Pixel Shaders and Linux Support

Lively Weather v2.0 is here 🥳... up to 50% efficiency improvement and Linux preview release!

Pixel Shaders (D2D1)

The underlying weather animation system has been completely rewritten to utilize Direct2D (D2D1) pixel shaders, introducing significant improvements:

Fast and Stable

D2D1 is highly optimized - offers up to 50% efficiency increase and reduces spikes in GPU resource usage, resulting in a quieter and more efficient system operation.

RTX 3070, Overcast at Performance quality setting.
Notice the overall reduction in the Clock speed, Load and Power.

Note: GPU load percentage in Task Manager's Processes tab can be misleading because it depends on the GPU’s clock speed, which varies between modes like idle and performance. In low-power idle mode, the clock speed is greatly reduced, so even light tasks may show high usage. This doesn’t indicate a heavy workload but rather the GPU’s efficient power-saving behavior.

Framerate Control

lw_fps.mp4

• Animation frame rates can be independently adjusted from the UI frame rate.
• Users can optionally choose lower than the default frame rates to further minimize resource usage.
• Some shaders are capped at a maximum frame rate in performance quality setting to optimize efficiency.

Improved Compatibility

lw_compatibility.mp4

D2D1 runs on older DirectX 11 hardware, this is disabled by default (set to lowest preset) just in case if there are any issues; can be changed in settings.

Renderer Option

lw_renderer.mp4

The previous DirectX 12 renderer is available as an optional setting for users who prefer it, though staying on D2D1 is recommended for optimal performance.

Linux Preview

Lively Weather is now available in Linux.. try out the early preview version of the software now!

lw_ubuntu_d1.mp4

To learn more about the differences and limitations, click here.

To download the preview software, click here.

Enhancements

• "Beta" label is removed from title.
• New diagnostics overlay (D2D1 renderer only.)
• Improved tunnel visual (depth creation dialog) by using mirrored texture.
• Added Czech language.

Fixes

• Fixed visual not resizing when entering Fullscreen in screensaver page.
• Fixed incorrect spacing between some settings menu items.
• Fixed incorrect Spanish translations.

Updates

• Updated community translations.
• Updated dependencies.

Periodic Updates

auto_refresh.mp4

• Weather updates are now refreshed periodically.
• Selected day is now retained when changing settings.
• Fixed an issue causing pixelation in the background under certain conditions.
• Updated community translations.

Hello, Linux

Lively Weather is now available in Linux! try out the early preview version of the software now!

lw_ubuntu_d1.mp4

Changelog

Linux

Same as Windows version but with some performance and visual differences:

• Performance optimization is pending.
  "Performance" and "Dynamic" quality setting are not available.
• Graphics card API detection is not implemented.
  If you encounter rendering issues, turn off animations by navigating to Settings -> Performance and set the Quality to lowest.
• Cloud background effects are unavailable.
  Substituted with the "Clear Sky" effect.
• Differences in animations, transitions and effects.

Full changes #85

Windows

• Display language can now be changed in settings.
• Improved screensaver customize ui/ux.
• Fixed performance settings not applying in some cases.
• Updated libraries and localization.

Note

Lively Weather remains native to Windows by leveraging the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and DirectX12.

Expanding to other platforms, Lively Weather adopts the Avalonia framework to deliver a consistent user interface across Linux and macOS.

More details on this transition journey will be posted once the preview release is completed.

New Weather Information

lw_fullview.mp4

This update features new weather data and numerous other enhancements.

Main Graph Enhancement

main_graph.mp4

• Upgraded main graph to be customizable and let user select the type of data to be shown.
  Temperature or Feels Like (apparent temperature) data can be chosen.
• More data types will be available in the future (if you have feedback let me know.)

Precipitation

prec_card.mp4

• New Precipitation information card added.
• The water level animation changes dynamically based on the current precipitation.
• Hourly value can be viewed by pressing on the card.
• Display unit can be changed in settings (mm/inch.)

Cloud Amount

cloud_card.mp4

• New Cloud information card added.
• The cloud animation changes dynamically based on the current cloud percentage.
• Hourly value can be viewed by pressing on the card.

