AppLink Apps
MyObservatory
The "MyObservatory" is a popular weather app that offers personalized weather services. It provides current weather information such as temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind direction and speed, and weather photographs from nearby weather stations. Weather photos and rainfall data are updated at regular intervals, while other data is updated every 10 minutes.
The app also includes a notification service for weather warnings, Special Weather Tips, and Location-based Rain Forecast. However, the Hong Kong Observatory cannot guarantee the reception of these notifications due to factors like network usage and the quality of the user's mobile phone connection. It may take several minutes or longer for the app to receive notifications after they are issued.
Using the Location-based Rain Forecast notification may slightly increase battery usage and data download. To save battery usage, users can enable the notification function only on rainy days or before outdoor activities. Additionally, selecting less frequent updates and lower position accuracy in the advanced settings can also help save battery usage.
While the "MyObservatory" app is free to use, users may incur charges from their mobile network service provider for data usage, especially when roaming. It is important to disable the option of "Data Roaming" in the mobile device settings to avoid unexpected charges.
The app allows users to choose their location through the automatic location service provided by their smartphone or by manually selecting a location on the map. The weather data displayed for "My Location" or added stations is obtained from nearby meteorological stations, which may not necessarily be in the same region. If data is not available from nearby stations, data from other meteorological stations will be used instead. The app also displays meteorological data from the Observatory's headquarters, King's Park, and Star Ferry if necessary.
The location displayed in the "My Weather Report" function is provided by a third-party provider. Due to variations in terrain and the estimation of the user's location by their mobile phone, there may be differences between the actual weather conditions and what is shown on the app.
The clock on the main page of the app is synchronized with the Hong Kong Observatory's Internet Time Server. However, it may not match the time displayed on the user's smartphone.
Lastly, the app provides a link for users to browse the Observatory's Facebook Page. Users can log in to their own Facebook accounts to access additional features. It is recommended to pay attention to the notes on the Facebook Page and the privacy policies of the platform.