Revamp Your Weather Game: Google's Exclusive Widgets

The weather app is a staple on any smartphone, with Apple and Samsung having their own built-in apps. However, Google has yet to release a native weather app and instead relies on its web app. This can make it difficult for users who want the convenience of a built-in app and don't want to search for a third-party option. Why hasn't Google prioritized such a vital feature for its Android users?

Google Has a Weather App?

Many people may not realize that Google offers a web app for weather, which is the first issue at hand. To access it, one must follow a somewhat convoluted process: first, open the Google app, and then search for "weather" to find and install the web app onto their home screen.

• Tap the three-dot menu icon.
• Tap “Add to homescreen.”

That’s a lot of steps for something that’s built-in and ready to use on most smartphones. Personally, I really like web apps on smartphones—and I think more people should use them—but not for basic functionality.

Information (Under)load

The second problem with Google’s weather web app is a lack of information. I don’t need a built-in weather app to be super comprehensive, but Google’s is lacking when compared to the iPhone weather app, for example.

Apple's weather app on the iPhone is a comprehensive tool with real-time rain alerts, minute-by-minute precipitation charts, animated radar maps, and air quality reports. It also allows users to expand each module to see more information.

Samsung's weather app may not be as good as Apple's, but it offers more features than Google's. It provides information on air quality, pollen count, radar maps, and even driving difficulty. If you own a Galaxy device, this app is sufficient for your weather needs.

While the smartphone market leaders have fully-featured weather apps, Google is currently rolling out a basic web app with a cute frog mascot. While the frog is adorable, Google has the potential to create a more robust weather app.

Exclusive Widgets

Weather widgets are a crucial element of any weather application and are a must-have on your home screen. Surprisingly, Google has developed a few widgets for its weather web app, which are exclusively available on Pixel phones. However, this seems counterintuitive as the widgets are not easily accessible and are limited to a phone brand that constitutes only 2% of the market share in North America. It is a pity because these widgets are visually appealing and elegant.

Samsung's weather app and widgets are exclusive to their devices, despite not being in charge of the Android operating system. However, as Samsung accounts for the majority of Android devices on the market, it's clear that these widgets are being utilized and not going to waste. While the lack of a Google Weather app may not be significant in the grand scheme of things, as a fan of Google's design and weather,

Google, Make It Rain

I would appreciate the addition of one.

It appears that Google may be leaving the development of weather apps to its third-party app developers. While this is understandable, it does seem like a missed opportunity to not fully utilize the potential of a weather app and provide great widgets for all users. It is time for Google to fully commit to creating a top-notch weather app that will rival any third-party app on the market.