iPad will ever confuse it for a full-feature notebook PC (especially once they've tried to enter data via the device's built-in keyboard). But anyone who computes on the road knows there's more to business travel than keyboarding.

These four free iPad apps transform the tablet into a clock radio, weather reporter, file manager, and multi-talented notepad.

Free file manager simplifies transfers to PCs via Wi-Fi, USB If you store Word, Excel, and other Office documents online, you may not need to keep copies of the files on your iPad. But many iPad users … Read more

Sometimes developers come up with some pretty clever workarounds to provide users the features they want, as is the case with Lock Screen Weather.

Lock Screen Weather acts as a media player by using the "cover art" display on the lock screen to display your local weather forecast.

To get your local weather forecast on your lock screen, visit the App Store and download Lock Screen Weather [iTunes link], it will set you back $0.99. … Read more

Meterologists, pilots, and others whose lives and livelihoods depend on the weather use METAR data to report and transmit weather information. NirSoft's MetarWeather is a free tool for decoding raw METAR reports from around the world. Airports, weather stations, and observers use METAR far more than any other reporting format, so this software gives you access to an unprecedented amount of high-quality data.

MetarWeather's interface is plain but clean and efficient. We clicked the blue Metar icon to download data online, though we could also open METAR files and even type METAR lines directly with a simple wizard … Read more

With the holidays fast approaching, many of us will soon be heading to the airport, crossing our fingers that our flight home to our family won't be delayed because of bad weather.

But new technology for airline pilots could someday soon mean fewer such delays. Honeywell is developing software that combines infrared imaging with real-time 3D ground-terrain mapping, giving pilots a more natural, "out the window" view of the runway below, even in poor visibility. SmartPlanet's Sumi Das gets a demonstration of the technology from Honeywell chief test pilot Jary Engels.

This video originally appeared on … Read more

Facebook and Google both scored spots near the top of the list of the 15 most popular Android apps, according to new ratings by Nielsen.

Breaking down the results by age range, Nielsen found that Android Market was the top app--not surprising, since that's where most Android users go to find their favorite apps in the first place.

But in second place was Facebook, popular among 80 percent of those 18 to 24 years old, 81 percent of those in the 25-to-34 bracket, and 77 percent of those 35 to 44.

From there, the results varied based on age. … Read more

The time has finally come, and iOS 5 will be available to the general public October 12. During the last four months, we have been covering some of the key features of iOS 5 to ensure we were prepared to help you on the first day of iOS 5's release. Below you will find 15 tips and tricks to help you master iOS 5, and maybe even allow you to show off a bit to your friends. … Read more

On today's show, we discover the universe's biggest diamond floating out there in space. Plus, the FCC is investigating why cell phone networks went down during this week's East Coast earthquake, especially with Hurricane Irene bearing down on the East Coast even as we speak. Our BOL PSA to you: text, don't call. And also, be safe. Plus, Pandora makes some money and the most awkward voicemail session ever.

People up and down the East Coast are bracing for Hurricane Irene's arrival this weekend. When will she make landfall, and what damage might she bring to your area? Tracking a hurricane isn't an exact science, but thankfully there are a number of sites that can keep you informed.

The Queen Mother of hurricane-tracking sites is the National Hurricane Center. It serves up information straight from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including current advisories, satellite photos, and a number of maps that show projections for wind speed and storm surge.

Weather.com is an obvious stop … Read more

Every year as summer is winding to a close, hurricane season ramps up here in the United States. Though meteorologists officially describe hurricane season as being from June 1 to November 30, they admit that those are not magic dates and that the bulk of severe weather occurs between August and October. Right now in late August, Hurricane Irene is headed toward North Carolina and is expected to travel northward into New England. If you live in these areas or want to track the storm, there are several Web sites as well as iOS and Android apps that give you … Read more