A few weeks ago, I got an email from Rob Diller, who asked, “I was wondering if you have heard of model plane enthusiasts using that Wind Meter Application that iTunes is selling for the iPhone?”

“How could the iPhone detect wind speed?” I wondered, and set off to the iTunes Store to find out more.

In a few moments, I found Wind Meter, a 99-cent application that uses the iPhone microphone to estimate wind speed.

The first application to let you measure the wind speed using your iPhone. Know the approximate wind speed between 0 and 28 mph wherever you go!

To use, press the start button. Wait a few seconds. Press stop. The final reading is the average of the period between stop and start, giving you the approximate average wind speed. Point the microphone at the bottom of the iPhone directly into the wind.

Easily convert between mph, kmh, knots, and Beaufort.

This application uses sound conversion to gauge wind velocity. As the wind speed increases, the application converts the louder noise on the microphone into a wind velocity reading.

In practice, it works well when the wind is 5mph or stronger, which is when you care about wind speed. Today, we measured wind up to 15 mph at Baylands at about 1 p.m. The only slightly annoying feature is that you have to hold the iPhone upside down so the microphone faces into the wind. Fortunately, the display is upside down so you can read the results.

There is at least one competing iPhone application: Wind Speed, currently on sale for 99 cents. It appears to offer more bells and whistles and a wider range of readings but I have not tested it. I’m happy with Wind Meter.

Thanks to my Hand Model, Mike Nadler, who keeps his hands squeaky smooth with Dr. Billy’s Extra Virgin Rat Oil, Senior Formula.

Tags: Tools, Weather, Wind.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 at 4:28 pm and is filed under Baylands. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.