COMING SOON: Big notification improvements are completed and tested! Once you get version 465, there should be no further green bell issues!
Internal testing of version 465 has yielded amazing results! We've submitted 465 for review on Apple (which usually takes a couple days) and it'll be available shortly for beta testers of Android. If all goes well on Android, it'll be pushed to production later today or tomorrow.
Woohoo!!!
Adam
Whether you are posting to the Facebook group or sending us a message the more information that you provide the faster we can help you. We won’t have to play the equivalent of phone tag in the digital world :-).
The Facebook group is also searchable as well the instructions, FAQ and blog (see search box below). You may find some helpful information there as well.
It would be great if you could include the following information:
Android or iOS and even better yet the version of the OS you are running for example Android 7.1.1 or iOS 12.4.4 .
The version of the app you are running. One of the places that you can find this is at the bottom of screen when viewing a forecast. Please update to the current version as it may resolve any issues you are experiencing.
Model of your device for example Moto e5 play, Samsung Galaxy S10, iPhone 8, iPad Air, etc.
Anything else that might be unique to your situation.
Screenshots or videos are often helpful too.
Thank you very much
Teresa
A few Text Message Alerts subscribers have asked if the removing of ads on the app is included with their text subscription.
To clarify, our Text Message Alerts are a unique product from the app. TMA is also significantly more expensive for us to operate.
We’ve been considering raising the price of TMA (we haven’t raised the price since it began in 2015) but we’re going to try to keep it the same price until we start losing money on it.
Our app requires an in-app purchase to remove ads and based on the rules from the app stores, we’re not allowed to have users pay for it somewhere else (like our website).
So, removing ads will be $5.99/year or $0.99/month and only available as an in-app purchase. This will also improve radar from 5 to 12 intervals.
Our Text Message Alerts remain the most reliable method for alerts in a dangerous situation like a significant tornado when it’s likely that the internet will stop working because towers are overwhelmed, wifi goes down because power is out, and if anything will make it through, it’ll only be basic SMS text messages. Our app requires internet access so most of the time it’ll work great. However, during the most dangerous times when getting information is extremely important, text is easily the best option.
I hope this makes sense and thank you for your questions! And thank you to all those who subscribe to our Text Message Alerts. Without you, this app would be another year away or more as we’ve used the slim profits from TMA to build the app faster! ❤
Adam
(posted to the Facebook group on November 23 2019)
Hi! I'd like to clear up a few things:
1. When we launch the app, no content will be removed from our Facebook or other social feeds. Our goal is and has always been to raise awareness about tornadoes and severe weather. Removing content from our social platforms does not support this goal and therefore, we will continue to provide as much free value as possible to the entire community, whether they download our app or not.
2. The app will be free! The subscriptions are entirely optional for those who wish to remove ads, improve the radar from 5 to 12 intervals, and want to help support the app and our team. $5.99/year will provide us with more revenue than ads. $0.99/month will double that and be a more predictable monthly revenue stream for us. A huge thank you to those who wish to go either route!
3. For those who subscribe to our Text Message Alerts, firstly, thank you so much! Secondly, some have asked if removing ads is included in their $3.39/month subscription. At this point in time, that is not possible. The app is a unique product and removing the ads + improving radar requires a separate charge through the app stores in order to work properly. It's also important that we charge a separate fee so that we can recoup the costs associated with expensive radar data, server costs, development, improvements, email support, etc. We would, however, like to eventually add the option to subscribe to Text Message Alerts inside of the app but there are many features and improvements that take priority over that at this time.
I hope all of this makes sense and thank you so much for joining us on this incredible journey! 💙
Adam
(posted to the Facebook group on Oct 29 2019)
We decided that as well as having our Facebook group, instructions and FAQ that we would add a blog. This will provide people with another easy way to keep up with the app. We will post here information about the app as well tips, bugs, and future plans.
Search the blog:
Incorrect current conditions and forecasts for areas of Hamilton Ontario.
Adam has submitted a ticket to one of our data providers. There is definitely something wrong with the data they are providing for some areas of Hamilton.
Entering Hamilton Ontario as a secondary location shows better results than what some people are getting for their follow me location.
Teresa
There are still some issues when the app is in landscape mode regarding using the menu and getting back to the home page. Working on fixes for these ASAP! Thank you for your patience.
Tip: Turn your device 90 degrees to portrait mode to get out of radar.
Adam & Teresa
If you paid for a subscription but still see ads, please click ‘Restore Purchases’ in the Remove Ads page. Pardon the extra step!
Thank you.
Adam
We're planning on improving how the app deals with "Continued" alerts from EC. We're thinking of creating a new option called "Updated" which we would only use if a "Continued" alert had changed with new information in the description.
The idea would be to have options in settings that let you choose the notifications you want.
Please choose the one option that makes the most sense to you. Thank you!
Issued = Alert is first created
Continued = Alert continues with the same information
Updated = Alert continues with new information
Ended = Alert ends
Poll options are below
Send me: Issued, Updated, Ended only. However, if it's related to a tornado, send me any Continued alerts too.
Send me: Issued, Updated, Ended only. No continued with the same info.
Send me: Issued, Updated, Continued, and Ended. I want it all, even if it doesn't change.
Send me: Issued and Ended only. I don't want Updated or Continued alerts.
Adam
Please see the Facebook group for the actual poll
1. Make sure your bells are green on the locations page. Simply touch them if they are white.
2. Add extra locations for important places like home, work, school, etc. Therefore, when you're traveling you'll still get alerts from home. You can search by exact addresses and this will also give the best possible forecast and alerts.
3. Until we include "Always Allow" location permissions, it is probably a good idea when traveling to either open the app fairly often or at worst, leave it minimized. Completely closing down the app will most likely not allow the location to update and this is possibly what is causing some users to occasionally receive alerts from an area they have recently visited.
4. We plan to allow the ability to rename your location to "Home, School, Bob's House", etc. All in due time!
5. Make sure that your device has notifications turned on for Instant Weather under Settings (gear icon). See below for screenshots.
So happy to launch! Woohoo! 💙
Adam & Teresa
iOS notifications screen
Android notifications screen
Canada's independent and community-driven weather organization. Providing context to severe weather since 2013.
