Customer Reviews (500)

copperheadfromthesea • 2025-03-23T01:14:09-07:00

Works great! I get accurate notifications everytime there’s a lightning strike within the radius I set. I downloaded the earthquake alert app also and it works great too! Would be nice if you can make apps for snow, flood, tornado, volcano, tsunami, and fire weather alerts :)

Monstevr • 2025-03-20T17:48:44-07:00

…but that might be some kind of misattribution bias because the app only does anything when there’s rain around and I love rain. This is probably a stupid thought, but I wish I could like and comment on individual lightning strikes. I dunno!

Loco para surf • 2025-03-17T05:38:28-07:00

very intrusive, hard to delete or disable.

Summary of Key Insights

  • My Lightning Tracker & Alerts is generally well-received, with a strong emphasis on its accuracy and usefulness for safety-related decisions, particularly in regions prone to thunderstorms. The app is appreciated for providing real-time lightning strike data and customizable notifications.
  • The main weaknesses revolve around intrusive ads, occasional inaccuracies or delays in reporting strikes, and some usability issues with the radius slider and radar functionality. There are also concerns about excessive data usage and privacy.
  • Overall sentiment is positive, evidenced by the high percentage of 5-star reviews (70.4%). However, the negative reviews highlight critical issues that need addressing to improve user satisfaction and trust.
  • Quantitative Metrics:
    • Overall Rating: Highly positive, based on review breakdown.
    • 5-Star Reviews: 70.4%
    • 4-Star Reviews: 8.2%
    • 3-Star Reviews: 4.8%
    • 2-Star Reviews: 4.6%
    • 1-Star Reviews: 12%

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but assumed to be a cumulative collection of reviews over the app's lifetime.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment Analysis: Implicitly performed based on star ratings and review content.
    • Keyword Extraction: Used to identify frequently mentioned issues, features, and positive aspects.
    • Frequency Analysis: Determining the prevalence of various themes and concerns across the reviews.

Key User Pain Points

  • Intrusive and Scammy Ads: Full-screen, unskippable ads, and flashing/annoying ads significantly disrupt the user experience. Some ads are reported to be scams or lead to phishing sites, raising security concerns.
  • Inaccurate or Delayed Lightning Strike Reporting: Some users report that the app fails to detect lightning strikes they can visually confirm, or that notifications are delayed.
  • Excessive Data Usage: Several users complain about the app consuming a large amount of data in the background, raising privacy concerns about data sharing.
  • Usability Issues:
    • Difficulty setting the notification radius precisely using the slider.
    • Radar functionality sometimes freezes or fails to load.
    • Lack of future radar prediction.
  • Location Inaccuracy: Some users report the app showing their location far from their actual location.
  • Notification Issues: Some users report that notifications don't work, while others complain about getting too many notifications from outside their set radius.
  • App Instability: Some users have reported that the app won't load or gets stuck on a loading screen.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Future Radar Prediction: Users want the ability to see future radar projections to anticipate storm movement.
  • More Precise Radius Control: Users desire a more accurate and easier way to set the notification radius, such as typing in the desired distance.
  • Lightning Strike History: The ability to view lightning strikes from previous days or within a specific time range.
  • Direction of Storm Movement: An indicator showing the direction in which a storm is moving.
  • Improved Notification Details: Including the distance of the nearest strike in the notification message.
  • Ability to Pin Locations: Users want to be able to pin locations other than their current location to monitor lightning activity.
  • Customizable Alarm Sound: A louder siren sound or the option to use custom alarm sounds.
  • Apple Watch Complication: Users want the app available as an Apple Watch complication.
  • Option to disable auto-orientation: Some users want the ability to lock the map to a particular orientation.
  • Ability to see both cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground strikes separately.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Accuracy: Many users praise the app's accuracy in detecting and displaying lightning strikes in real-time.
  • Timely Notifications: The notification system is generally considered effective in providing advance warnings of approaching storms.
  • Safety Tool: Users find the app valuable for making safety decisions, particularly for outdoor activities, protecting equipment, and safeguarding livestock.
  • Easy to Use: The app is generally described as user-friendly and straightforward.
  • Radar Functionality: The inclusion of a weather radar is appreciated.
  • Customizable Settings: The ability to adjust the notification radius and other settings is considered a valuable feature.
  • Useful for Fire Prevention: Users in wildfire-prone areas find the app helpful for monitoring lightning strikes and potential fire starts.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address Intrusive Ads: Implement a less disruptive ad strategy. Consider banner ads or less frequent full-screen ads. Immediately investigate and remove any scam or phishing ads. Impact: Directly addresses user frustration and security concerns.
  • Improve Lightning Strike Accuracy and Reliability: Invest in refining the data sources and algorithms used to detect and report lightning strikes. Address delays in notifications. Impact: Enhances the app's core functionality and user trust.
  • Investigate and Reduce Data Usage: Analyze the app's data transfer processes to identify and eliminate unnecessary data consumption. Clearly communicate data usage practices to users. Impact: Alleviates privacy concerns and reduces battery drain.

