Tiny Mammal’s Weather Doodle: Impressions & Code Giveaway

Guest Post by James David Saul

In the early hours of the day when the coffee hasn’t kicked in yet, it’s a struggle comprehending reality, let alone Accuweather data. Fortunately, the forecast comes alive with Weather Doodle for iPhone and iOS, which turns a boring weather outlook into a visually pleasing forecast that’s fun to check up on.

When it’s nice out, the rays of the sun playfully rotate around a charming, construction paper sun. For more wintry mixes, grey clouds hover over the landscape and expel a dusting of questionable precipitation.

In the app, you can switch between a “Current” view and a five-day forecast, with the ability to toggle extra information like wind speed and humidity. Also, you can store multiple locations just like the native Weather app for iOS.

Weather Doodle is the product of Tiny Mammal, a one-man software shop run by Graham McDermott. McDermott is a veteran of the gaming industry, working as an audio engineer for Lucasarts and Telltale Games. He’s the guy who would make sure the sound of Jango Fett’s footsteps would sync up with gameplay in “Bounty Hunter”. Now he’s living the dream running his own software company.

“I’ve always had an interest in data visualization and finding ways to prevent information in a more interesting way,” says McDermott, chatting by phone from Tiny Mammal HQ in San Francisco. “Tiny Mammal is a company dedicated to using technology to stimulate the imagination.”

Graham McDermott

It’s true, one of the most imaginative things about Weather Doodle is the fact that is completely skinnable. If you go to Settings and visit the “Art Shoppe”, you can purchase add-on skins that change every aspect of the Weather Doodle experience.

“The app as it stands is just a starting point” adds McDermott. “Eventually there will be a whole library of art for every taste – I’ve had suggestions to make it look like an old Atari game, and even an ‘all bacon’ weather theme.”

Tiny Mammal plans to work with more artists to add more art to the “Shoppe” so that Weather Doodle users can customize their look to the app.

Says McDermott: “Part of the fun is the diversity of ideas that come from involving other people in the project and getting a fresh perspective on it. I’m really excited about what that’s going to look like.”

For now, Weather Doodle for iPhone and iPod Touch is Tiny Mammal’s only release, but an iPad version is a possibility for the future.

The folks at Tiny Mammal have been kind enough to provide us with a promo code to give to one lucky commenter. Using an advanced logarithm developed by a secret group of subterranean scientists (aka a 24-sided-die), we will determine a winner at random. Comment away folks, and stay dry out there!