Our Verdict
In these days of TiVo and otherDVRs , many TV watcher are forgetful to when particular record air . After all , you just order your DVR which shows you care , and it automatically register everything for watching at your leisure time .
Yet I rule that I still want to acknowledge when my pet show are on . Sometimes it ’s because I want to ascertain something live with other people . Other times it’sbecauseI use TiVo — I need a reminder that there are going to be new episodes hold back for me to watch . Similarly , people who watch their favorite shows via iTunes downloads or on TV - connection vane site want to cognize when the latest episodes will be available . And , of course , not everyone has a DVR .
One of my favorite Dashboard widgets for Mac OS X is bounteous Bucket Software’sTV Forecast , which lets you input your favorite television receiver series and then show when the next episode of each will send . When the iPhone was released , you could get interchangeable functionality on your iPhone using theTV Forecast connection app , but the developer latterly released a aboriginal iPhone version , TV Forecast 1.0.1 , and it ’s pull in a permanent smirch on my iPhone .
The Big Show: TV Forecast’s search screen accesses listings at TVRage.com
The Big Show : tv set Forecast ’s hunting concealment accesses itemization at TVRage.com
To add a boob tube show to your “ sentinel listing , ” you tap on the plus ( + ) symbol and then type in the name of the show . television Forecast search the itemization atTVRage.com — which mean the app requires an Internet connexion — and expose any appearance that match your search condition . Tap on the desired show to track it . ( If a show ’s name is grey out , that usually means the show is no longer on the air or that only reruns are scheduled ; TV Forecast is primarily for current TV series , although some major events — for example , the Super Bowl — are also available . )
After add together your shows , the plan ’s main concealment number the nextnewepisode of each , in chronological order . The inclination is conveniently divided into sentence periods : Today , Tomorrow , This Week , Next Week , This Month , and Upcoming . ( show for which no information on forthcoming episodes is uncommitted appear at the bottom of the listing under a section called To Be Announced . ) For each show , you see a diminished thumbnail image for the show , the name of the show , the name of the upcoming episode , and the escort of that sequence ( seize the datum is available ) . To the right , in large , easy - to - read type is the number of days until that installment breeze . If you ’re a TV fan , this is a great way to see , at a glimpse , which of your favorite show have young episodes coming up — and when each of those sequence will air . TV Forecast update its information each metre you launch the app .
TV Guide: TV Forecast features list (left), detail (middle), and action (right) screens
But TV Forecast also provides more information on each show . Tap a show ’s entry and you ’ll see information about the next episode : the name ; the appointment , time , and distribution channel ; a larger thumbnail image ; and , if usable , an instalment summary . ( Tap on the episode name to instead look at the time of year and episode numbers . ) By tapping on the left pointer next to the episode name , you could regard similar selective information about the previous episode . last , tapping the Action button at the top right lets you read more about the show and sequence on TVRage.com , or send yourself an e - chain mail reminder to watch . ( The e - post admonisher also includes a nexus to the show on the iTunes Store for purchase past episode ; the developers get a referral credit when you buy episodes using this link . ) Given that Apple does n’t currently appropriate third - party programs to lead in the background or allow for notifications , this atomic number 99 - mail feature article is as close as you could get to actual reminder right now .
television Guide : TV Forecast feature lean ( left ) , detail ( middle ) , and action ( veracious ) screen
There ’s also one semi - hidden feature here : while viewing an episode ’s contingent screen , if you rotate your iPhone or iPod hint horizontally , TV Forecast switches to “ countdown ” modal value : you see the show ’s thumbnail , the show and episode public figure , and a countdown timekeeper displaying the number of day , time of day , minutes , and second base until the instalment airs . I suspect few citizenry will use this feature to actually count down the seconds until their preferent show is on , but it ’s a playfulness spare .
The Final Countdown: TV Forecast lets you know when the next episode will be on, down to the second.
The Final Countdown : TV Forecast lets you have intercourse when the next installment will be on , down to the second .
Overall , TV Forecast ’s user interface is simple and attractive , and the plan is really enjoyable to use . One lineament I ’d love to see is a room to synchronise your show between the Dashboard , Web , and iPhone version . But perhaps the bountiful drawback is that , unlike its Dashboard - gismo sibling ( which uses a unlike data reservoir for show list ) , TV Forecast for iPhone does n’t keep track of where you really live , so all air times are for the easterly clock time geographical zone . For most TV show , these also happen to be the tune times for the Pacific sentence geographical zone , but if you live in another part of the U.S. , you ’ll have to do a mental adjustment . ( The developer is skip to tot up straight prison term - geographical zone discipline to a future version . ) This also intend that the countdown feature may be off by an hour or two .
boob tube Forecast is not a boob tube guide , and it was n’t designed to be . It ’s a way to trackparticularTV show to see when the next new episode of each will air . And for that task , it ’s very good — and , surprisingly , fun . For the Leontyne Price of a undivided HD episode of your favorite show on iTunes , you ’ll never lack an episode again , and you do n’t have to inquire whether this week ’s show is young or a rerun .
TV Forecast is compatible with any iPhone or iPod touch launch the iPhone 2.x software update .
[ Senior editor in chief Dan Frakes review low cost Mac software at the Mac Gems blog . ]
