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Turn Your Samsung Galaxy Note 3 into a Personal Ambient Weather Station with These Apps & Widgets

Dec 6, 2013 08:49 PM
Dec 6, 2013 08:58 PM
Smartphone displaying temperature and humidity readings.

The majority of Android devices have built-in sensors underneath the hood that measure motion, position, and several environmental parameters that provide data needed to monitor your movements and adjust accordingly.

When the Samsung Galaxy S4 came out, they included for the first time a thermometer and hygrometer, which could measure ambient temperature and humidity readings, one of the only devices to do so—until now.

Samsung also included these sensors into the Galaxy Note 3, and if you want to utilize them, check out these apps and widgets on Google Play that'll make sure you're always in tune with the weather around you.

Holo Ambient Temperature

Holo Ambient Temperature uses the ambient temperature and humidity sensors on your Samsung Galaxy Note 3 to measure data such as the current ambient temperature, current ambient humidity, dew point, absolute humidity, and altitude based on pressure.

As well as showing this information in a very minimal but sleek UI, you'll see a real-time temperature graph that can be used as a visual guide to the flux of weather.

Ambient temperature display showing 78.1°F and humidity at 39.9%.
Ambient temperature display showing pressure and altitude readings.
Ambient temperature display showing 78.1°F and humidity at 39.9%.
Ambient temperature display showing pressure and altitude readings.

You'll have one option of an elegant 2x1 widget, capable of only showing one set information at a time—either temperature or humidity.

Temperature 81.2°F and humidity 67.8% displayed on a hexagonal background.

If you want both sets of data on one single widget, you'll have to upgrade to the pro version.

Ambient Temperature & Humidity

A bit more basic than Holo Ambient Temperature, Ambient Temperature & Humidity only monitors (obviously) the ambient temperature and humidity. For a more accurate measurement, the app will give you a few brief tips, like setting the phone down on a stable surface, avoid sunlight and wind, and don't set it near heating or cooling sources.

Turn Your Samsung Galaxy Note 3 into a Personal Ambient Weather Station with These Apps & Widgets
Temperature and humidity display showing 60.7°F and 52% humidity.
Turn Your Samsung Galaxy Note 3 into a Personal Ambient Weather Station with These Apps & Widgets
Temperature and humidity display showing 60.7°F and 52% humidity.

Unlike the widget in Holo, this 2x1 widget comes with both the temperature and humidity, without having to purchase a pro-version.

Temperature and humidity display on a hexagonal background.

Ambient Master for Galaxy S4

While the title may be a bit misleading, Ambient Master for Galaxy S4 works perfectly with the Galaxy Note 3—checking the temperature of the environment, relative humidity, and pressure of where you currently are.

Screenshot of the Ambient Master for Galaxy app on a mobile device display.
Settings menu for Ambient Master app showing update delay, text color, theme color, and unit options.
Screenshot of the Ambient Master for Galaxy app on a mobile device display.
Settings menu for Ambient Master app showing update delay, text color, theme color, and unit options.

Adding on to the other two already mentioned, Ambient Master for Galaxy S4's widget comes with statistics for your current temperature, pressure, and humidity. As well as being able to configure the update settings, you can also choose between a blue, green, and red color for the widget.

Weather display showing temperature, pressure, and humidity.

Weather Station

If you're looking for a more in-depth app, Weather Station is a viable option for utilizing the sensors on your device. We've already covered Weather Station for the Galaxy S4, and it works the same on the Galaxy Note 3, providing not only readings for your current weather, but also creating graphs for each set of data.

Weather app user interface displaying temperature, pressure, and relative humidity.
Graph showing a linear increase in luminance values.
Weather app user interface displaying temperature, pressure, and relative humidity.
Graph showing a linear increase in luminance values.

Compared to the rest of the apps I'm covering, Weather Station has customizable widgets—ranging in sizes of 1x1 to 4x1. When you place a widget on your home screen, you can adjust which statistics you want to be shown—temperature, pressure, humidity, dew point, and elevation are just a few of the options.

Turn Your Samsung Galaxy Note 3 into a Personal Ambient Weather Station with These Apps & Widgets
Settings menu for selecting environmental parameters on a mobile device.
Turn Your Samsung Galaxy Note 3 into a Personal Ambient Weather Station with These Apps & Widgets
Settings menu for selecting environmental parameters on a mobile device.

Personal Weather Station

Previously known as WeatherSignal, Personal Weather Station is an app which uses your smartphone's sensors to crowdsource local weather forecasts. I had previously used Personal Weather Station on the Galaxy Note 2, but it works much better on the Note 3 because of the additional sensors.

Weather app interface displaying temperature, humidity, light levels, and atmospheric pressure.
WeatherSignal app interface displaying a map with temperature data.
Weather app interface displaying temperature, humidity, light levels, and atmospheric pressure.
WeatherSignal app interface displaying a map with temperature data.

Personal Weather Station also has a litter of widgets, albeit in a smaller size. Unlike Weather Station this app carries five widgets, all in sizes of 1x1—all with different stats.

Environmental monitoring dashboard displaying temperature, humidity, light intensity, magnetic field, and pressure readings.

Overall Thoughts

Personally, I prefer the widget for Ambient Temperature & Humidity, as it gives me both the current temperature and humidity in a small and compact widget. If you care about looks, I would go with Holo Ambient Temperature because of its sleek-looking widget, although you can't get multiple statistic widgets unless you pay.

Smartphone displaying temperature at 61°F and humidity at 74.9% on a hexagonal patterned background.

If you're looking for more statistics and don't really care about widgets, I would recommend the rest, which all can work as a mobile weather station of sorts for all of those needs.

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