Medium Priority:

  • Enhance Radius Control: Implement a more precise and user-friendly method for setting the notification radius, such as allowing users to type in the desired distance. Impact: Improves usability and caters to users with specific distance requirements.
  • Improve Radar Functionality: Address freezing and loading issues. Add future radar prediction capabilities. Impact: Enhances the app's overall weather tracking capabilities.
  • Provide Lightning Strike History: Add a feature to view lightning strikes from previous days or within a specific time range. Impact: Increases the app's usefulness for post-storm analysis.
  • Add Storm Direction Indicator: Implement an indicator showing the direction in which a storm is moving. Impact: Provides valuable information for anticipating storm paths.

Low Priority:

  • Customizable Alarm Sound: Offer a wider range of alarm sounds or the option to use custom sounds. Impact: Personalizes the user experience.
  • Apple Watch Complication: Develop an Apple Watch complication for quick access to lightning strike data. Impact: Extends the app's functionality to a wider range of devices.
  • Option to disable auto-orientation: Allow users to lock the map to a particular orientation. Impact: Improves map control for some users.
  • Ability to see both cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground strikes separately. Impact: Provides more detailed information for advanced users.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Hyperlocal Weather Safety Platform: A comprehensive weather safety platform that integrates real-time lightning tracking, hyperlocal weather forecasts, and personalized safety recommendations. Could include features like evacuation routes, emergency contact lists, and automated alerts based on user-defined risk profiles.
  • Gamified Lightning Photography App: An app designed for lightning photography enthusiasts that provides real-time lightning strike data, advanced camera settings recommendations, and a social platform for sharing and competing.
  • AI-Powered Wildfire Risk Assessment Tool: A tool that uses lightning strike data, weather patterns, and environmental factors to predict wildfire risk in specific areas. Could be used by fire departments, forestry services, and homeowners.

Trends and Observations

  • Regional Use Cases: The app is particularly popular in regions with frequent thunderstorms, such as Florida and the US Southeast.
  • Seasonal Usage: Usage likely peaks during the summer months when thunderstorms are more common.
  • Safety Focus: A recurring theme is the app's importance for safety-related decisions, highlighting its value for outdoor activities and risk mitigation.
  • Ad Dislike: There is a consistent theme of users disliking the ads that are displayed.

Conclusion

My Lightning Tracker & Alerts is a valuable app with a strong user base, particularly among those seeking real-time lightning strike information for safety purposes. Addressing the key pain points related to intrusive ads, data usage, and accuracy will significantly improve user satisfaction and solidify the app's position as a leading lightning tracker. The addition of frequently requested features, such as future radar prediction and lightning strike history, will further enhance its appeal and utility. Overall, the app has a solid foundation and significant potential for continued growth and success.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/my-lightning-tracker-alerts/id1175031987?uo=2