Issue Summary
The built-in weather forecast in Niagara Launcher is consistently inaccurate for locations in China, to the point where the feature is effectively unusable. I am requesting the ability to customize the weather data source, rather than relying solely on OpenWeather.
Problem Details
Data source: OpenWeather (as indicated by moderator Paul O'Malley)
Affected region: China (multiple cities tested)
Symptoms: Temperature readings frequently off by 5–10°C; weather conditions (rain/sunny/cloudy) often incorrect; forecasts unreliable for daily planning
Impact: The weather widget and clock integration provide misleading information, forcing users to disable the feature or rely on third-party workarounds (e.g., MacroDroid redirects, external widgets)
Why this matters
Weather is a core feature advertised in Niagara Launcher ("integrated weather forecast to better plan your day"). For users in China, this feature does not deliver on that promise. A significant user base is affected, and the current "one-size-fits-all" approach assumes OpenWeather works equally well globally — which it does not.
Proposed Solutions (in order of preference)
1.
User-provided API key — Allow users to input their own API key for OpenWeather or other supported providers. Zero cost to Niagara; maximum flexibility for users.
2.
Support for alternative free APIs — Integrate Open-Meteo (completely free, no API key required, high-resolution global data, known to be more accurate in China). Other options: QWeather (China-focused, free tier available), Windy API.
3.
Multiple provider fallback — If the primary source returns questionable data for a region, allow fallback to a secondary source.
What I am NOT asking for
I am not asking Niagara to pay for expensive commercial weather APIs
I am not asking for a complete overhaul of the weather system
I am not asking to remove the current OpenWeather integration
I am simply asking for choice and configurability — a principle that aligns well with Niagara's philosophy of user customization.
Willingness to help
I am happy to:
Provide side-by-side comparison screenshots of OpenWeather vs. local accurate forecasts
Beta-test any alternative weather implementations
Assist with Chinese-language documentation or user testing if needed
Conclusion
Please consider this a high-priority usability issue rather than a low-priority feature request. The weather feature is central to Niagara's value proposition, and making it actually work for Chinese users would significantly improve the product experience without requiring major architectural changes.
Thank you for your time and for building an otherwise excellent launcher.
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In Review
Feature Request
3 days ago

LS-KSWL
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In Review
Feature Request
3 days ago

LS-KSWL
Get notified by email when there are changes.