I want one.
Not sure what size sail to rig? Always choose wrong? Well now you can take the guess work out, armed only with your phone. The new Wind app for the iPhone turns your phone into an anemometer.
Using the microphone to pick up the sound of the wind, the application then converts the noise using complicated algorithms into a surprisingly accurate wind reading. This can then be converted into mph, kmph, Knots or Beaufort.
The price for this ingenious app is just 99¢!! For more information on the Wind Meter check out www.windapp.com or download it from the apple site.
gotta ask, whats the point of having a video on the website demonstrating how badly the app works?
p.s. if you see me at the beach, i'll tell you what sized sail to rig... for FREE. Limited offer, only available to the first 20 subscribers, after first 5 minutes further advice charged @ $80/hour, please to www.howbigdoirig.com for terms and conditions of service.
this reminds me back to when I was a student. one of the projects I was working on was an anemometer wind tunnel test.
Out of 8 tested "high precision" anemometer only one was within acceptable tolerances of the actual wind speed. They all worked ok between 10 to 18 knts. . Once the wind got over 18 knots the they all wildly fluctuated.
In a nutshell the one that performed best was a hemispherical cup anemometer. We found that the helicoid propeller anemometers required to be in an exact 90 degree angle to the wind in order to work even half way accurate. The hemispherical cup type anemometer on the other wasn't that frickl.
There are a number of iPhone anemometer apps out there. In my opinion they are all toys if not a waste of money.
Knowing how directional the microphones are in any mobile phone, this app would be useless as it would be wildly inaccurate and I cant see that this is anything more than a waste of 99c.
So which anenon...anemonama...amenena....*AHEM* which WIND METER would you guys recommend buying? There are a couple of brands in my local windsurf shop.
I want to buy one and send it to a friend who lives on an island, to have him measure the wind each day thru the windy season. So I'd like to get one that isn't a piece of crap. Preez advise.
if the sand is lifting go a 5.0
if its lifting a lot then 4.5
if its not lifting or just a bit go a 5.8
dial in that app
suits 75kg with 75L board
depends on grain of sand size also, or if there is any sand left after its been blowin a lot.
All you ever need:
www.seabreeze.com.au/Members/Help/Beaufort.aspx
Look for 4 visual cues & you have most wind speeds covered... (no batteries required!)
Yeah Laurie, but I want a friend to check the actual windspeeds on this island over a period of time. And this guy knows nothing about wind; he says it's really really strong but that could mean anything. I could still turn up with all the wrong gear.
Brand advice, anyone? Any happy Wind meter owners out there?
Try this multi purpose refreshment, friend enhancer and wind meter.
Take bottle of beer, drink beer, hold bottle to wind, if it starts whistling start rigging. If not whistling repeat until bottle starts whistling or you no longer remember why you were there in the first place
The higher the pitch the stronger the wind, bottle will start whistling between 16 - 18 knots.
Thats why I'm never without a trusty beer o meter in my hand 
Elmo method for non drinkers:
Place empty flavoured milk carton on table, when the carton blows off table it's 18 knots !!!
I guarantee both of these methods are far more accurate than any IPhone app.
