Weather Channel Local Forecast Emulator

[Kevin]

Thanks, it was worth asking.  Time to make chit chat I guess.   

LOL...I know. Like I said...I was so hesitant on even posting about the update because its not exactly an easy process to get it. I was lucky since I didn't have to go through all of that...

[Stovepipe]

Got access quicker than I thought.  Pretty nifty:



A few thoughts.  I think the idea of this is really cool.  Bill has done a pretty good job implementing this version after the long strange journey from mIRC script in the '90s to XNA/.NET now.  I do think that building this in DirectX is overkill though.  This would be much better suited as a web app, perhaps HTML 5/Javascript, so that it could run on all platforms.  Aside from the scrolling animations I don't see anything graphically intensive.  Still though, he did a good job.

This has inspired me to look into making an iPad version.  If it does come to fruition it probably wouldn't be as true to the original WS4000 but it would capture the general look and feel.  I think it would be pretty cool to have this sitting around, maybe with alarm clock functionality built in.  I have another IOS weather app in the pipeline at the moment but I think this could be a fun one to work on.

[Crockett]

Bill has done a pretty good job implementing this version after the long strange journey from mIRC script in the '90s to XNA/.NET now.  I do think that building this in DirectX is overkill though.  This would be much better suited as a web app, perhaps HTML 5/Javascript, so that it could run on all platforms.  Aside from the scrolling animations I don't see anything graphically intensive.  Still though, he did a good job.

Careful. Your geekiness is showing. 

[Kevin]

Glad to see you got it working Stovepipe.

I can't speak a lot on the technical stuff...but I know however its done it does what its supposed to do extremely well...so I'm certainly satisfied. Certainly not graphic intensive...but of course the real WeatherStar 4000 system wasn't either. I do remember Bill saying he went the direction he did speficially because of the scrolling capability...I remember it did not work well at all in the old version...it would lag and freeze at times.

[Kevin]

Decided to upload a video showing the emulator for those wanting a better example. I had uploaded some of the old version way back when I first began this thread...but they've since been deleted. Anyway...this video cycles through two local forecasts for the Paducah, KY area. One of the big things you see here is the horizontal warning scroll which is used for short-term warning events. You'll also hear some classic Christmas music from the TWC playlists.

I've unlisted the video publicly...so you need the link to view it. Here it is...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn1ALTj2w8s

If you're reading this right after I post...the video may still be uploading and processing...so if it doesn't work on first try give it another shot in a few minutes.

[Stovepipe]

Very nice Kevin!  I need to find some good classic music packs. 

[Kevin]

Very nice Kevin!  I need to find some good classic music packs.

This website... twcclassics.com has some old playlists you can go through and I think even download the songs. It even matches them up with the local forecast "flavor" it used. A few of them may have to be converted to another format to play with the emulator though.

[Stovepipe]

This website... twcclassics.com has some old playlists you can go through and I think even download the songs. It even matches them up with the local forecast "flavor" it used. A few of them may have to be converted to another format to play with the emulator though.

*internet high five*

[Timothy]

Its been such a long time since I've used the emulator, I didn't know it was working anymore

[Kevin]

Its been such a long time since I've used the emulator, I didn't know it was working anymore

Since you had the old version...you'll want to be sure and download the new version out now. Massively improved...

[Timothy]

Since you had the old version...you'll want to be sure and download the new version out now. Massively improved...

Did you see Trammell Starks is selling some of his local on the 8s music on cds?

I didn't realize he was doing that until just now

[Kevin]

That's interesting. Definitely would be of good use for the emulator. He did most of the songs that they featured back in the late 90s (occasionally still pops up Today).

[VandyMachine]

Figured out how to use Ustream to stream a window from my PC. Check THIS out

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ccsz-ws4000-emu-tribute

[Kevin]

Figured out how to use Ustream to stream a window from my PC. Check THIS out

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ccsz-ws4000-emu-tribute

Very nice!

[VandyMachine]

I took the stream off line. Now I need a streaming service that lets me upload to their servers at under 500k. This thing does not need the bandwith that ustream is capped at.