The app [iTunes link], which has been a big hit in the past two years, now lets users get push notifications from all their favorite resorts, includes better social integration and has an updated high resolution interface for retina-display devices.
REI created the app with Zumobi, an app publisher also responsible for the Iron Man app and the new Good Housekeeping iPhone app. Snow and Ski Report has been one of Zumobi's most popular mobile applications and is always a big hit each ski season.
The app is great for skiers or snowboarders because it's really easy to get quick access to weather conditions, the amount of new snow, trail maps and live web cam views of the resort. Some resorts even support items like the number of open ski lifts.
What's New: More Push Notification Options, Better Sharing
The free app has long let you receive snowfall push notifications for your favorite locale or resort, while also allowing you to designate up to 12 favorite resorts.
In the new version, users can get push notifications for all of their favorite resorts -- or just select which locations they want to receive updates about. By default, once you add a resort to your carousel of favorites, you'll get push updates on the snowfall and weather conditions, but you can turn this off.
The app also now lets users share conditions with friends over e-mail, Facebook and Twitter. When you share conditions, the resort name, snow fall and temperature are all either tweeted out, pre-populated in an e-mail or posted to Facebook.
We think both of these upgrades are pretty convenient -- especially for users who plan to hit the slopes with friends.
New Updated Interface
The UI has also received a facelift and is now a bit cleaner. The UI is also optimized for retina-display devices like the iPhone 4 and the new iPod touch.
We've always thought the user interface of the app was pretty solid, but having high resolution graphics and maps just makes the experience that much better.
As far as branded apps go, this is a great example of how a brand can make an app that really targets its customer base, without being directly tied to the brand itself. REI gets kudos for making an app that is about utility first and foremost.