Visibility

vis_card.mp4

• New Visibility information card added.
• The animation visibility dynamically changes based on the visibility value.
• Hourly value can be viewed by pressing on the card.

Improvements

• Minimum and maximum values are shown on UV and Air Quality cards (if available.)
• Replaced default desert backgrounds since it did not fit with most places.
• Added animated weather condition icon to location selection panel.
• Weather condition text is shown when hovering over the day panel.
• Weather condition text is shown when hovering over the main graph.
• Weather unit panel no longer closes when changing from Custom unit.

Fixes

• Fixed forecast error when updating at certain times during day.
• Fixed UV hourly graph value formatting.

Updates

• Added Slovak language. Thanks Kumik.
• Updated dependencies (includes security patches.)
• Updated translation.

Fixes and Updates

• Fixed day selector alignment issue in Windows 10. 58be740
  Thanks to @zxbmmmmmmmmm
• Updated dependencies (includes security patches.)
• Added Swedish and Arabic languages.
• Updated community translations.

Qweather Provider

Qweather

• New weather provider Qweather implemented for Chinese users. c463924
  Thanks to @Livins1
• To use this weather provider free API key is required. Learn more.

Updates

• Updated community translations.

ARM64 Support and Upgrades

ARM Device Ready

• Native ARM64 build is now available!
• Support for upcoming snapdragon devices and original surface line.

UI/UX

3d_tunnel_lq.mp4

• New "3D Tunnel" shader effect in depth dialog.
• New unit picker interface using segmented control.
• Hovering over clock will show time zone name.
• Pressing on the visualizer icon sets audio volume to 0.

Updates

• Updated community translations.
  • Completed Korean translation. Thanks siung0554.
• Updated dependencies.
  • Updated ImageSharp to v2.1.7 (Security patch.)
  • Updated CommunityToolkit to v8.0.240109.

Customizable Weather Units and Fixes

Custom Units

custom_units.mp4

• Weather units are now customizable with an easy to use interface.
• New m/s speed unit.

Fixes

• Fixed graph not showing in some cases when all values are equal.
• Fixed search not working when Enter is pressed immediately before fetching.

Updates

• Updated community translations.
• Added Korean language (incomplete translation.)
  Help translate: https://crowdin.com/project/lively-weather

Better Graph and Fixes

Graph Improvements

graph_demo.mp4

• Daily graph now starts showing value from time close to location time instead of midnight for the current day.
• Daily graph now adapts to available space, shows values at shorter interval when possible.
• Centered axis labels and icons.

Fixes

• Fixed wind speed forecast graph showing wrong value when using OpenWeatherMap.
• Fixed air quality forecast graph time being wrong in some cases.
• Fixed daily graph cutting off values in some cases.

Updates

• Updated community translations.

Better Forecast

Forecast Enhancements 🌩️

• Improved weather data processing for enhanced accuracy and usability.

• For the current day, current hour weather forecast is shown.
  Depending on the weather provider used the current weather is calculated as follows:

  • Open-meteo the current hour forecast closest to location time is used.
  • OpenWeatherMap current forecast api is used.

• Enhanced future day forecasts to prioritize displaying the most severe weather conditions.
  Depending on the weather provider used the severe weather is calculated as follows:

  • Open-meteo provides daily severe weather from its response.
  • OpenWeatherMap severe weather is calculated from hourly forecast based on these criteria.
    If more than one severe weather is found, the most frequent one is selected.

  Once severe weather is found, a point in time for the severe weather is selected and shown.

• For air quality current hour is selected for current day and worst case for future days.

• Hourly air quality graph is enabled for OpenWeatherMap.

Localized Location

local_name_demo.mp4

• Location name is localized based on system language (if available.)

Currently only available with OpenWeatherMap weather provider.

Local Time

local_clock_demo.mp4

• Current time of the selected location is shown on bottom-right side.

This was originally a user requested feature.

Updates

• Added Hungarian language. Thanks to Nandor Lugosi.
• Updated community translations.