Listen to real people
>> After carefully considering this idea, we've decided to support only the current WunderMap going forward.
Your latest map stands as testament to software engineers' irresistible urge to fiddle. Embracing in-house dogma is not a substitute for releasing a stable, well-ordered product. Your decision to "support" this truly awful replacement would have been fine had the new version been supportable. It isn't.
I have touted your company as one of the best for years. Sadly, no longer. Sorry, I'm just REALLY sad to see the old map replaced with the present monstrosity and the links you have provided to the "old" map are for old prior versions -- not the last stable, friendly version we all knew and loved.
Friendly Recommendation: Stop listening to gadget geeks. Listen to real people. Ask your father what he thinks.
SpiritShadow
shared this idea
17 comments
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Aquaria
commented
Why do you lie this way, Matt? You have ZERO intention of listening to your user base. You're determined to stick with the garbage that is your new map. That is NOT a solution. The solution is to go back to the old map and see why so many people prefer it to the garbage that is the new one. If you cant' get it, then quit, right now.
Your persistent dishonesty wears thin.
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All:
I'm hoping to compile some video-based WunderMap feedback from experienced users (to make a compelling case for some improvements — seeing is believing).
If you're willing to have a 10-15 minute Skype or Google+ video call to help me pinpoint issues, please fill out this quick survey.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PQPWLZ7
Thanks!
(apologies for cross-posting)
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cleanbarn
commented
How about liability ... by showing false information on the map .... ( false made up data or lost data ) is wunderground exposing themselves to liability if someone uses the real time data (which is reasonably accurate from the source ) and is injured as a result of the misleading information ...
DesiSTX makes a very valid point. The people developing the software obviously do not understand the data and can not recognize when it is false, misleading, fabricated or just plain wrong.
The physicality of the data is also a good measure of the quality of the data. i.e. I can look at the old radar map and know whether the data is trustworthy or not.
When I look at the new map I see large funny right angles where data is missing ( that _must_ have been in the full data set ) storms / rain _never_ stop on exactly straight lines , let along lines which run north and south exactly.
Also when the now time point shows data which is not really there in the data stream ... its hard to say what is going on, are they mixing the historical data used for animations with the current data set, or mixing in intermediate data used in computing the compression for stored historical data ... its clearly wrong, it does not represent what is going on in the last 0 to 15 minutes at the location. It can not possibly represent data from the real data source ... but its there in all its twisty turny, looks like a cool make believe video game, but is not possibly real data sense.
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DesiSTX
commented
I have depended on this map for real-time info about the onset of gale and hurricane-force winds when we are under Warnings; which side of the house to stay in, which windows I could crack for air flow, when was a good time to go out to look for the dog in the middle of the storm between rain bands.
Wunderground seems to be in love with their software, while I just need the critical info.
Nice for your coders, but too bad for me... -
cleanbarn
commented
I do have to agree that the map is broken. Worse the processing of the data prior to display is broken. I have a series of screen shots that show missing data from the radar maps and artifacts, data showing up where there really is not any data. It seems like the new map has several problems with processing the data, one is getting a complete dataset from the update feed. The second is mixing hsistorical data with the real time data.
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rpp618
commented
First and foremost, this map application is broken. It is not a matter of liking or disliking the way it (is supposed) works, rather it is the fact that it doe not work reliably.
If the response is "No, it is not broken, your are using it wrong..." then I will insist that it is the DESIGN that is broken since it is so clearly unintuitive as to fool people into believing it actually does not work correctly.
Yet there are parts of it that clearly do not work. The entire satellite imagery and animation feature does not function as one would expect. For example (and that is all this is, one example from many) I have not been able to reliably or successfully switch from IR to visible light views on the animation.
Now I happen to be a software developer. I recognize that some people insist on change only for the sake of change; that old=bad. Such small-mindedness is dangerous and truly STUPID. What happens is that idiotic trolls and shills, like elynema convince otherwise intelligent people to do really stupid things.
After months of using this new map nearly daily, I still cannot figure it out. People have to be able to use a website without training. To use this map requires training and frankly, even if it is somehow "superior" but some twisted measure, it is utterly inferior since so many cannot figure it out.
In addition to being a software developer, I am also a pilot and spend a great deal of time looking at the weather. Unless a major effort is made to correct the gross shortcomings of this confusing and supercilious design, you will loose advertisers.
As for me, you are about to lose a paid subscriber. I originally joined to get access to the features of the previous version of this map. I will not renew as long as this monstrosity is all my money gets me.
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GeorgeMN
commented
That was weird. Now it is back to the new improved crummy map.
I know I wasn't hallucinating... What gives Weather ChannelGround?
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eddy0114
commented
It'sstill the new map on mine....
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GeorgeMN
commented
OMG! My map has been restored to the old version!
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SoWhat2
commented
I think elynema has forgotten the golden rule of software. It doesn't matter one bit how technologically marvelous the stuff is, if the users don't like it it is junk.
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GeorgeMN
commented
UGH! This new improved map is awful!
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elynema
commented
Rumors of my employment are greatly exaggerated. Just a student, who likes weather, who lives well within radar and satellite coverage, who has experienced plenty of issues with the new map, but strongly believes that it is improvement. I did get fired over Christmas, but got basically the same job back, so release your balloons, (I know I did) and enjoy the new map. Totally wish I could have been the one to delete the old map... it was kinda, you know, old. Have a nice day! :)
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WxChem
commented
I am looking for something simple in many cases. I like the neatness of the wunder map, but sometime I just want a simple satellite loop and I cannot find it on your site. This wunder map is just too much: too slow, too bulky, and too complicated for wanting to do something simple. Please provide Wunderfully Simple Maps! In the mean time I will use NWS for the simple stuff.
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CaptainCamera
commented
My theory: Elynema is the engineer that broke the WunderMap. Either that or he lives in an area not covered by satellite or radar, thus everything is working 'great' for him.
My solution: Fire Elynema, delete the new WunderMap, release some Balloons into the sky, and give us all the old (but most recent) WunderMap (since it actually works, unlike the new one (or the REALLY old legacy version available as 'classic')).
Considering 99% of the comments are negative with regards to the new WunderMap, I have NO CLUE why wunderground is standing by it... haven't they used it?
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elynema
commented
So, Umm... as an actual user, I really like the new map, I thought this sort of thing was needed, and had hoped they would update it. (Then like 3 weeks later this thing came out, Verry Happy about that, it's like they read my mind). Keep on fiddling, When you stop, thats when I will stop respecting WunderGround.... as for father, let him visit http://classic.wunderground.com/wundermap/
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PennyT18
commented
This is what happens when IT people have way too much time on their hands. They always have to go fixing what isn't broken. I won't be paying for another year if they insist on keeping this mess they call a weather map. I'm already on the hunt for something else.
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Northerner04
commented
From their comment on top about only supporting the new map, I guess that shows their deep and abiding concern about what the actual users (us) think. Too bad, eh? Such sympathy. It's stunning that they never consulted the real world before really screwing things up.
<<Northerner04>>
