Sky Motion Research has released the latest iteration of its proprietary nowcasting technology, integrating worldwide ground-level observations for maximum accuracy. The release sets a new precedent for weather applications by allowing users to benefit directly from crowdsourced ground observations. The technology is available to consumers through a mobile app for iOS devices, while businesses can integrate the nowcasting data via an API, also recently released.

While Doppler radars have been traditionally relied on by weather organizations to track and predict the whereabouts of precipitation clouds, they provide little insight as to whether precipitation will reach the ground. Equipping SkyMotion users with a worldwide weather crowdsourcing platform circumvents this current technological limitation and offers an unprecedented level of accuracy. Following several years of R&D, Sky Motion Research has devised new algorithms that analyze and absorb user-submitted ground observations to feed them into SkyMotion‘s hyperlocal, minute-by-minute nowcasts.

Here’s the full list of changes in this recent update:

• Brand new slick design
• SkyMotion Observer: cool new feature for storm chasers, weather enthusiasts or anybody who wants to submit ground-level observations
• Storm, hurricane and tornado alerts
• Ads can be removed through in-app purchase
• Get first-glance view of nowcasts, hourly, daily, and weekly forecasts in a single swipe
• Condition highlights: dramatic changes in weather conditions now glow for your convenience
• Improved precipitation prediction for rain, snow, freezing rain, ice pellets and hail
• Be the first to share nowcasts on Facebook and Twitter
• iPhone 5 & iOS 6.1.2 Compatible

The crowdsourcing platform also benefits from inheriting the large database of users who have downloaded previous versions of SkyMotion.

“We’re addressing issues that have plagued weather forecasting for decades. It’s a giant leap from the general city forecast we’ve relied on for the last 30 years. We’re covering all angles by providing hyperlocal, minute-by-minute forecasts that factor in ground observations,” said Sky Motion Research CEO, Maxime Julien . “This is the future of weather forecasting.”

Currently available in North America, Sky Motion Research will rely on its worldwide ground observations platform to progressively deploy its nowcasting technology in new countries.

QuinnScape has announced the release of version 9.0 of Packing Pro, their popular travel app for iOS. This update adds a host of family-friendly features to this 4-year-old app, as well as individual bag weight totaling to help avoid excess baggage fees.

In addition to providing a convenient way of creating and managing travel packing lists, Packing Pro 9.0 adds several new family-friendly features, such as list filtering by both person and bag, filter-related enhancements to its Expert list making tool, new list total breakdowns by person and bag, and an option to email-export a partial, filtered portion of a list to an individual family member. These enhancements may also be useful to other groups of travelers, or even single travelers with multiple bags.

Here’s the full list of new features and changes:

• FILTER lists by BAG and/or PERSON (as well as by CHECKED/UNCHECKED).
• View item, weight & value SUBTOTALS by BAG and PERSON.
• Email-export filtered lists (as text & files).
• EXPERT HELP tool update to support multi-person labeling & filtering.
• On iPad, PERSON, BAG & NUMBER icons & values now remain visible even while editing.
• Newly added list items (via Direct, Pick or Search) now are auto-set to the current sort settings for PERSON & BAG.
• Email-export text list redesign.
• Added option to minimize or hide category headers on a list.
• Added option to disable the device’s auto-lock.
• Added more currencies, and ability to edit them as well.
• Cut app file size in half.
• Fixed crashing bug when deleting last remaining section of a list.
• Fixed occasional bug when adding multiple items to a list.
• Fixed bug with moving/copying catalog items.
• Fixed auto-save bugs on several pages.
• Fixed occasional crashing bug when rotating iPad.

Packing Pro is a universal app that is available for purchase on the iPhone and iPad App Store for only $2.99. The basic Packing (+TO DO!) sells for only $0.99.

Vivid Games, developers of a couple popular iOS games such as Neon Blitz and Official Speedway GP 2013, have recently released an update for their boxer game, Real Boxing. In this new update the developers have added a brand new arena, Russian localization and more. Currently Real Boxing is $4.99 on the App Store, however, there are in-app purchases and this update is free to download for those who own the game already. Here’s the full details of this new update:

• Rome Colosseum Arena
• Russian localization
• Performance improvements
• Stability improvements

Interested? You can download Real Boxing on the App Store by clicking here.

Two of Gameloft‘s most popular titles — the Western adventure Six Guns and arcade racer Asphalt 7: Heat — have been updated recently with much-anticipated new content and improved gameplay as well. To get started, we’ll cover Six Guns.

Six Guns

This latest update to Six Guns brings a brand new storyline to the game, full of darkness and intrigue. You wake up in the desert one day with no memory, only to find out you are wanted for murdering your wife. Complicating the matter, her grave seems to be empty so you”ll search for answers over a story arc full of new quests. For those interested, you can download the game completely free, however, there are in-app purchases.

Features:

• New Weapons: The Ripper and Hellraisers will slam evil back into oblivion.
• New Story: Unravel the deepest mysteries of the forsaken canyon with dramatic new cinematics.
• Weapon Recommendations: See what Weapons will be most handy before jumping in.
• Improved Facebook integration to connect with friends more easily.
• Overall fixes and optimizations.

Asphalt 7: Heat

The latest update for Asphalt 7 includes some brand new cars and special events. At the time of this writing, Asphalt 7: Heat is only a mere $0.99 which isn’t that bad at all for such a high quality game.

Features:

• Four new cars: Mazda Furai, Renault Alpine A110-50, Jaguar XRS Convertible, Nissan 370z Nismo.
• Each of the new cars is bringing new special events (you can only unlock the cars in those special events, what makes these models exclusive).
• Nissan Juke R and Juke Nismo are now rentable following a partner request.

Available today, iKeeper 2.1 offers a safe way to store all your sensitive data in a organized manner. You won’t have to remember usernames, passwords or websites, once you type it into iKeeper you can use the in-app browser to automatically log in using your stored credentials. iKeeper takes data security and privacy to the next level, offering several security options to protect your data.

From emailing to banking, shopping to social media, the modern user has multiple usernames and passwords to remember. iKeeper: Password Manager will take care of protecting your private data and also will let you have all this information for quick access and always with you. The developers take security to next level providing 256-bit data encryption and several optional security measures like the following:

• “Clear Clipboard”: Erase clipboard contents when you leave the app.
• “Auto Lock”: Set idle app timer.
• “Self-Destruct”: Choose how many failed attempts until full reset.

With this recent update, here’s what has been changed:

• Improved Performance
• Improved User Interface
• Minor bug fixed

Interested? You can download iKeeper: Password Manager for $0.99 on the App Store by clicking here.