(Credit:
ThinkGeek)
Years ago we purchased a rare early version of one of those personal weather stations that are everywhere these days, and it failed miserably. Or, more accurately, we failed miserably; we could never get it to work properly and, even when it did, we couldn't figure out how to read it. So even though their more recent design efforts are much appreciated, we still fear that they'll be too complicated for our woefully limited technical comprehension.
Enter La Crosse Technology and its $15 LCD Window Thermometer. Not only does it claim to be simple to use, according to GadgetGrid, but it's also easy to read--nothing fancy here, just the facts. And if it's mounted on a glass door, it can also keep you from accidentally bumping your head on those rare occasions when it's clean enough to see through.
(Credit:
Oregon Scientific )
Anyone who's minimally familiar with personal weather stations knows that Oregon Scientific is obsessed with these devices--which strikes us as somewhat odd, because the weather in Oregon seems fairly predictable compared with other states (rain followed by more rain). Whatever the reason, its crusade has paid off at least where design is concerned.
No longer do home forecasting gadgets look like hospital equipment thanks to the company's efforts to add an aesthetic dimension to its products. As Technabob points out, its latest offering looks more like a retro sci-fi movie prop than something used to guess whether you should bring a sweater to the picnic.
The wireless BAR210 Weather Forecaster has fairly standard meteorological fare, with an atomic clock and color icons for rain, shine, and everything in between. But there's one thing it has over the competition: It would make an ideal bookend to a lava lamp.
(Credit:
Hammacher)
As noted too many times in this space, we can barely turn around without encountering another personal weather station, as there seems to be one created for every room in the house. But the one place we foolishly thought we'd be able to escape them--the shower--now has one of its own as well.
It may call itself the "Only Weather Station Shower Mirror" but, at this rate, we doubt that distinction will last through the end of the week. We're not exactly sure why anyone would need to monitor the barometric pressure outside while shaving, but this meteorological mirror will provide that crucial information, as well as the usual other readings from a wireless sensor that will work up to 100 feet away.
Considering the frightening number of people who want to spend their entire lives in the bathroom, perhaps this idea makes sense after all.
(Credit:
FirstStreet)
See what we mean about personal weather stations? They're everywhere, we tell you. Not only that, but just one isn't enough for some inflicted with OCMD (obsessive-compulsive meteorological disorder).
To wit: The "TV Weather Station" doesn't just provide the usual temperatures and forecasts; it can track up to 11 weather conditions at the same time. You can even get microclimate information up to 200 feet away from any part of your property so you can decide whether it's a croquet or a Slip 'N Slide day.
Unlike the typical standalone devices, according to OhGizmo, this one is a receiver that hooks up to a television set by a cable. Granted, it may not be the highest tech available, but you can get one for every TV in the house and make every room your personal Weather Channel. Then again, maybe it will just become obsolete.
(Credit:
Frontgate)
Anyone who's addicted to gadget catalogs can tell you that two of the most common items are digital photo frames and personal weather stations, including some built into the tips of umbrellas. So it's small wonder that the two functions would be combined in a single device.
Its name? The "Digital Picture Frame With Weather Station," what else? The combo appliance has a 7-inch color LCD, radio-controlled clocks and all the data you can shake a meteorologist's stick at, including the phases of the sun and the moon. As for its multi-tasking abilities, its remote sensors (sold separately, of course) can be used indoors as well--for such suggested uses as monitoring the wine cellar.
(Credit:
Oregon Scientific)
The weather seems to be on people's minds a lot lately, and tech companies are responding in kind. Even better, the individual weather stations that have become so popular in recent years are finally beginning to get some interesting designs, unlike so many previous products that looked like they belonged at a Coast Guard station.
Case in point: The "Crystal Weather Station," which blends Oregon Scientific's meteorological expertise with a decidedly un-institutional look that features "laser engraved 3D icons in crystal," according to Newlaunches. It's still at the conceptual stages, but knowing how fast the company churns out devices like this, we're betting it won't be long before it comes to market. The best part? You can change the display from time to temperature with the wave of a hand.
(Credit:
Amazon)
Even native Californians like us appreciate individual weather stations, despite the fact that we never grew up knowing all four seasons. But we've never understood why they all have to look like something that belonged on the shelf behind the counter at Walgreens, next to the travel alarms and AM radios.
Oregon Scientific, thankfully, has come up a wireless modular system that not only looks good but, according to CrunchGear, also can be split into four parts to display its various readings in different places. It's not entirely clear why you'd want to do that, but we think it's a neat idea anyway.
(Credit:
Hammacher Schlemmer)
Fans of the multitasking gadget, get a load of this baby. It's a radio/police scanner/weather checker/atomic clock that will also clean your house and raise your children!
Actually, scratch those last two capabilities, but the product does combine AM/FM radio functions with police, traffic, weather and TV bands, in addition to atomic clock technology that automatically synchs with a signal from the National Institute of Standards and Technology's timekeeping system. (This latter feature, in short, apparently means an accuracy that'll make it much harder for you to blame your tardiness on the watch.)
And while you're busy being on time, you'll simultaneously be able to tune in to your favorite morning news show, see if you need to bring along an umbrella and find out how much crime is going down in your neighborhood.
The $200 desktop station, which we first spotted on Uber-Review, has 300 scanning channels and 20 presets. It also, thank goodness, has a snooze button. 'Cuz we'd really hate to see that timeless clock feature get phased out by technology.
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